News is the unusual, controversial, the new. If the airplane lands, it’s not news.
News is local and topical. That’s what readers/viewers/listeners want to know about.
News tells a story. Every good story needs controversy. Think good vs. evil. You want to be the good guy.
Research indicates that readers/viewers/listeners prefer to consume “bad news” over “good news” by a 7 to 1 margin.
News is a business as well as public service. The news media would not exist without advertising. That’s why the news media generally prefer (with some exceptions like NPR) the bad news or controversial news.
