The news is a powerful tool to inform people and affect their lives. News stories should be new, unusual, significant, and about people. Some of the factors that determine whether a news story is good or bad are the type of media used, access to sources, deadlines, and competition for exclusives. The role of public relations professionals and “spin doctors,” as well as the belief systems of journalists, also play a role in the selection of news stories.
Some common news topics include war, government, education, health, environment, business, fashion, entertainment, and quirky events. Since ancient times, news has also been the discussion of government proclamations and other social issues. Social and technological developments have increased the speed at which news is distributed. The emergence of espionage networks and social networks has influenced the content of news.
While the assassination of Mrs. Gandhi is notable and unusual, it is not new news. However, the details of the assassination are important enough to be newsworthy. The news coverage of the assassination is still important, even if the events were months ago. However, even stories that were a week old can make headlines.
During times of government crackdowns, news can be disseminated through the Internet, which makes it more difficult to shut down the traditional media. Furthermore, mobile devices are far harder to detect. Citizen journalists are another example.