News is information about events that is recorded and reported in media outlets. It is usually written and broadcast in an objective manner, with the goal of presenting factual content without opinion or bias. In the United States, for example, journalists are expected to adhere to a professional norm called the “Five Ws” (who, what, when, where and why) of journalism. A variety of government agencies regulate the media and enforce a legal requirement of objectivity in reporting.
While a wide range of news events can be reported, certain topics are more popular than others. These include war, politics, education, health, the economy and business, fashion, entertainment and sport. Other less frequent but still important stories are those that affect the environment or public safety, and celebrity gossip.
Historically, news has been conveyed by word of mouth and written communication. The advent of paper and the printing press in Europe, along with technological advances such as telecommunications and global news networks, has increased the speed and impact of dissemination. While it’s relatively easy for governments to shut down newspapers, radio and television stations, it’s much more difficult to stop the flow of information through the Internet.
Many news articles are influenced by their audience, as well as the social and cultural context in which they are produced. Some of the most popular newspapers in the world, for example, are state-owned, and are read by a significant portion of their country’s population. These include Iran’s Press TV, Russia Today and China’s state-controlled CCTV.
The Yale Daily News is an independent newspaper founded in 1878 and distributed throughout campus Monday through Friday during the academic year. The paper is also published each weekday afternoon in Durban, South Africa and was previously known as the Natal Daily News between 1936 and 1962 and The Natal (Mercantile) Advertiser prior to that date. The Yale Daily News is editorially and financially independent of the University.
In addition to its regular daily publication, the newspaper has several special editions each year. These are generally tied to campus events, including the Yale-Harvard football game and the Commencement ceremony. The newspaper also publishes a Friday supplement called WEEKEND, the Yale Daily News Magazine and special issues celebrating the Black, Latinx and Indigenous communities on campus. During the summer, the paper is published every weekday. The paper is the nation’s oldest college daily newspaper. The paper is supported by student fees and advertising, with contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations.