Today, news is consumed in many different ways. Audio podcasts are available through smart speakers, newspapers publish video series for cable TV networks, and news providers are active on social media. It is possible that the number of people who consume news is overstated, especially in surveys. However, there are ways to make news more accessible for the general public.
Soft news
Soft media is a subset of news and commentary that is not directly linked to the news. This kind of content can take the form of print articles, magazines, and television programs. It can also take the form of arts and entertainment. This type of media often reflects the cultural values of a region and serves as a valuable resource for its citizens.
In the real world, examples of soft news stories include nightly network newscast features on health, consumer affairs, and personal finance. Feature stories also frequently contain anecdotes and short stories, and direct quotes are common.
Suspenseful news
Suspenseful news is often described as “news that has a high level of tension.” Suspenseful news is often associated with a particular topic, such as Iranian hostages, and has the potential to attract viewers. But news suspense is not the same as mystery suspense, which occurs when a crime has been committed and the police are looking for the suspect. In this case, the tension is generated by an emotional element, not by the details of the crime. Such stories are often handled as feature stories.
Studies have aimed to determine the factors that increase suspense. While the effects of manipulating different news characteristics on reading enjoyment are mixed, they consistently indicate that suspense is a critical emotional response. Moreover, these studies have also shown that suspense increases reading appreciation.
Entertainment stories
The line between entertainment and news has become increasingly blurred. Not all of the changes have been for the worse, but there are serious questions about the future of journalism in a media dominated by entertainment. One recent example is the Los Angeles trial of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and the #MeToo social movement that began five years ago.
Celebrity stories
Celebrity stories have a long history, but the post-war era marks a period of significant change compared to contemporary celebrity coverage. The Red Scare shifted the focus of celebrity stories away from the movies and toward patriotism, while the Hollywood studio system began to falter and became a source of controversy. By the 1960s, celebrity stories reflected social changes and were increasingly disassociated with happiness. In this era, celebrity stories were less about the success of the stars and more about how they were able to maximize their income.
Many celebrities stumbled into fame through accidental ways. These stories are often surprising or bizarre. For example, Pamela Anderson was discovered at a British Columbia Lions game in 1989 and ended up signing a contract with Labatt’s beer. Lana Turner, on the other hand, found fame by accident while waiting in a soda fountain. The Hollywood Reporter publisher Billy Wilkerson spotted her and she became a star.
Unplanned events
Unplanned events are becoming more frequent, unpredictable, and damaging. This year, for example, seven named storms made landfall in the Atlantic region and the 2020 wildfire season started early and became the largest in history. Identifying and planning for these events is critical for organizations. Without a crisis plan, a company could be left unprepared and unprotected.
Unplanned events are often unanticipated and demand special attention in the news. These events tend to be highly volatile and disrupt the supply chain. As an example, the COVID-19 crisis, which occurred in January of this year, has revealed that current demand forecasting systems have been inadequate for managing such volatility. To address these problems, researchers conducted a three-step study on the relationship between the sentiments expressed in the news and the actual amount of drug consumption during the COVID-19 crisis.