What is news? - BBC My World

Summary

This video script delves into the evolution of news dissemination, emphasizing the pivotal role of journalism in informing and empowering society. It discusses the challenges of navigating today's information overload and the importance of discerning trustworthy news sources. The guide, Radzi, promises to explore how stories become headlines, the functions of journalists, and the significance of accurate reporting in a world awash with 'fake news'. The script concludes by highlighting the enduring principles of journalism: truth, impartiality, accuracy, accountability, and independence.

Takeaways

• 📚 Information has been vital since the dawn of civilization, providing knowledge to empower decision-making and awareness of opportunities and dangers.
• 🌐 Modern technology allows for real-time access to global stories, connecting us to our communities and the world.
• 🚨 The abundance of information can be overwhelming, challenging us to discern what is important and trustworthy.
• 🗣️ Radzi introduces himself as a guide to navigate the world of news, aiming to educate on how stories become headlines and the role of journalists.
• 📰 The importance of real and trustworthy news sources is highlighted in the era of 'fake news'.
• 🔍 The script prompts the question, 'What is news?', and defines it as information about recent events or changes.
• 📈 News serves multiple purposes, including informing, interesting, and preparing the public for various situations.
• 📻 News is disseminated through various mediums such as newspapers, radio, TV, online platforms, and social media.
• 🏛️ The primary purpose of news is to equip citizens with the necessary information to make decisions about their lives and governance.
• 🔎 Journalism is the process of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news, conducted by professionals in various media settings.
• 🕰️ The first international news service, The Reuter Agency, was established in 1851, marking the beginning of modern news dissemination.
• 📲 Despite the evolution of news delivery from cave drawings to digital apps, the core principles of truthfulness, impartiality, accuracy, accountability, and independence remain constant for journalists.

Q & A

Why is sharing information considered important since the beginning of civilization?

Sharing information is crucial because it provides knowledge, which empowers individuals to make better decisions, be aware of potential dangers and opportunities, and learn ways to be safer, happier, and smarter.

How does technology influence our access to information today?

Technology allows us real-time access to stories from around the world, connecting us to our local communities and the global society, but it also brings challenges such as information overload and the need to discern trustworthy sources.

What are some of the challenges faced in the digital age of information?

The digital age presents challenges such as information overload,辨别真假新闻, and the constant competition for attention from various sources like headlines, celebrity gossip, and advertisements.

Who is Radzi and what role does he play in the script?

Radzi is the guide in the script who will help explore the world of news, understand how stories become headlines, the role of journalists, and the different ways issues are reported.

What is the importance of having real and trustworthy news sources in today's society?

Real and trustworthy news sources are essential for providing accurate information that helps individuals make informed decisions and understand the world around them without being misled by misinformation or 'fake news'.

What does the dictionary define as 'news'?

The dictionary defines news as 'information about a recent event or recently changed situation.'

What are the various purposes of news according to the script?

The purposes of news include informing, interesting, and preparing individuals for various aspects of life, from personal decisions to societal and governmental matters.

Where can one typically find news?

News can be found in various mediums such as newspapers, radio, television, online platforms, and increasingly, social media.

What is the fundamental role of journalism in society?

The fundamental role of journalism is to gather, assess, create, and present news information, helping citizens understand the world and make informed decisions about their lives, communities, societies, and governments.

When was the first international news service established and by whom?

The first international news service, The Reuter Agency, was established in 1851 by Paul Julius Reuter in Britain at the London Royal Exchange.

What are the fundamental principles that journalists should adhere to according to the script?

Journalists should adhere to principles of being truthful, impartial, accurate, accountable, and independent.

Outlines

00:00

📰 The Evolution and Importance of News

This paragraph discusses the historical significance of sharing information and its evolution with the advent of technology. It emphasizes the role of news in empowering individuals with knowledge for decision-making and awareness. The script introduces the host, Radzi, who will guide the audience through the process of news creation, the role of journalists, and the challenges of discerning trustworthy news sources amidst the prevalence of 'fake news'. The paragraph also defines news and its various purposes, including informing, interesting, and preparing the public. It concludes by highlighting the importance of journalism in presenting news and the foundational principles that journalists must uphold, such as truthfulness, impartiality, accuracy, accountability, and independence.

Keywords

💡Information

Information, as discussed in the video, is the foundation of knowledge. It empowers individuals to make informed decisions, recognize potential dangers and opportunities, and learn ways to improve their safety, happiness, and intelligence. In the context of the video, information is shared through various mediums like newspapers, radio, TV, and social media, and it's crucial for keeping people connected to their communities and the world.

💡Knowledge

Knowledge is the understanding, awareness, or familiarity gained through experience or education. In the video, it is portrayed as a powerful tool derived from information, enabling individuals to make better decisions and be more aware of their surroundings. Knowledge is seen as a transformative force that can lead to a better life.

💡Technology

Technology in the video is presented as a facilitator of real-time access to stories and events from around the world. It has revolutionized the way information is disseminated, making it instantly available and connecting people to their communities and the globe. However, it also brings challenges, such as information overload and the need to discern reliable sources.

💡Journalism

Journalism is defined in the video as the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news information. It is a critical component of news dissemination, carried out by journalists who work in various media platforms. The video emphasizes the role of journalism in helping people understand the world around them and the importance of journalists adhering to principles of truthfulness, impartiality, accuracy, accountability, and independence.

💡Headlines

Headlines are the short text that gives the viewer or reader an immediate idea of the news story's content. In the video, headlines are part of the process of turning stories into news, capturing attention, and summarizing key events. They are a crucial element in the consumption of news, as they often determine what information people choose to engage with.

💡Fake News

Fake news refers to false information or propaganda presented as genuine news. The video discusses the importance of real and trustworthy news sources in the context of the rise of fake news, which can mislead the public and undermine the credibility of journalism. The script highlights the need for consumers to be discerning in their consumption of news.

💡Real-time

Real-time, as used in the video, refers to the immediate availability of information as events unfold. This concept is central to the modern news consumption experience, where technology allows for instant updates and live coverage. The video emphasizes the value of real-time access in staying connected and informed.

💡Celebrity Gossip

Celebrity gossip is mentioned in the video as one of the many types of content vying for people's attention. It represents the more trivial side of news and information dissemination, often used to capture attention and generate interest. The video suggests that consumers need to navigate through such content to discern what is truly newsworthy.

💡Ad Campaign

An ad campaign, or advertising campaign, is a series of advertisements intended to promote a product, service, or idea. In the video, ad campaigns are part of the broader media landscape that competes for public attention alongside news. They are a form of information designed to influence consumer behavior.

💡Overwhelming

The term 'overwhelming' in the video describes the feeling of being excessively burdened or confused by the sheer volume of information and stimuli. It captures the modern challenge of sifting through the deluge of news, entertainment, and advertising to find meaningful and relevant content.

💡Consumers of Information

Consumers of information are individuals who engage with and make use of the news and other forms of media. The video aims to help viewers become smarter consumers by understanding how news is created, the role of journalists, and the importance of reliable sources. It encourages critical thinking and discernment in the consumption of information.

Highlights

Information sharing is a fundamental human activity that has evolved with civilization.

Knowledge from information empowers better decision-making and awareness of opportunities and dangers.

Modern technology provides real-time access to global stories, connecting communities.

The abundance of information can be overwhelming and requires discernment.

The role of a guide in navigating the complex world of news is introduced.

The importance of real and trustworthy news sources in the era of fake news is emphasized.

News is defined as information about recent events or changes.

The purpose of news includes informing, interesting, and preparing the public.

News is found in various mediums, including newspapers, radio, TV, online, and social media.

News aims to provide citizens with decision-making information about their lives and communities.

Journalism is the activity of gathering and presenting news, essential for understanding the world.

The Reuter Agency was the first international news service, established in 1851.

News accessibility has evolved to be at our fingertips with apps and websites.

The principles of news and journalism have remained consistent despite technological advancements.

Journalistic values include truthfulness, impartiality, accuracy, accountability, and independence.

Transcripts

Since the beginning of civilization, people have found creative ways to share information

using the tools available to them at the time.

Why? Because information gives you knowledge

and knowledge empowers us to make better decisions,

be aware of dangers and opportunities and

learn new ways of being safer, happier and smarter.

Today, technology gives us real-time access to stories happening everywhere, from our

own neighbourhoods to right across the globe, connecting us to our communities and to the

rest of the world.

But this technology comes at a price.

Everywhere we look, someone is trying to capture our attention with the latest headline,

celebrity gossip or ad campaign.

It can feel overwhelming.

How do you know what to read, what to ignore or who to believe?

Hi, I’m Radzi and I will be your guide as

we explore the world of news to find out how stories become headlines, the role of journalists,

and the different ways that issues are reported.

All with the aim of helping you and I

become smarter consumers of all the information that’s out there.

With all this talk of fake news, we’ll take a look at why it’s so important to have

real and trustworthy news sources.

But first, I’ve got to ask the question: “WHAT IS NEWS”?

The Dictionary defines news as:

“information about a recent event or recently changed situation.”

But what's the point?

The news has a variety of purposes. It can be things that inform us, interest us or even prepare us.

And you can find it in newspapers, on the radio, TV, online

and increasingly, social media.

Well, the whole point of news is to provide citizens with the information they need to make decisions

about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments.

The news wouldn’t be possible without “Journalism”,

which is the activity of gathering, assessing,

creating and presenting news information

and it’s carried out by journalists in places

like this: on television networks, on radio stations, to help us all understand the world around us.

The first international news service was The Reuter Agency which was established in 1851

by Paul Julius Reuter in Britain at the London Royal Exchange.

Now, over a century later, we’ve got so

many apps and websites, the news is literally at our fingertips.

So news has come a long way since cave drawings and town criers, but the fundamental principles

of the news and journalists who create it remain the same.

Be truthful, impartial,

accurate, accountable and independent.