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"News is just history shot on the fly"


  1. eldamon
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A quote from history states news is simply history shot on the fly. Forgive me if I don't recall the original author but I first heard it from Linda Ellerbee over thirty years ago. Bellow I've listed a few of the myriad of definitions of news available on the web from a just one Google search. Obviously there are many ways to look at it and with so many definitions no one definition can be given relevance over another making the true meaning of the word subjective at best.

Under oath, in a liable trial Dan Rather defended a CBS Evening News story on a frog that could jump nearly 30 feet. Has he put it at the time, "HEY - that's news buddy." The point being all news is not gloom and doom, earth shattering hard breaking events. It can be the odd or absurd, the silly or humorous and even the nonsensical. Anything from a cure for cancer to a frog with exceptional hops can and does qualify as news.

So when someone feels, subjectively - something they see isn't news in their personal opinion what are they basing this on? If it is information they didn't have access to or knowledge of prior to finding out about it and making their comment of relevance they are in error by strict definition. Of course if it's common knowledge or something previously reported on by several sources it in fact may not be news, by the same strict definition. Because it doesn't meet your personal criteria or points of interest does not automatically disqualify it as news worthy. It just isn't your personal preference for news at that particular moment in time. As you search the definitions below you will no doubt find one the supports your case. Keep in mind the next person will find something else that supports their point of view equally as well.
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http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/news
Function:
noun plural but singular in construction
1 a: a report of recent events b: previously unknown information ; I've got news for you c: something having a specified influence or effect; the rain was good news for lawns and gardens — Garrison ;2 a: material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast b: matter that is newsworthy3: newscast
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http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/news
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
news
–noun (usually used with a singular verb)
1. a report of a recent event; intelligence; information: His family has had no news of his whereabouts for months.
2. the presentation of a report on recent or new events in a newspaper or other periodical or on radio or television.
3. such reports taken collectively; information reported: There's good news tonight.
4. a person, thing, or event considered as a choice subject for journalistic treatment; newsworthy material. Compare copy (def. 5).
5. newspaper.
6. newscast.
—Related forms
newsless, adjective
news•less•ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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http://www.thefreedictionary.com/news
1.
a. Information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by newspapers, periodicals, radio, or television.
b. A presentation of such information, as in a newspaper or on a newscast.
2. New information of any kind: The requirement was news to him.
3. Newsworthy material: "a public figure on a scale unimaginable in America; whatever he did was news" James Atlas.
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http://www.yourdictionary.com/news
news Definition
news (no̵̅o̅z, nyo̵̅o̅z)
noun
1. new information about anything; information previously unknown
2.
1. reports, collectively, of recent happenings, esp. those broadcast over radio or TV, printed in a newspaper, etc.
2. any person or thing thought to merit special attention in such reports
3. newscast
eldamon

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