News coverage is the information provided to readers in newspapers, magazines and on television and online. The information is gathered by journalists, who are often called reporters or correspondents. It is then assembled by editors (also known as news or copy editors in the United States and Europe). The editors decide what will be covered and determine how the story should be written, based on their understanding of reader interest, models of news making and other factors. The selected material is then laid out on dummy pages and, once approved by the chief editor, sent for publishing.
Many people agree that information must be current and important to society in order to be considered newsworthy. However, there is less agreement about what should not be newsworthy. For example, participants in one study reported that they do not expect their news sources to share their political views, but this view may conflict with their actual behaviors and attitudes.
The media cover a variety of events and issues that affect the general public, such as politics, international conflicts, weather, local crime and sports. Network news informs the electorate about national elections and political leaders, while local TV stations may focus on regional business or events in town. Several cable news channels cover national and international events in more detail than traditional broadcast networks. Photojournalism captures powerful images of historic moments that words alone cannot fully convey. For example, the iconic photograph of a Napalm Girl during the Vietnam War brought global attention to the horrors of the conflict and helped influence world opinion.