Definition of news by renowned scholars

Here are definitions of news by renowned scholars:

  1. Harold Lasswell (1908-1978): "Who says what to whom, in what channel, through what effect to achieve what end?"

Lasswell's definition emphasizes the importance of the source, message, channel, and audience in the process of communication.

Source: Lasswell, H. D. (1948). The Structure and Function of Communication in Society. In L. Bryson (Ed.), The Communication of Ideas (pp. 117-130). Harper & Brothers.

  1. Daniel Lerner (1917-1990): "News is what people want to know, and what they need to know, in order to make sense of their lives."

Lerner's definition highlights the importance of relevance and usefulness in determining what constitutes news.

Source: Lerner, D. (1958). The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East. Free Press.

  1. Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980): "News is the information that is most relevant to the most people at any given time."

McLuhan's definition emphasizes the importance of relevance and timeliness in determining what constitutes news.

Source: McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. MIT Press.

  1. Walter Lippmann (1889-1974): "News is what a newspaperman thinks is news, and news is what a newspaperman thinks the public wants to read."

Lippmann's definition highlights the role of the journalist and the public in shaping what constitutes news.

Source: Lippmann, W. (1922). Public Opinion. Harcourt, Brace and Company.

  1. Noam Chomsky (1928-present): "News is what people are interested in, and what they need to know, in order to understand the world and their place in it."

Chomsky's definition emphasizes the importance of people's interests and needs in determining what constitutes news.

Source: Chomsky, N. (1989). Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies. South End Press.

  1. Jay Rosen (1956-present): "News is what someone wants to keep hidden; everything else is just information."

Rosen's definition highlights the importance of power and control in shaping what constitutes news.

Source: Rosen, J. (1999). What Are Journalists For? Yale University Press.

These definitions reflect different perspectives on what constitutes news, from the importance of relevance and timeliness to the role of power and control.