Ferguson definition of news

You're referring to the concept of "news" as defined by James MacGregor Ferguson, a renowned journalist and media scholar.

According to Ferguson, news is defined as:

"News is what people want to keep up with, and nothing else."

This definition emphasizes the importance of relevance, timeliness, and audience interest in determining what constitutes "news." In other words, news is not just about reporting facts or events, but about providing information that people care about and want to know.

Ferguson's definition highlights the following key aspects of news:

  1. Relevance: News is about what matters to people, what affects their lives, and what they want to know.
  2. Timeliness: News is about being current, up-to-date, and relevant to the present moment.
  3. Audience interest: News is about what people are interested in, what they care about, and what they want to learn more about.

This definition has been influential in shaping the way journalists and media organizations approach the concept of news, and it continues to be relevant today in the digital age.