News coverage includes a range of topics, from international events to local crime. It also covers the personal lives of people and things that are quirky or unusual. News coverage can also focus on political events and conflicts, such as presidential elections and debates, or on the military or police.
Journalists gather news for their stories by interviewing people and collecting written and video material. This material is then analyzed and organized. Journalists often rely on experts to help them understand the issues involved in a story. Experts, or sources, may be quoted in a news story; this makes the news article more interesting and informative. However, scholars are not always contacted to be interviewed for a news story; rather, they contribute background information and context, and may not even be quoted.
The quality of news coverage depends on the type of event being reported, as well as the amount of space and time available for reporting. For example, a news story about a political scandal is more likely to be considered newsworthy than a local traffic accident. In addition, brevity is an issue for television and radio news; it is difficult to present a complete picture when limited to commercial breaks and the time of day.
Public officials have a strong influence on news coverage, especially when they make threats or accusations about the media. For instance, President Nixon tangled with the press and regularly accused journalists of focusing on violence.