What is a News Site? Why do we have News Sites?

The news is information about happenings and events, occurring right now.  News can be channelled through many different media forms.

1. You can buy a newspaper, news in printed form.
2. You can listen to a news broadcast on the radio.
3. Or watch the news broadcast on the Television, hearing and seeing the news.
4. Or a friend could have told you.
5. You even might have experienced the news yourself and is spreading the word.

Among these news outlets, you will also find a News Site.  This is actually an Online Newspaper and a version of a printed paper.  The Internet, or going online, created more opportunities for newspapers and independent news sites not linked to a printed version.  Publishing, or Broadcasting the latest, breaking news, first, is every news outlet’s top-most priority.

With online newspapers, anything you post is immediate, Out There, current, fresh, Now, news.

An early version of a news site was, “News Report”, in 1974, reporting on the PLATO system.  By the late 1990s, many newspapers were also publishing an online version.  Printed newspaper versions usually run news that featured 12 hours before, on the online version.

Topics for newsworthy events run, from war, government issues, the entertainment business, politics, health, education, global warming, sports events, unusual happenings and much more.  Anything that will bring a change in our daily lives, a change in rules and regulations by governments, taxes, celebrity celebrations, presidential or royal ceremonies, crime, all things that will gain attention, is regarded as news.

A News Site can still use News Reporters, or journalists, to provide them with the news.  Journalists are being taught today to be able to write and shoot video that can be used for Internet news sites, as well as, the correct format used for printed versions.

But, News sites can also publish news from other sources; too, for instance, you came upon a rare bird on vacation, took a picture, and submitted it on their website.  Or, you found a lost child in a shopping centre and published it online.  All newsworthy events and publishable, experienced, first hand, by yourself.

Legal Issues and Concerns when Publishing a News Site

More and more people are finding and following the news on the Internet via Online News Sites.  It is a lot easier and faster to publish a news break on a News Site than through a printed version.  Publishing online, however, may have its legal issues just like normal printed publish, or even more so, because of the borderlines between the different online publishing, are still unclear.

Also, take in account, that it is not always, only a journalist, that will be publishing an event, and the source of a news event can easily be a visitor on the news site.  Even if a published event were done anonymously through a third party, the news site can be held liable for a legal mishap.

3 Web Site Legal Issues that can cause major Concerns when Publishing a News Site:

1. Copyright: There are 5 exclusive rights that copyright owners have.  You will be guilty of copyright infringements when you violate any of the following:

When obtaining images from the web to create original images from drawings, etc. you may still infringe on the copyright of the original image, even when there seem to be nothing similar.  It is best to start from scratch than using anthers’ creation.

Do not take images from third-party sources, where the original image might be protected by copyright.

Certain images can be copied but you might have to accept terms and conditions of use.

The use of Clip-art files, provided with your computer software, does not violate any copyright laws.  Even though these images are licensed you still need to be careful towards obeying the terms of these licenses.

Free Images, provided by some sights, are available for use by others.  Again, as long as the terms stipulated by the creator, are followed.

2. Domain Name: Firstly you should verify that your chosen domain name does not infringe on other trademarks.

You may contest the use of a certain domain name by someone else that registered a corporate name before you which is similar to the one you wanted to use.

3. Defamation: False Statements, which are made about someone, or an organization, that can be damaging to their reputation, is called defamation.  Publishing this statement to a third party, while knowing it is a false statement, makes it viable for defamation.

These are only a few of the complexities of law when you are publishing a news site.  The Internet is a global system with no set boundaries and therefore very difficult to regulate.

5 Top World News Stories shared on an Online News Site

5 News Stories that made Headlines:

1. May 2017; 150 countries were affected when computers around the world were hit by a huge ransom ware cyber attack. Malicious computer software threatens to publish a victim’s data and block access to the data unless a ransom is paid.  When data is blocked, files are encrypted and inaccessible.  Depending on the type of ransom ware used, a knowledgeable person can reverse the block; in more advanced cases a decryption key is needed.
2. June 2017; The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant destroys the “Great Mosque of al-Nuri” in Mosul, Iraq. The Mosque was famous for its leaning minaret.  The mosque underwent many renovations but was built late in the 12th century.  During the “Battle of Mosul” the 850 years old mosque was blown up as well as the cylindrical portion of the minaret.  Minarets are traditionally used for the call to prayer for Muslims and provide a visual focal point.
3. July 2017; North Korea successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time, after which Russia and China urged North Korea to halt their missile and nuclear programs. The Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, a legally binding international agreement, towards prohibiting the owning of nuclear weapons and eventually total elimination of nuclear weapons, was voted on in July 2017.  122 countries voted in favour, 1 abstained, 1 voted against the Treaty, where 69 nations did not vote and also all Nato members did not vote.
4. August 2017; Fresh sanctions against North Korea were unanimously approved by the UN Security Council which will further restrict their trading and investments.
5. August 2017; Hurricane Harvey is expected to hit Texas during Friday night to the early hours of Saturday morning. Fears are mounting that it could become the worst storm, to date, to hit United States mainland, since 2005.  Louisiana and Texas coastlines, stretching hundreds of miles, are directly in Hurricane Harvey’s way.  A warning was issued that Harvey is already a Category3 and is rapidly intensifying.

These are only a few of the news events and stories happening around us, some of the events taking place as you read.  That is ultimately the goal of a news site; providing information about current events as they unfold.