Is this really news? What is the definition of 'news' anyway? According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary:
News\, n [From New; cf. F. nounelles. News ?s plural in form, but is commonly used with a singular verb.]1. A report of recent occurences; information of something that has lately taken place, or of something before unknown; fresh tindings; recent intelligence.2. Something strange or newly happened.3. A bearer of news; a courier; a newspaper. [Obs.]
The word derives from NEW, meaning NOT OLD, and as it pertains to local, regional, or global happenings that are reported, the term cannot (or at least should not) be used to refer to information that is already known or expected.
For an example of a story that is newsworthy, see:
This is definitely news. I did not expect that the chemical would also be found in liquid milk when I heard the original story a few days ago about the chemical being found in powdered milk (which, incidentally, was also news). Did you?
It can be argued that NOTHING that occurs in the Lebanese political sphere is news. Here's a summary of all the strictly political news that has occurred in the past 3 and a half years:
-Foreign powers meddle in our internal politics
-Politicians are unwilling or unable to agree
-Public figures get assassinated
-Short bursts of violence occur from time to time
-Short bursts of violence occur from time to time
That about sums it up.
I, for one, am bored of the 'news' being spewed forth from our media outlets. Maybe we need another war with Israel to spice things up. Or, if you can possibly imagine, something really unexpected like a move towards an end to sectarianism, corruption, and lawlessness and a new era of patriotism, reconciliation, advancement, peace...
I'd buy tickets to see that.
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