Data Categories Explained: Politics, Lifestyle, Entertainment & Money

Published November 21, 2024 | 6 min read

Every article analyzed by Tagtaly is automatically classified into one of four categories. This categorization allows you to track which types of news dominate coverage, which topics are surging, and how different categories perform across your audience.

But what exactly is "Politics"? Where does a health story about pandemic policy fit? When does business news become "Money"? This guide explains exactly what belongs in each category.

The Four Main Categories: "QWE"

Tagtaly's news categorization system is called "QWE" (a memorable acronym for quick reference). The four categories are:

Each category bundles related detailed topics for easier analysis and trend tracking. Let's examine each one in detail.

Category 1: Politics

What's Included

Politics covers government, policy, governance, and public affairs. This includes breaking government news, policy announcements, political scandals, elections, international relations, and major public institutional developments.

Detailed Topics in Politics

  • UK Politics: Westminster news, Parliament, UK elections, government announcements, cabinet news
  • US Politics: White House news, Congress, US elections, Senate/House votes, presidential announcements
  • International Politics: Global affairs, diplomatic developments, international relations, foreign policy
  • Breaking News: Major urgent developments that cut across categories

What Triggers Politics Classification

Keywords: government, parliament, congress, president, prime minister, parliament, election, vote, policy, bill, law, minister, administration, senate, representatives

Politics Examples

YES - Politics
"Government announces new climate policy targeting 50% emissions reduction by 2030"
(Government policy announcement)
YES - Politics
"PM faces calls to resign over scandal involving former aide"
(Political scandal/accountability)
NO - Not Politics
"Celebrity politician opens restaurant in London"
(Classified as Entertainment, not politics)

Category 2: Lifestyle

What's Included

Lifestyle covers personal, community, and social news affecting daily life. This includes health, safety, weather, crime, justice, community events, and social issues that impact readers' day-to-day experiences.

Detailed Topics in Lifestyle

  • Health & Safety: Medical breakthroughs, health crises, vaccine news, disease tracking, public health policy
  • Weather & Disasters: Extreme weather, natural disasters, floods, storms, climate events
  • Crime & Justice: Crime reports, court cases, convictions, policing, legal justice system
  • General Lifestyle: Community news, social issues, human interest, relationship advice, wellness

What Triggers Lifestyle Classification

Keywords: health, hospital, doctor, disease, weather, storm, flood, crime, arrest, court, guilty, sentenced, police, safety, wellness, family, community

Lifestyle Examples

YES - Lifestyle
"New study shows regular exercise reduces risk of heart disease by 30%"
(Health & wellness story)
YES - Lifestyle
"Major storm hits northeast coast, 100,000 homes without power"
(Weather & disaster)
YES - Lifestyle
"Suspect arrested in connection with city center robbery"
(Crime & justice)
NO - Not Lifestyle
"Luxury healthcare company reports record Q3 profits"
(Classified as Money, not lifestyle)

Category 3: Entertainment

What's Included

Entertainment covers celebrity, pop culture, arts, and social media trends. This includes celebrity news, movie/TV releases, music, social media trends, celebrity relationships, awards shows, and entertainment industry news.

Detailed Topics in Entertainment

  • Celebrity News: Celebrity announcements, relationships, scandals, births, deaths, feuds
  • Entertainment News: Movie releases, TV shows, awards, Oscar nominations, premiere events
  • Social Media Trends: Viral trends, TikTok trends, Twitter debates, meme culture, influencer news

What Triggers Entertainment Classification

Keywords: celebrity, actor, singer, movie, TV, film, viral, trending, TikTok, influencer, awards, Oscar, Grammy, premiere, relationship, scandal, breakup

Entertainment Examples

YES - Entertainment
"A-list actor announces engagement after three-year relationship"
(Celebrity news)
YES - Entertainment
"New Marvel film breaks box office record with $200M opening weekend"
(Entertainment industry news)
YES - Entertainment
"#TikTokChallenge goes viral with 50 million views in 48 hours"
(Social media trend)
NO - Not Entertainment
"Tech company invests $100M in film production studio"
(Classified as Money, not entertainment)

Category 4: Money (Personal)

What's Included

Money covers personal finance, bills, and cost-of-living shifts. This includes household budgets, wages, taxes, and day-to-day affordability.

Detailed Topics in Money

  • Bills & Prices: Energy bills, groceries, transport, everyday costs
  • Housing: Rent, mortgages, property costs, affordability
  • Wages & Benefits: Pay, pensions, taxes, benefits changes
  • Household Debt: Credit, repayments, interest burdens

What Triggers Money Classification

Keywords: bills, prices, rent, mortgage, wages, tax, pension, interest rate, inflation, cost of living

Money Examples

YES - Money
"Energy bills rise 12% as price cap changes"
(Household bills)
YES - Money
"Mortgage rates climb again, average monthly payments jump"
(Personal finance)
YES - Money
"Minimum wage rises across UK sectors"
(Pay & wages)
NO - Not Money
"Tech giant posts record earnings"
(Classified as Business)

Category 5: Business

What's Included

Business covers companies, markets, earnings, and corporate strategy. This includes quarterly results, mergers, IPOs, market swings, and corporate announcements.

Detailed Topics in Business

  • Earnings: Quarterly results, guidance, profit warnings
  • Markets: Index moves, trading sessions, bond yields
  • Corporate: M&A, leadership changes, restructures
  • Regulation: SEC/FCA actions, antitrust rulings

What Triggers Business Classification

Keywords: earnings, revenue, profit, guidance, IPO, merger, acquisition, stock market, FTSE, S&P, Nasdaq, bonds, yield

Business Examples

YES - Business
"Bank posts quarterly profit beat; shares jump"
(Earnings & market reaction)
YES - Business
"FTSE 100 drops 1.4% amid rate fears"
(Market move)
YES - Business
"Pharma giant announces $12B acquisition"
(Corporate deal)
NO - Not Business
"Council tax frozen for households"
(Classified as Money)

What About Stories That Fit Multiple Categories?

Most stories fit primarily into one category, but some span multiple areas. In these cases, Tagtaly classifies based on the primary focus:

Example 1: Government announces new healthcare technology initiative
Could be: Politics (government announcement) OR Money (tech investment)
Classification: Politics — because the headline focuses on government action, not the business/investment angle
Example 2: Major pharmaceutical company receives FDA approval for new cancer drug, stock surges
Could be: Health (medical advancement) OR Money (company stock/business news)
Classification: Money — because the primary news is about company success and market impact, not the medical breakthrough itself
Example 3: Celebrity uses influence to raise $10M for climate charity
Could be: Entertainment (celebrity) OR Lifestyle (climate/charity)
Classification: Entertainment — because the primary angle is the celebrity's involvement

Category Distribution on Tagtaly Dashboard

On the main Tagtaly dashboard, you'll see a "Coverage Distribution" section showing what percentage of today's articles fall into each category:

Example distribution:

This tells you that Politics is dominating news coverage today (likely due to a major political development), while Money stories represent only 8% of coverage.

Using Categories for Editorial Strategy

Understanding Your Audience

Different audiences care about different categories. A political newsletter focuses on Politics, while a lifestyle magazine emphasizes Lifestyle and Entertainment. Use category breakdowns to understand where your coverage stands:

Identifying Trends

When categories shift dramatically, major news is often developing:

Coverage Planning

Use category distribution to plan balanced coverage:

Key Takeaways

Next Steps

Want to explore further?

See category distribution in real time

Check the live dashboard and watch how categories shift as news develops.

View Category Data