Hard news vs. Soft news

Hard news: Veteran, his wife, child and mother found dead in apparent murder-suicide
This article is considered hard news because often any news article involving crime fit under the hard news category. Hard news is considered to be very fast-paced news which events require immediate reporting. Hard news articles usually state the who, what, when, where, and why, are reported widely on and also updated and reported on quickly. 

Soft news: Country star Madeline Merlo shares her secrets for getting perfect beachy waves
I would consider this article to be Soft news because it is simply human interest and only personally useful. This article was also written for entertaining not informing, it only attracts a certain audience, it was not reported on a great deal, it does not have a serious tone and does not require immediate reporting which hard news does.

In between news: Someone Changed The Hollywood Sign To Read "Hollyweed" 

I would consider this article to be in between Hard news and Soft news because although it was meant to be a harmless prank to make people laugh it is also a form of vandalism and on some levels considered a crime. This is something that has been widely reported on but not in a serious tone, it has been reported on with laughter and  often said to be an "ambitious prank". Because of this, I would consider it to be Soft news.