// Eager loads the relation
$query = newsModel::with('thumbnail')->orderBy($order, $orderDirection)->get();
// ... and only returns records that have the relation
$query = newsModel::withWhereHas('thumbnail')->orderBy($order, $orderDirection)->get();
// No eager load, only check if relation exists
$query = newsModel::whereHas('thumbnail')->orderBy($order, $orderDirection)->get();