WHAT IS “NEWS”?Intro to Journalism
•Divide into groups of 3-4•Share your stories—tell what each story is about in 1 sentence•As a group, decide why each story is “news”•Make a list of all your reasons (“characteristics”)
3 News Stories
Your definition?
So, What Is “News”?
Throughout the years, journalists have tried to answer the question: “What is news?”
Other Voices
David Brinkley1960s-1970s NBC News anchorman
Editorial Judgment
News is …“what I say it is.”
Stanley Walker1930s New York Herald Tribune editor
SensationalismNews is …“women, wampum and wrong-doing”(sex, money & crime)
John B. Bogart19th Century editor, New York Sun
Unusualness
“When a dog bites man, it isn’t news. But when a man bites a dog, it’s news.”
ABC executive producerPersonal Impact
“People are interested in stories about how safe the world is, how safe their families are, and how safe their money is.”
News is information that is not previously known and has some impact on audience.
So, What Is “News”?
What elements must a story have to make it “newsworthy”?
Characteristics of News
Timeliness A characteristic of
a news story that is reported as soon as it happens
The closer to the event, the better
Anniversaries
Timeliness examples
Prominence A characteristic
of a news story about someone whose name or job is well known & easily recognized by the public. Audience
determines who is prominent
Prominence examples
Proximity A characteristic of
a news story that happens close to home. The closer to
home, the more newsworthy
Local angles give proximity to more universal stories
Proximity examples
Conflict A characteristic of
a news story that involves two sides engaged in a “battle” from which one will emerge the victor. Winners and
losers easy to report
Same appeal as fiction
Conflict examples
Impact A characteristic of a
news story based on the effect or consequence the story will have on the audience. Greater the impact, the
more newsworthy More local or wide-
spread the impact, the more newsworthy
Impact examples
Human Interest A characteristic of a
news story about people, usually those involved in some emotional struggle. Unusualness or other
characteristics determine newsworthiness
Human Interest example
In your small groups, label the news characteristics in each story.
Look at your news stories