It’s news if…

1. Timeliness

If something is happening NOW, it is more newsworthy than if it happened yesterday or last week or two weeks ago.

Oftentimes the most newsworthy element in the story is the most recent happening, the latest thing in a series of happenings which relate to the news event.

Example: Panama Papers

2. Proximity

How close to your readers is this event taking place?

All other things being equal, something that is

happening in or near their location is much more

meaningful to them than something taking place

across town or across the world.

Closeness, either because of geographical proximity

or because of relationship

For example: News about the area (geographical) or

news about things of interest/concern to locals

(relationship).

Example: Avalanche in

Chitral

3. Prominence

Is a well-known person part of the story?

Or did someone achieve prominence?

Readers like to read about people they

know.

If a person is well-known or did something

noteworthy, more readers will be

interested than if a person who is

mentioned is not known.

Example: Jolie/Pitt divorce

4. Oddity

If something is out of the

ordinary, it may be

newsworthy just because of

that fact.

The strange or unusual is

fascinating to many readers.

Example: Killer Lychees

5. Consequence

The subject of a story has an

impact on how people live their

lives.

How will this event impact your

readers?

How important is it?

Example: Trump’s ban

6. Conflict

Is there a conflict between persons

in the story?

A rivalry?

A misunderstanding?

People are naturally drawn to

conflict and find it fascinating.

Example: ISIS

7. Human Interest

Anything that appeals to the

reader’s emotions.

Does it make him laugh, cry, get

angry, feel sympathy, etc.?

It’s usually considered “Warm

and Fuzzy”

Example: Huffington Post

Three goals of journalism

• Inform

• Educate

• Entertain

Exercise 1: News

Judgment

Select stories out of the

handout that you believe

are genuinely

newsworthy

Why did you select that

news?

Why did you choose the

stories you did?

What do you think the key

ingredients of a good story

are?

What are the most important

elements of a good story?

Assignment : Case Study

You will select one case study from the provided

ICFJ Handbook, analyse the case and present.

I want a thorough analysis and reasoning

through:

A group presentation

500 words analytical paper [each], which answers

the questions provided in the certain case study.

Due date: 1st March 2017 [20 marks]