Post on 12-Jan-2016
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Elements of Elements of NewsNews
What editors considerWhat editors consider
Slide Slide 11
What is news?1. Come up with your own definition of
what news is to share with class. Write this down.
2. Discuss with persons at your table.
3. As a group come up with a definition on which all can agree. Write this down.
4. How did the definition change?
5. Was it difficult to agree what news is?Slide Slide 22
What is news?“News is an account of an event which a
newspaper prints in the belief that by so doing it will
profit.”
“News is an account of an event which a
newspaper prints in the belief that by so doing it will
profit.”
Curtis D. MacDougall1938 classic
“Interpretative Reporting”
6.How does group’s definition compare to MacDougall’s?
Slide Slide 33
GatekeepersEditors* make decisions
based on criteria*Variation of criteria wording
existsHowever, reasoning is same
or similarControl what is reported
(gatekeeping)*Newsroom leaders
*A standard for judging or decidingSlide Slide 44
Newsworthy
Noteworthy as newsTopicalHaving value as news
Slide Slide 55
Deciding what’s news
7. Discuss with persons at your table how editors (people running TV, newspapers, etc.) decide what stories to run.
8. List top three criteria your table believes is important in deciding which items make something newsworthy.
Slide Slide 66
Elements of NewsCriteria for deciding what’s news
a)Timeliness
b)Prominence
c)Consequence
d)Proximity
e)Change / Progress / ActionSlide Slide 77
Elements of NewsCriteria for deciding what’s news
f)Concreteness / Impact
g)Personality / Human Interest
h)Rarity / Singularity (uniqueness)
i)ConflictSlide Slide 88
a) Timeliness
Something that just happened is newsier than something that happened a while ago
Key on the latest development, not the original incident
It’s new, otherwise, we’d call it “olds”
Slide Slide 99
b) Prominence
Celebrity, politicianA famousfamous personThis does not refer to groupsA story about a teacher is not
necessarily newsworthy just because teachers occupy a prominent place in society
Slide Slide 1010
c) Consequence
ImportanceImportance of the event. How large number of people
will/did it an effect on?Less consequenceconsequence when affecting
fewer people. Ask yourself how many people will
be affected.
Slide Slide 1111
d) ProximityLocal angle*How to define?In some cases, local local; in other
cases the whole state, region or country
Think about a bull's eye, closer to center higher the score
Just because something happened nearby doesn’t mean it’s newsworthy
*direction story takes, slant
Slide Slide 1212
e) Change / Progress / Action
When there is a new or different way to do something
An advancement
Slide Slide 1313
f) Concreteness / Impact
Real, not theoretical*“World could end tomorrow”Death is the ultimate impactNumbers also matter (how
many)
*in theory only, not tangible
(touchable)
Slide Slide 1414
g) Personality / Human Interest
Anything that appeals to the reader’s emotionsemotions
Makes him laugh, cry, get angry, feel sympathy, etc….has the potential for human interest.
“Warm and fuzzy” feeling
Slide Slide 1515
h) Rarity/Singularity(uniqueness)
An unusualunusual, strange occurrenceMay have never happened beforeThe strange or unusual is
fascinating to many readers.Related to Personality/Human
Interest
Slide Slide 1616
i) Conflict
Ranges from policy disputes (politics)
To sports rivalriesTo shooting warsAny time there is a struggle
Slide Slide 1717
Examples Set 1S1 Sarah Johnson has
always wanted a dog. Now a 10 week old puppy wiggles in her lap, frantically trying to lick her face.
S2 The Mustang football team will play Wilsonville tomorrow, hoping to continue its win streak.
S1 Sarah Johnson has always wanted a dog. Now a 10 week old puppy wiggles in her lap, frantically trying to lick her face.
S2 The Mustang football team will play Wilsonville tomorrow, hoping to continue its win streak.
Slide Slide 1818
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 2S3 Construction has closed
school entrances and closed portions of parking lots, forcing students and faculty alike to scramble to rearrange their normal patterns.
S4 It’s been 41 years since Arnold Palmer won the last of his seven major championships. But he’s still the biggest draw.
S3 Construction has closed school entrances and closed portions of parking lots, forcing students and faculty alike to scramble to rearrange their normal patterns.
S4 It’s been 41 years since Arnold Palmer won the last of his seven major championships. But he’s still the biggest draw.
Slide Slide 1919
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 3S5 Be the first to
know: "Like" the North Clackamas Schools Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NorthClackamasSchools to get regular posts about NC12 schools and community events.
S5 Be the first to know: "Like" the North Clackamas Schools Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NorthClackamasSchools to get regular posts about NC12 schools and community events.
Slide Slide 2020
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 4S6Geologists have
detected a fault zone tat stretching about 20 miles from the northern flank of Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. Hidden by trees and dense vegetation, it had previously gone unnoticed.
S6Geologists have detected a fault zone tat stretching about 20 miles from the northern flank of Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. Hidden by trees and dense vegetation, it had previously gone unnoticed.
Slide Slide 2121
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 5S7 Geologists have detected a
fault zone stretching about 20 miles from the northern flank of Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. Hidden by trees and dense vegetation, it had previously gone unnoticed.
S8 The founder of Zupan's Markets, a grocery chain in Oregon, has died, following a hit-and-run crash.
S7 Geologists have detected a fault zone stretching about 20 miles from the northern flank of Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. Hidden by trees and dense vegetation, it had previously gone unnoticed.
S8 The founder of Zupan's Markets, a grocery chain in Oregon, has died, following a hit-and-run crash.
Slide Slide 2222
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 6S9 People in one Tigard
neighborhood are fighting the city to keep a beaver dam in place.
S10 A former bathroom in the nation's oldest public park is being converted into a sandwich shop.
S9 People in one Tigard neighborhood are fighting the city to keep a beaver dam in place.
S10 A former bathroom in the nation's oldest public park is being converted into a sandwich shop.
Slide Slide 2323
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 7S11 On September 25,
11 teams will test their mettle on The Amazing Race. One of the contestants this year is farmer and rancher Bill Alden, 63, of Albany, Ore.
S12 Crews work to protect historic Mt Hood buildings from wildfire.
S11 On September 25, 11 teams will test their mettle on The Amazing Race. One of the contestants this year is farmer and rancher Bill Alden, 63, of Albany, Ore.
S12 Crews work to protect historic Mt Hood buildings from wildfire.
Slide Slide 2424
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 8S13A top official in China's
turbulent Xinjiang region said security forces have defused a number of threats to public safety in recent weeks but is providing few details.
S14 MAX turns 25 on Friday, with TriMet celebrations planned in Portland and Gresham.
S13A top official in China's turbulent Xinjiang region said security forces have defused a number of threats to public safety in recent weeks but is providing few details.
S14 MAX turns 25 on Friday, with TriMet celebrations planned in Portland and Gresham.
Slide Slide 2525
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 9S15 Karen Grondin recently
opened Grapevine Graphics and Picture Framing at Singer Hill Cafe and Desserts at 623 Seventh St.
S16 A house fire in Damascus is estimated to have caused $150,000 worth of damage.
S15 Karen Grondin recently opened Grapevine Graphics and Picture Framing at Singer Hill Cafe and Desserts at 623 Seventh St.
S16 A house fire in Damascus is estimated to have caused $150,000 worth of damage.
Slide Slide 2626
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 10S17 Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff
Merkley is prepared to fully the support the Portland City Council if it chooses to request a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s requirement to replace the city’s five open reservoirs.
S17 Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley is prepared to fully the support the Portland City Council if it chooses to request a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s requirement to replace the city’s five open reservoirs.
Slide Slide 2727
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Examples Set 11S18 It’s been 10 years since
terrorists attacked New York’s Twin Towers and the Pentagon and passengers foiled another attack by crashing a plane into a Pennsylvania field.
S19 More than two decades since the great-grandmother’s first skydive, Frankie Bryant, 69, still loves the sensation of falling through the skies.
S18 It’s been 10 years since terrorists attacked New York’s Twin Towers and the Pentagon and passengers foiled another attack by crashing a plane into a Pennsylvania field.
S19 More than two decades since the great-grandmother’s first skydive, Frankie Bryant, 69, still loves the sensation of falling through the skies.
Slide Slide 2828
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. Prominence
B. Prominence
C. Consequen
ce
C. Consequen
ceD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F. Concretene
ss
F. Concretene
ss G. Personality G. Personality
H. Rarity H. Rarity
I. Conflict I. Conflict
Always a balancing act
Stories having more elements of news have stronger newsworthiness
But there are gradations within each category
Bigger & smaller celebrities; bigger & smaller impacts; bigger & smaller conflicts
Slide Slide 2929
Who are our readers?
Local paperTraditional valuesHomogeneous* vs.
heterogeneous*Sports/outdoors
*Same mix throughout*Different throughoutSlide Slide 3030
Three goals of journalism
InformEducateEntertain
3131
Goal of publisher*
Make money!* A person or company owning
a news organization
Slide Slide 3232