Deciding What News Is

News Judgment The knowledge and instinct a reporter calls on to determine whether an event is news The knowledge and instinct a reporter calls on to determine whether an event is news

“Who Cares?” Ask who cares about this story, person, event, or issue. Ask who cares about this story, person, event, or issue.

Elements of News Timeliness: Newness of facts. Timeliness: Newness of facts. July? July? January? January? Yesterday? Yesterday? Tomorrow? Tomorrow?

Elements Proximity: Nearness of a given event to your place of publication. Australia? Fort Stockton?

Elements Prominence: The “newsworthiness” of an individual or organization. Prominence: The “newsworthiness” of an individual or organization. Star player fails? Star player fails? Uninvolved student fails? Uninvolved student fails?

Elements Consequence: The importance of an event. Consequence: The importance of an event. Does what happens in Austin or Washington, D.C., sometimes affect Fort Stockton? Does what happens in Austin or Washington, D.C., sometimes affect Fort Stockton?

Elements Human Interest: A story that causes the reader to feel such emotions as sorrow, pity, or amazement.

Elements Conflict: A story that involves tension, surprise, and suspense. Conflict: A story that involves tension, surprise, and suspense.

Other Factors Progress Progress Money Money Disaster Disaster Novelty Novelty Oddity Oddity Emotions Emotions Drama Drama Animals Animals Children Children

News arithmetic 1 ordinary person + 1 ordinary life = 1 ordinary person + 1 ordinary life = 1 ordinary person + 1 extraordinary adventure = 1 ordinary person + 1 extraordinary adventure = 1 husband + 1 wife = 1 husband + 1 wife = 1 husband + 3 wives at the same time = 1 husband + 3 wives at the same time = 1 bank cashier + 1 spouse + 7 children= 1 bank cashier + 1 spouse + 7 children= 1 bank cashier - $20,000 = 1 bank cashier - $20,000 = 1 person + 1 achievement = 1 person + 1 achievement = 1 ordinary person + 1 ordinary life of 79 years = 1 ordinary person + 1 ordinary life of 79 years = 1 ordinary person + 1 ordinary life of 100 years= 1 ordinary person + 1 ordinary life of 100 years=

Localization The writing of a regional, national, or even international story to bring out the local angle. The writing of a regional, national, or even international story to bring out the local angle.

Advance A story about a coming event. A story about a coming event.

Information from Polls Statistics and comments gathered from questioning segments of the population. Random sample: a sample of a population to be surveyed in which every member of the population has an equal possibility of being included in the survey sample.

Filter Question A question, posed at the beginning of a survey, designed to eliminate people who do not belong to the desired population. A question, posed at the beginning of a survey, designed to eliminate people who do not belong to the desired population. Example: “Are you 18 years old?” would be an appropriate filter question in a survey designed to find out about students’ voting habits. Example: “Are you 18 years old?” would be an appropriate filter question in a survey designed to find out about students’ voting habits.

Brainstorming A method of obtaining many ideas in a short period of time. A method of obtaining many ideas in a short period of time. What might your school be like in the year 2050? To how many uses can you put a jumbo-size paper clip? How many photo ideas can you develop to illustrate your school’s science program?