The concepts that make the news news Newsworthiness The concepts that make the news news

Newsworthiness What information is important? Some facts are worth covering for one school or town, but not in another. Some facts are newsworthy today, but not tomorrow. Does this news affect your readers?

9 News Values Timeliness Impact Prominence Proximity Conflict The Unusual Currency Necessity Human Interest

Timeliness Events that are immediate, recent. If something is happening NOW, it has more impact than something that happened last week. This is usually the most important news element. Example: A snowstorm shutting down most of the town would be important when it happens. “Everything will be less interesting tomorrow than today”

Impact Events that are likely to affect many people. Example: New curfew implemented for Van Buren residents. Roadway construction during homecoming week. Scientific breakthrough. Events that are likely to affect many people. The bigger the event, the bigger the story. Major consequences = major news

Prominence Events involving well-known people or institutions. Example: If the student body president is involved in a rescue operation, it is interesting just because of who it is. Events involving well-known people or institutions. How well-known are the people/places in your story? Powerful people are more important than ordinary people. If the readers know the persons in the story, the story will impact the readers.

Prominence Con’t. President Obama choking on a pretzel. Newsworthy Not Newsworthy President Obama choking on a pretzel. Van Buren competing in State Championship football game. Justin Bieber proposes to fan. Mrs. Inbody choking on a pretzel. Centerburg competing in State Championship football game. Taylor Hanson proposes to fan.

Proximity Example: Forever 21 will be coming to the Findlay Village Mall in Spring of 2013. Blanchard River to be rerouted to reduce flooding. Events that are geographically or emotionally close to people interest them. This includes events and individuals (religious, ethical, racial).

Conflict Strife, antagonism, warfare. Examples: Conflict in Iraq. November election. Friday night football. Strife, antagonism, warfare. Conflict provides an element of drama, turmoil, saga. Provides a forum for discussion and debate.

The Unusual Examples: House cat cleans house! A 165 pound watermelon. Cloud shaped like United States of America. Events that deviate sharply from the expected, departing considerably from the experiences of everyday life. If something is unusual, the oddity alone can make it newsworthy. Readers want to know how/why it happened.

Currency Example: Results of a 12-year stem cell research study. Government’s deficit spending. Army Corps of Engineers research on the Blanchard River. Long-time situation may reemerge as news. Issues with longevity. “War on Poverty” Equal Rights Same-sex marriage

Necessity Example: Teachers revise grades to maintain football players’ eligibility. Non-fat yogurt not really non- fat! http://yadaya dayadaecon.co m/clip/46/ Journalist has discovered something he/she feels necessary to disclose. Journalism of conscience, something every should know about.

Human Interest Example: Reading how a student has overcome a handicap can be interesting. Survivor stories. Olympic Bios. A story that evokes emotion while reading it contains human interest. “Warm and fuzzy” feeling.

9 News Elements Although there are nine news elements, most stories are made up of more than one element. What elements are present in the following situations?

9 News Elements Terrorists in Lima hold 200 people hostage.

9 News Elements A whale swims the wrong way in a channel and is trapped. The nation is captivated by its struggle.

Tomorrow is the first day of spring. 9 News Elements Tomorrow is the first day of spring.

9 News Elements A whale swims the wrong way in a channel and is trapped. The nation is captivated by its struggle.

9 News Elements A former president of the United States dies.

9 News Elements A man bumps his head, recovers from amnesia, and returns to the wife he left fifteen years earlier.

9 News Elements The local high school basketball team wins their first state championship.

A lost cat returns home safely. 9 News Elements A lost cat returns home safely.

9 News Elements An Academy Award-winning actress sues her husband for divorce.

9 News Elements A girl of seven is enrolled in a high-school math class.