Chapter 3 What is News?

What is News?? The nature of news has changed – coverage has changed. News used to be . . . -auto accidents -violent weather -slayings -press conferences -speeches -marriages -births -deaths

News Today . . . The press now concentrates on in-depth coverage of major issues rather than events. - intricacies of government - damage to the environment - educational reform - the changing family

Current trends Reasons include: - Declining literacy - Loss of young readers - Decline in circulation - Mobile society - Television/Internet

News Judgment It’s the reporter’s job to evaluate events and to select from a variety of occurrences those that will (using news judgment) . . . - interest readers - entertain - inform - educate

News Judgment Reporters use their own judgment to determine which of a dozen items should go into a story and which of the five or six chosen should go into the lead. This skill is learned . . . From reading stories from various media sources and hard work.

Intuitiveness Relying on the bells in your head Warning bells should go off in your head when you come across something in bad taste – likewise when you come across something that is good news The elements of news are guidelines; most professionals rely on their intuition

The Elements of News Chapter 3

Timeliness The newness of the facts Football is much more timely in November than in July Stay away from stories that other papers have covered a few weeks before.

Proximity The nearness of a given event to your place of publication. People are most familiar with things close to home – this is what will interest them most.

Prominence The “newsworthiness” of an individual Some names make more news than others because of prominence If a star quarterback flunks an exam and can’t play homecoming game, it’ll be newsworthy. If Bob Smith flunks the same exam, most people won’t care.

Consequence The importance of an event “Oh man, now Sheboygan Falls will totally kick our rears!” LOCALIZATION – bringing out the local edge in a story . . . If iron and steel workers go on strike, what will become of our town’s plans for a new strip mall?

Human Interest Other people and how they behave Human interest stories make people laugh, cry, or hurl (sometimes). Little girl trapped in a well for several days Brat eating contest winner 14 year old graduates from college Unusual!

CONFLICT! Sporting events, elections, wars, etc. involve conflict Conflict involves tension and surprise.

Other Factors “News Arithmetic” 1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life = 0 1 ordinary woman + extraordinary adventure = NEWS 1 husband + 13 wives = NEWS 1 bank cashier + 1 spouse + 3 children = 0 1 bank cashier - $100,000 = NEWS