1. Chapter 3: What is News? The definition of news has changed over time. News was once only “hard news” or events. Examples: natural disasters (hurricane, tornado), protests, elections, or human conflict (war, murder)

2. How is news currently defined?  News still means “hard news,” but it also includes trends, like ways to “go green” (to be environmentally friendly) or new uses of technology; lifestyle choices, like ways to add exercise to a person’s daily routine or to eliminate stress; fashion, like the effects of flip-flops on feet; Etc. What other information or issues do audiences (you) encounter regularly in the news?

3. How and why has news changed?  News providers face the following dilemma: Give readers what they need and readers may find the information “boring.” OR Give readers what they want and the information will be “superficial.” Can you think of examples where information could be boring, but necessary for the reader? Can you think of examples where information could be superficial?

4. How and why has news changed?  In its earlier forms, news was predictable: Government activity Political debates, elections Social issues Violent weather Speeches Auto or airplane accidents Press conferences Births, marriages, deaths

5. How and why has news changed?  In its current form, news is varied: Trends Lifestyles Fashion Health, nutrition, and exercise Leisure and recreational activities Parenting Educational opportunities Technology

6. What caused this change in news?  Newspapers changed what they covered as “news” because of several factors: a change in the direction of society; declining literacy; a loss of young readers; a drop in circulation; a more mobile society; television’s influence (upbeat, spectacular, sensational); and readers were tired of “bad news.”

7. What caused this change in news?  Newspapers changed the way they presented “news” because of several factors: USA Today introduced a printed paper that was colorful, upbeat, included many graphics, more photos, more sidebars, less depth in story structure, and was not concerned with city hall; the Internet provided audiences with global access and created skeptical consumers; and society developed a different view from the previous idea that the press must provide society mainly with “hard news” that has an emphasis on government.

8. What is news in the 21 st Century? All of the previously mentioned topics are now widely considered to be “news.” Scholastic journalists (student journalists) must take a broad approach to reporting “news.”

9. Who are “newsmakers”?  In the town, state, nation, or globally, newsmakers are usually elected or appointed leaders, politicians, inventors, or criminals.  In the scope of scholastic journalism, newsmakers also include students, teachers, coaches, advisers, ancillary staff, school administrators, school board members, and those involved in school-related activities.

10. Who are “newsmakers”?  In what situations might students be “newsmakers”?  In what situations might teachers be “newsmakers”?  In what situations might a principal or superintendent be a “newsmaker”?  In what situations might a custodian be a “newsmaker”?  In what situations might a board member be a “newsmaker”?

11. How does a newspaper staff determine what is really worth reporting as news?  News Judgment – Reporters and editors must use news judgment (the elements of news) to determine what is news for their audience.  Who cares? – Reporters and editors must ask themselves, “Who (in our audience) cares about this information?”  Good Taste – Reporter and editors must determine if the topic and information presented is in good taste.

12. Before determining what is news, a publication must identify its audience?  Who is included in the audience (public) of a scholastic newspaper? Students in the school and in other schools Teachers and other school personnel School administrators Board of Education members Parents, grandparents, and alumni Local residents Taxpayers, voters, and local businesspersons

13. What makes news? Familiarity breed blindness. Journalists need to look at things in a new way. A journalist is not just a student. Stories abound, but journalists need to develop a “nose for news.” Journalists – especially scholastic journalists – must look at the normal, everyday stuff they know and see and think about how it could be a story.

14. Where is school news presented? Where does one find school news? Daily bulletin (available in Power School) The weekly Miner Scoop (handout or on Web site) School announcements during the day Gymnasium marquee The Beulah Beacon (local newspaper) Magazines (both newsy magazines like Newsweek or interest-type magazines like Sports Illustrated, Vogue, or Popular Mechanics.) Internet sites, television, radio, podcasts, etc. Published texts

15. In determining “what is news,” how does the publication measure “interest”? Who cares? News is perishable (News today may not be news tomorrow. Like a sweet juicy orange, news has a short shelf life; it spoils quickly.)  Publication of “news” needs to be immediate.  Timeliness is a major factor  An advance is a story about an upcoming event.

16. Journalists ask questions to measure interest: How recent is it? How near is it? How important is it? Who cares? Why? Who will it affect? How did it happen? What resulted? The Six Elements of News summarize these questions.

17. Using the previous list, would the following be considered “news” or of interest to an audience: Jerrica Boeshans named homecoming queen. Beulah wins state speech meet. Columbus discovers America. Hula-hoops create excitement among teens. Beulah enforces curfew. Gerald Ford wins Presidential Election. Beulah hosts career fair. Beulah defeats Dickinson in volleyball. Heller plants petunias in flowerbed. I94 closes during recent flooding in Fargo, ND. Grafton students complete drivers’ education course.

18. News judgment is an important factor that determines what is news: News judgment is the knowledge and instinct a reporter or an editor uses to determine whether an event is news. News judgment determines  what stories to write,  what facts to include in the story,  what facts to put in the lead (the first paragraph). News judgment is acquired by  reading newspapers,  asking “Who cares?”,  developing a “nose for news.”

19. News judgment is an important factor that determines what is news: News judgment includes culling items from yearbooks and newspapers that would offend the readers’ good taste. Cull means to pick out for rejection because it is not up to standard.

20. Good taste is also an important factor that determines what is news: Some stories should NOT be printed due to consideration of an respect for community standards. If a journalist violates community standards, he or she endangers the trust that the community has in the reporter and the publication. Then, the trust is gone and the good will of the public is lost, which depletes the reporter’s capacity for service.

21. A Matter of Good Taste: “Some things are no one else’s business. Regardless of the readers’ interest in gossip, a newspaper’s duty is to rise above the level of spreading ugly stories that invade privacy and upset the lives of innocent people.” ~ Journalism Today textbook

22. Journalists’ Rights and Responsibilities: One’s rights as a journalist are counterbalanced by his or her responsibilities to protect the rights of those written about. It is NOT an even balance. A journalist’s responsibilities weigh heavier than his or her rights.

23. The Six Elements of News: Timeliness Proximity Prominence Consequence Human Interest Conflict (…other minor elements may also be relevant.)

24. 1. Timeliness: Timeliness refers to the newness of facts. Is the news current or of interest at this time.  An event that happened last year has less timeliness than an event that happened last month.  An event that happened last month has less timeliness than an event that happened last week.  An event that happened last week has less timeliness than an event that happened yesterday.

25. 2. Proximity: Proximity refers to the nearness of an event to the place of publication. Did the action take place nearby?  An event in India has very little proximity to Beulah.  An event in New York has very little, but more proximity to Beulah than an event in India.  An event in Fargo has little, but more proximity to Beulah than an event in New York.  An event in or near Beulah has proximity to Beulah…and to the publication of The Miner Incidents.

26. 3. Prominence: Prominence refers to the newsworthiness of an individual or an organization. Does the story deal with well-known people or social groups?  If President Bush broke his leg while skiing, the event would be newsworthy BECAUSE the person involved is President Bush.  If Mrs. Heller broke her leg while skiing, the event would NOT be newsworthy BECAUSE the person involved is Mrs. Heller…and her injury will not make a difference to as many people.

27. 4. Consequence: Consequence refers to the importance of an event.  IF = THEN  If a Joe steals a car, then Joe goes to jail.  If the fastest leg of a state-qualifying relay team breaks her arm the day before the meet…then the consequence means the team may not compete.  If Mrs. Heller breaks her arm before final test week, the test will still be administered…no consequence.

28. 5. Human Interest: Human Interest refers to other people and their behavior, and it often has an emotional component ( oddness, suspense, etc.)  When farmer Brown grows the world’s largest pumpkin, that story has human interest because everyone looks at the pumpkin and says, “Wow!”  When the fireman rescues the kitten from a tree, that story has human interest because everyone says, “Oh, how sweet!”

29. 6. Conflict: Conflict involves tension, surprise, and suspense. Is there a conflict dealing with interesting persons, situations, or emotions?  Conflict is the most necessary element in “front page news.”  Conflict includes natural disasters, sports competitions, murder, war, etc.

30. Generating News Stories: Brainstorming is a fast method of getting a lot of solutions, ideas, or alternatives for action in short amount of staff time. Brainstorming works with large groups or two or three individuals. Brainstorming can be used to discuss stories, ads, layouts, photos, etc.

31. Generating News Stories: Brainstorming includes these steps:  Designate a leader to record ideas and ask questions.  Write down all ideas without explanations.  Reject no ideas. Criticize no ideas.  State each idea briefly.  No idea is a bad one.  Prioritize ideas at the end.

32. Generating News Stories: Brainstorming has the following advantages: 1. Participation of every member on an equal basis. 2. No one dominates the process. 3. A large number of ideas are generated quickly. 4. Time is saved for other important things – like writing stories.

33. Generating News Stories: Many topics are suitable topics for brainstorming : 1. Ideas for editorials. 2. Ideas for in-depth stories. 3. Ideas for columns and cartoons. 4. Sources for advertisements. 5. Items to include in a survey. 6. Methods for increasing readership. 7. Ideas for photo essays. What other topics could you add to this list?

34. Generating News Stories: It is a reporter’s job to evaluate events and select those that will inform, educate, or entertain readers.

35. Generating News Stories: Localization: the writing of a regional, national, or even international story to bring out the local angle. Localization is a necessary part of scholastic journalism. Think of ways a high school journalist could localize events like the war in Iraq, national elections, etc.

36. Information obtained from polls: Obtaining real information vs. anecdotes. Any survey must poll at least 50 people or 10 percent of the universe (whichever is larger) to be considered reliable. If Beulah has 300 high school students, 10 percent would be 30 students…so a poll would need to use the 50 people rule to be reliable. This is the sample size.

37. Information obtained from polls: Random sample or Representative sample KEY: In order for a poll or survey to have a statistically high chance of representing not just those surveyed, but the population at large, every member of a group to be surveyed must have an equal possibility of being included in the survey sample. This is called a RANDOM SAMPLE.

38. Random Sample reliability: When correctly administered, the result of a random sample will be obtained with a 95 percent confidence level. (In 95 of 100 cases…the responses will be the same as the total population.) Sample sizes -- how many to survey.

39. The Universe: Universe – group to be studied In a Random Sample everyone in the universe should have an equal chance to be in the sample. The bigger the sample, the more trustworthy the results (usually).

40. Representative Sample: A Representative Sample must be drawn upon with the population’s overall characteristics in mind. Consider the percentage sizes of the groups within the population.

41. Representative Sample Example: A Representative Sample of students at BHS needs to consider the four grade levels within the entire student body.

42. Representative Sample Example: Example: Pretend BHS has 100 students -- 30 seniors10 sophomores 10 juniors50 freshmen Then, 30 percent of the people polled would need to be seniors, 10 percent would need to be sophomores, 10 percent would need to be juniors, and 50 percent would need to be freshmen to create a reliable survey.

43. Representative Sample Example: Example: In this same example, at least 50 people would need to be surveyed to make the survey reliable. Therefore, the smallest number of students that could be surveyed would be 15 seniors 5 sophomores 5 juniors25 freshmen In this case, why not survey everyone?

44. Terms for dealing with the statistics of polls or surveys: The mean is the average of a set of numbers. 50 + 75 + 100 = 225 225 ÷ 3 = 75 (the mean) The median is the number in the middle of a set of numbers. In the series 1,2,3,4,5,6, and 7…the median is 4. The mode is the most frequently occurring number in a series of numbers. 25 As (100)50 Bs (90)100 Cs (83) The mode is C, a score of 83.

45. Formulating Survey Questions: Survey questions should be  Short  Simple – Ask only one question! Do not use “and.”  Clear – Do not be ambiguous!

46. Filter Question: A filter question is  posed at the beginning of a survey  designed to eliminate those people who don’t belong in the “universe.”

47. Filter Question: Example:  In a survey to determine the favorite lunchroom meal of BHS students, first eliminate those who do not eat at BHS with the following filter question. Do you eat lunch in the BHS lunchroom?

48. Survey Questions: Ask the right people the right questions. Ask the questions in the right way; don’t stack the deck to get an answer that is a preconceived notion of what you think the answer should be! Example of a POOR question: When did you last beat your dog?

49. Publishing Polls: Timeliness – Publish results in a timely manner. Conclusions – Draw the right conclusions.  Correctly evaluate the information that the survey results reveal. Stay in the universe! Paint with the right brush (not with too broad of a brush).

50. Graphs and Charts: Graphs and Charts are a way to represent polls. Graphs are pictures that help us understand amounts. These amounts are called data. A variety of graphs exist and are used for a variety of purposes:  A circle graph  A bar graph  A picture graph  A histogram  A line graph www.beaconlearningcenter.com

51. Graphs and Charts: “A circle graph is shaped like a circle. It is divided into fractions that look like pieces of pie, so sometimes a circle graph is called a pie graph. Many times the fractional parts are different colors and a key explains the colors.” (www.beaconlearningcenter.com, 6/30/08)

52. Graphs and Charts: “A bar graph uses bars to show data. The bars can be vertical (up and down), or horizontal (across). The data can be in words or numbers.” (www.beaconlearningcenter.com, 6/30/08)

53. Graphs and Charts: “A picture graph uses pictures or symbols to show data. One picture often stands for more than one vote so a key is necessary to understand the symbols.” (www.beaconlearningcenter.com, 6/30/08)

54. Graphs and Charts: “ A histogram is a special kind of bar graph. The data must be shown as numbers in order.” (www.beaconlearningcenter.com, 6/30/08)

55. Graphs and Charts: A line graph shows points plotted on a graph. The points are then connected to form a line. (www.beaconlearningcenter.com, 6/30/08)

56. Career Profile: Executive Editor Gilbert Bailon  The newspaper’s most important role is that of a “watchdog.” This means that a newspaper should hold those “in power” to a high level of “accountability.” Example: The local newspaper should report on the activities of local government (city council, school board, etc.) to let the public know if any irresponsible, unethical or illegal activities take place.  Bailon says the best advice for journalists is to “master the English language.”

57. Review of Chapter Terms: News judgment Advance Timeliness Proximity Prominence Consequence Localization Human-interest story Conflict Brainstorming Random sample vs. Representative sample Filter question Additional terms to know:  Mean, median, mode  USA Today  Sample size, universe  Good taste, community standards, cull, watchdog