NEWS ELEMENTSWhy is the news news?

Prominence In the news because the person is

famous.

Example of Prominence

Star recruit J’Covan Brown won’t enroll this fallRick Barnes’ star recruit, J’Covan Brown, will

not enroll at the University of Texas for the fall semester because of academic reasons.

In a statement, Barnes said he remains hopeful that Brown will gain admission to UT at some point in the future and be able to join the basketball team. But that will not be happening for this fall.

Proximity In the news because it is happening

close to you.

Proximity Example

Plane crashes in Caldwell baseball field, narrowly missing players

Caldwell Police Chief Paul Lilly said that more than a dozen Little Leaguers practicing Wednesday evening at a baseball field saw a small plane just above the trees and headed toward them.

So they ran toward the outfield wall, and the plane crash-landed in the infield.

“By the grace of God, they all got out of the way,” Lilly said.

Consequence It is news because it is important to your

life.

Consequence Example

Students who have more than four absences in a class will have to wait to get their driver’s licenses.

Round Rock High School will no longer issue TEA forms, a form required to get permits and drivers’ licenses, to students who have more than four absences. Three tardies will count as an absence.

Timeliness It is in the news because it is happening now.

Timeliness Example

All over the city, kids are waking up much earlier than they really want to in order to head to a place they don’t really want to be.

Thousands of children will be boarding school buses in order to begin their first day of school.

Human Interest Usually found in the life and arts section Tugs at a person’s emotion. No other real news value.

Human interest example

Sarah Johnson has always wanted a dog. Now a 10 week old puppy wiggles in her lap, frantically trying to lick her face.

While the moment is truly happy for the moment, Johnson knows that in two years, the puppy will be full grown and she will have to give the dog over to his real job – being a guide to someone with a disability.

Determine the news element … The Dragon football team will play

Westwood tomorrow, continuing the 30 year battle of the bell tradition.

Timeliness

Determine the news element …

Scarlett Johansson may postpone her wedding to Ryan Reynolds until after the U.S. elections, says Showbiz Spy. She made the decision because her twin brother's busy with Obama's campaign. Or maybe she hopes her presidential crush will walk her down the aisle.

Prominence

Determine the news element … Construction has closed school

entrances and closed portions of parking lots, forcing students and faculty alike to scramble to rearrange their normal patterns.

Consequence

Determine the news element …

Most teenagers try to avoid thinking about school. One group on campus is focusing on it, but the school is in Africa.

English teacher Mary Esparza is leading a group of students in an effort to raise enough money to build a school and possible be on the Oprah show.

Human Interest

Determine the news element … Capital metro drivers will go on strike

tomorrow, protesting the proposed contract that would give them a minimal raise and raise the cost of health insurance.

Proximity