WHAT IS “NEWS”?Intro to Journalism

•Divide into groups of 3-4•Share your stories—tell what each story is about in 1 sentence•As a group, decide why each story is “news”•Make a list of all your reasons (“characteristics”)

3 News Stories

Your definition?

So, What Is “News”?

Throughout the years, journalists have tried to answer the question: “What is news?”

Other Voices

David Brinkley1960s-1970s NBC News anchorman

Editorial Judgment

News is …“what I say it is.”

Stanley Walker1930s New York Herald Tribune editor

SensationalismNews is …“women, wampum and wrong-doing”(sex, money & crime)

John B. Bogart19th Century editor, New York Sun

Unusualness

“When a dog bites man, it isn’t news. But when a man bites a dog, it’s news.”

ABC executive producerPersonal Impact

“People are interested in stories about how safe the world is, how safe their families are, and how safe their money is.”

News is information that is not previously known and has some impact on audience.

So, What Is “News”?

What elements must a story have to make it “newsworthy”?

Characteristics of News

Timeliness A characteristic of

a news story that is reported as soon as it happens

The closer to the event, the better

Anniversaries

Timeliness examples

Prominence A characteristic

of a news story about someone whose name or job is well known & easily recognized by the public. Audience

determines who is prominent

Prominence examples

Proximity A characteristic of

a news story that happens close to home. The closer to

home, the more newsworthy

Local angles give proximity to more universal stories

Proximity examples

Conflict A characteristic of

a news story that involves two sides engaged in a “battle” from which one will emerge the victor. Winners and

losers easy to report

Same appeal as fiction

Conflict examples

Impact A characteristic of a

news story based on the effect or consequence the story will have on the audience. Greater the impact, the

more newsworthy More local or wide-

spread the impact, the more newsworthy

Impact examples

Human Interest A characteristic of a

news story about people, usually those involved in some emotional struggle. Unusualness or other

characteristics determine newsworthiness

Human Interest example

In your small groups, label the news characteristics in each story.

Look at your news stories