
Elements of news judgment What editors take into account
What is news? • Curtis D. MacDougall • 1938 classic “Interpretative Reporting” • “News is an account of an event which a newspaper prints in the belief that by so doing it will profit.”
Deciding what’s news • Timeliness
Deciding what’s news • Timeliness • Impact
Deciding what’s news • Timeliness • Impact • Singularity (uniqueness)
Deciding what’s news • Timeliness • Impact • Singularity (uniqueness) • Proximity
Deciding what’s news • Timeliness • Impact • Singularity (uniqueness) • Proximity • Prominence
Deciding what’s news • Timeliness • Impact • Singularity (uniqueness) • Proximity • Prominence • Conflict
Timeliness • Something that just happened is newsier than something that happened a while ago
Timeliness • Something that just happened is newsier than something that happened a while ago • Key on the latest development, not the original incident
Impact • Real, not theoretical
Impact • Real, not theoretical • “World could end tomorrow”
Impact • Real, not theoretical • “World could end tomorrow” • Death is the ultimate impact
Impact • Real, not theoretical • “World could end tomorrow” • Death is the ultimate impact • Numbers also matter (how many)
Singularity • “Man bites dog”
Singularity • “Man bites dog” • Coincidence
Proximity • Local angle
Proximity • Local angle • How to define?
Proximity • Local angle • How to define? • In some cases, local local; in other cases the whole state, region or country
Proximity • Local angle • How to define? • In some cases, local local; in other cases the whole state, region or country • Just because something happened nearby doesn’t mean it’s newsworthy
Prominence • Celebrity
Prominence • Celebrity • A famous person
Prominence • Celebrity • A famous person • This does NOT refer to groups
Prominence • Celebrity • A famous person • This does NOT refer to groups • A story about a teacher is not necessarily newsworthy just because teachers occupy a prominent place in society
Conflict • Ranges from policy disputes
Conflict • Ranges from policy disputes • To sports rivalries
Conflict • Ranges from policy disputes • To sports rivalries • To shooting wars
Always a balancing act • Stories that have more elements of news are likely to be stronger than those with fewer
Always a balancing act • Stories that have more elements of news are likely to be stronger than those with fewer • But there are gradations within each category
Always a balancing act • Stories that have more elements of news are likely to be stronger than those with fewer • But there are gradations within each category • Bigger & smaller celebrities; bigger & smaller impacts; bigger & smaller conflicts
Who are our readers? • Local Oshkosh paper
Who are our readers? • Local Oshkosh paper • Traditional values
Who are our readers? • Local Oshkosh paper • Traditional values • Homogeneous
Who are our readers? • Local Oshkosh paper • Traditional values • Homogeneous • Sports/outdoors