Mass Communication and Journalism: Journalism Practice and News Writing - News Values and Newsworthiness Timeliness Proximity Impact Prominence Conflict Human Interest

What It Is

News values and newsworthiness refer to the criteria used by journalists to determine what stories are worth covering and how to prioritize them. A classic example of this is the 1972 Watergate scandal, where investigative journalist Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's reporting on the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters led to a massive scandal that ultimately led to President Richard Nixon's resignation. This matters for media analysis, journalistic practice, and public communication because understanding news values helps journalists make informed decisions about what stories to cover and how to present them to the public.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Timeliness: The importance of reporting on events as they happen, rather than after they have passed. Example: The 24-hour news cycle, where news outlets strive to be the first to report on breaking news.
• Proximity: The importance of reporting on events that are geographically close to the journalist's location. Example: A local newspaper covering a car accident on a nearby highway.
• Impact: The significance of an event's consequences, such as the number of people affected or the severity of the outcome. Example: A report on a natural disaster that has caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
• Prominence: The importance of reporting on events involving well-known or influential individuals. Example: A news story about a celebrity's scandalous behavior.
• Conflict: The importance of reporting on events that involve disagreement or opposition. Example: A news story about a labor union strike.
• Human Interest: The importance of reporting on stories that are relatable and engaging to the audience. Example: A heartwarming story about a local charity event.
• Sensationalism: The use of attention-grabbing headlines or language to attract readers. Example: A tabloid newspaper with a bold, attention-grabbing headline.
• Objectivity: The principle of reporting on events without bias or personal opinion. Example: A news story that presents both sides of a controversy.
• Sourcing: The practice of verifying information through credible sources. Example: A news story that cites multiple eyewitnesses and official records.
• Newsworthiness: The overall assessment of a story's importance and relevance to the audience. Example: A news editor deciding which stories to prioritize for the front page.
• Gatekeeping: The process of selecting which stories to cover and how to present them to the audience. Example: A news editor deciding which stories to assign to reporters.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: News values are subjective and arbitrary.
• Correction: News values are based on a set of established criteria that are widely accepted in the journalism industry. For example, the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics states that journalists should "seek truth and report it" and "avoid sensationalism" (SPJ, 2014).
• Misunderstanding: Journalists can report on any story they want, without considering the audience's needs or interests.
• Correction: Journalists have a responsibility to consider the audience's needs and interests when selecting and presenting stories. For example, a study by the Pew Research Center found that 71% of Americans say that news organizations have a responsibility to report on issues that are important to the public, even if they are not widely covered (Pew, 2019).
• Misunderstanding: News values are only relevant to print journalism.
• Correction: News values are relevant to all forms of journalism, including online, broadcast, and social media. For example, a study by the Knight Foundation found that online news outlets are just as likely to prioritize timeliness and proximity as print outlets (Knight, 2018).

Quick Application / Identification

Scenario: A news editor is deciding which stories to prioritize for the front page. She has three options: a story about a local charity event, a story about a national election, and a story about a natural disaster. Which story would she most likely prioritize?

Answer: The natural disaster story, because it has a greater impact and is more likely to affect a larger number of people.

Explanation: This is an example of the news value of impact, which prioritizes stories that have significant consequences.

Last?Minute Revision

• News values are based on a set of established criteria that are widely accepted in the journalism industry.
• The Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics states that journalists should "seek truth and report it" and "avoid sensationalism" (SPJ, 2014).
• 71% of Americans say that news organizations have a responsibility to report on issues that are important to the public, even if they are not widely covered (Pew, 2019).
• Online news outlets are just as likely to prioritize timeliness and proximity as print outlets (Knight, 2018).
• The news value of human interest prioritizes stories that are relatable and engaging to the audience.
• The news value of sensationalism prioritizes attention-grabbing headlines or language to attract readers.
• The principle of objectivity requires journalists to report on events without bias or personal opinion.
• Sourcing involves verifying information through credible sources.
• Newsworthiness is the overall assessment of a story's importance and relevance to the audience.
• Gatekeeping involves selecting which stories to cover and how to present them to the audience.
• The news value of conflict prioritizes stories that involve disagreement or opposition.
• The news value of prominence prioritizes stories that involve well-known or influential individuals.
• The news value of timeliness prioritizes stories that are reported on as they happen.
• The news value of proximity prioritizes stories that are geographically close to the journalist's location.
• The news value of impact prioritizes stories that have significant consequences.