Internet Journalism 35
What Is News?
(Or, as they say in the commercials, WAZZZUPPPP?)

Definition and Evaluation of News News is what happens to and is people. It is anything you learn today that you didn't know yesterday. News is information people need. It's written to inform the reader. News is a timely report of an event of sufficient importance to interest a number of people and possesses a combination of elements of appeal.  

News is evaluated by journalists in terms of:  

  • Authenticity -- the genuine news value of the report. It means the event happened and is not fiction.
  • Good taste -- the content does not offend the readers' social, religious or cultural mores.
  • Mass Appeal -- the content affects or interests readers in some way, for some reason.

    • Mass appeal is determined by certain news elements generally categorized as:  

    Immediacy

    Events that happen today are more interesting to the reader than events of yesterday or the day before.  

    Proximity

    Readers are generally more interested in something that has happened close to home rather than in a distant location, unless there is a local tie to that faraway place.  

    Consequence

    News can be localized by telling readers how an event will affect them.  

    Conflict

    Readers are drawn to stories dealing with conflict, such as stories about war, sports, domestic confrontations, elections, crime or man against nature.  

    Oddity

    Anything unusual or comical can make a story that will draw reader attention, but it must be in good taste.  

    Sex

    Stories about feminism, single parenthood, role reversals, rape, fraternization and women in combat are issues a responsible newspaper cannot avoid. These stories must be written in good taste.  

    Emotion

    Stories that cause readers to feel sympathy, anger, sadness or happiness make good copy. Emotions can draw readers into the story.  

    Prominence

    People are naturally interested in the activities of well-known people. Prominent, newsworthy people on your military installation include the post commander, senior NCO, etc.  

    Suspense

    News events or situations that have not been concluded may be read as eagerly as any mystery story or serial.  

    Progress

    By their nature, advancements -- in any field, discipline, specialty, etc. -- are news and interest readers, especially if they affect the reader. 

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