The selection of news stories by journalists is influenced by several factors. The article discusses these factors and how they affect the value of news stories. We also look at what kind of news stories are most valuable: scandals, human interest stories, and violence. We’ll also discuss how the value of news varies depending on the medium.
Factors determining journalists’ selection of news stories
The selection of news stories by journalists can vary depending on a number of factors. In general, editors of different kinds of newspapers have different priorities, and these may have a bearing on the type of news stories selected. Time-pressure and space constraints play an important role in newspaper production, and editors may also be motivated by a desire to get the story into print as quickly as possible.
Influences on news values
News values are important concepts in journalism and communication studies. They explain the choices made by gatekeepers in a world of scarcity. However, the subject is far from settled. Some authors argue that the same values apply across cultures, while others suggest that news values are different in different cultures.
Human interest stories
Human interest stories are stories that are not only interesting but also have a broader social impact. They can stir emotions such as compassion, sympathy, anger, fear, or love. A good human interest story should describe people in an accurate manner, focus on the emotions involved, and end on a positive note.
Violence and scandal
Violence and scandal are common topics in news reports, but studies have not consistently examined how they’re represented in news reports. Most studies focus on the types of violence covered, and no study has looked at regional differences in coverage. The study aims to answer these questions through a detailed analysis of news content. To do so, it examined the frequency of the use of 27 terms related to sexual violence in the news. Using these terms, researchers identified 2,600 articles from the top 50 U.S. traditional print media outlets. The articles were ranked by region and publication year.
Familiarity
Familiarity with news can be a social practice and a form of civic engagement. By integrating news into the classroom, professors can better prepare students for lifelong learning in a democracy. Alison J. Head, senior research fellow at metaLAB at Harvard University and visiting scholar at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Erica DeFrain, Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, say that familiarity with news can enhance civic engagement.
Timeliness
Timeliness is an important attribute in news reporting. It allows news to appear at the precise moment when a person or event is happening. For example, an application for a job might be timely, while a news station could be desperate to find an anchor for its next newscast. These and other elements constitute journalistic timeliness, and this study explores the organizational and cultural dynamics of journalistic timeliness.