7 news values

The 7 news values, also known as the "news values" or "news criteria," are a set of principles used by journalists and news organizations to determine what is newsworthy and what stories are worth reporting. The 7 news values were first identified by Galtung and Ruge in 1965 and are still widely used today. Here are the 7 news values:

  1. Human interest: Stories that focus on people and their personal experiences, emotions, and struggles tend to be more newsworthy. This value emphasizes the importance of human stories and the emotional connection between the audience and the story.
  2. Impact: Stories that have a significant impact on a large number of people or have the potential to do so are considered more newsworthy. This value emphasizes the importance of stories that can affect people's lives.
  3. Uniqueness: Stories that are unusual, unexpected, or unique tend to be more newsworthy. This value emphasizes the importance of stories that stand out from the ordinary and routine.
  4. Proximity: Stories that are geographically close to the audience or have a direct impact on their community tend to be more newsworthy. This value emphasizes the importance of local and regional news.
  5. Relevance: Stories that are relevant to the audience's interests, concerns, or values tend to be more newsworthy. This value emphasizes the importance of stories that resonate with the audience.
  6. Timeliness: Stories that are timely and up-to-date tend to be more newsworthy. This value emphasizes the importance of reporting on current events and breaking news.
  7. Conflict: Stories that involve conflict, controversy, or drama tend to be more newsworthy. This value emphasizes the importance of stories that create tension or excitement.

These 7 news values are not mutually exclusive, and many stories may fit into multiple categories. By considering these values, journalists and news organizations can determine what stories are most likely to engage and inform their audience.