News values pdf

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News Values: A Guide to Understanding What Makes News News

Introduction

News values are the criteria used by journalists and news organizations to determine what is newsworthy and what is not. These values are based on a combination of factors, including the significance of the event, the impact it has on people's lives, and the level of public interest. In this guide, we will explore the key news values that journalists use to decide what makes news.

The Five Ws

The Five Ws are a fundamental part of journalism and are used to gather information and write news stories. The Five Ws are:

• Who: Who is involved in the story?
• What: What happened?
• When: When did it happen?
• Where: Where did it happen?
• Why: Why did it happen?

News Values

There are several news values that journalists use to determine what is newsworthy. These values include:

• Impact: How does the event affect people's lives? Is it significant or trivial?
• Uniqueness: Is the event unusual or does it have a unique angle?
• Proximity: Is the event local or does it affect people in the community?
• Prominence: Is the person or organization involved in the event well-known or influential?
• Timeliness: Is the event recent or does it have relevance to current events?
• Conflict: Is there a conflict or controversy involved in the event?
• Human interest: Is there a human element to the story, such as a personal struggle or triumph?
• Novelty: Is the event unusual or does it have a unique twist?

The Hierarchy of News Values

Journalists often use a hierarchy of news values to determine what is newsworthy. The hierarchy typically goes like this:

1. Impact: Events that have a significant impact on people's lives are considered most newsworthy.
2. Uniqueness: Events that are unusual or have a unique angle are considered next most newsworthy.
3. Proximity: Local events that affect people in the community are considered next most newsworthy.
4. Prominence: Events involving well-known or influential people or organizations are considered next most newsworthy.
5. Timeliness: Recent events that are relevant to current events are considered next most newsworthy.
6. Conflict: Events that involve conflict or controversy are considered next most newsworthy.
7. Human interest: Events that have a human element, such as a personal struggle or triumph, are considered next most newsworthy.
8. Novelty: Events that are unusual or have a unique twist are considered least newsworthy.

Conclusion

News values are the criteria used by journalists and news organizations to determine what is newsworthy and what is not. By understanding the Five Ws and the hierarchy of news values, journalists can make informed decisions about what to cover and how to cover it.