News values theory

News values theory, also known as the "news values" or "news criteria," is a concept in journalism that refers to the factors that influence the selection and prioritization of news stories. The theory was first developed by Galtung and Ruge in 1965 and has since been widely applied in the field of journalism studies.

According to Galtung and Ruge, news values are the criteria that journalists use to determine what is newsworthy and what is not. These criteria include:

  1. Human interest: Stories that involve human beings, their experiences, and their emotions are more likely to be considered newsworthy.
  2. Proximity: News that occurs close to home, both geographically and culturally, is more likely to be covered.
  3. Impact: Stories that have a significant impact on a large number of people are more likely to be considered newsworthy.
  4. Uniqueness: News that is unusual, unexpected, or unprecedented is more likely to be covered.
  5. Frequency: Stories that occur frequently, such as daily or weekly events, are more likely to be covered.
  6. Negativity: News that is negative, such as accidents, disasters, or scandals, is more likely to be covered than positive news.
  7. Elites: News that involves powerful individuals or groups, such as politicians or celebrities, is more likely to be covered.
  8. Conflict: News that involves conflict, controversy, or drama is more likely to be covered.
  9. Timeliness: News that is timely, such as breaking news or developing stories, is more likely to be covered.
  10. Sensationalism: News that is sensational, shocking, or attention-grabbing is more likely to be covered.

These news values are not mutually exclusive, and journalists often consider multiple factors when deciding what to cover. The theory suggests that journalists are more likely to prioritize stories that have a combination of these news values.

The news values theory has been influential in shaping our understanding of the news selection process and has been applied in various contexts, including:

  1. Journalism studies: The theory has been used to analyze the news selection process and the factors that influence it.
  2. Media criticism: The theory has been used to critique the media's coverage of certain issues or events.
  3. Public relations: The theory has been used to understand how public relations practitioners can influence the news selection process.
  4. International news: The theory has been used to analyze the news selection process in international news and the factors that influence it.

However, the news values theory has also been criticized for being too simplistic and for neglecting other important factors that influence the news selection process, such as:

  1. Power dynamics: The theory has been criticized for neglecting the role of power dynamics in shaping the news selection process.
  2. Cultural factors: The theory has been criticized for neglecting the role of cultural factors in shaping the news selection process.
  3. Technological factors: The theory has been criticized for neglecting the role of technological factors in shaping the news selection process.

Overall, the news values theory remains an important concept in journalism studies, and its limitations have led to the development of more nuanced theories and frameworks for understanding the news selection process.