The discourse of news values how news organizations create newsworthiness
The discourse of news values refers to the set of criteria that news organizations use to determine what is newsworthy and what is not. News values are the principles that guide journalists in deciding what stories to cover, how to prioritize them, and how to present them to the public. The concept of news values was first introduced by Galtung and Ruge (1965) in their study on the structure of foreign news.
According to Galtung and Ruge, news values are the factors that influence the selection and presentation of news stories. They identified 12 news values that are commonly used by news organizations to determine what is newsworthy:
- Human interest: Stories that focus on individuals or groups and their experiences, emotions, and struggles.
- Conflict: Stories that involve conflict, controversy, or competition.
- Proximity: Stories that are geographically close to the audience.
- Impact: Stories that have significant consequences or effects on people's lives.
- Uniqueness: Stories that are unusual, rare, or extraordinary.
- Timeliness: Stories that are recent or breaking news.
- Prominence: Stories that involve well-known individuals or organizations.
- Drama: Stories that are exciting, dramatic, or sensational.
- Frequency: Stories that are repetitive or ongoing.
- Negativity: Stories that are negative or critical.
- Eliteness: Stories that involve powerful or influential individuals or organizations.
- Surprise: Stories that are unexpected or surprising.
These news values are not mutually exclusive, and news organizations often use a combination of them to determine what is newsworthy. For example, a story about a local flood that affects a large number of people and has significant consequences (impact) may be considered newsworthy because it involves human interest, proximity, and timeliness.
The discourse of news values is important because it shapes the way news is presented to the public. By emphasizing certain news values over others, news organizations can influence public opinion, shape public discourse, and create a particular narrative about the world. For example, a news organization that prioritizes human interest stories may create a narrative that emphasizes the personal struggles and triumphs of individuals, while a news organization that prioritizes conflict may create a narrative that emphasizes the competition and conflict between different groups.
However, the discourse of news values has also been criticized for its limitations and biases. Some argue that the news values prioritized by news organizations reflect the interests and values of the dominant social groups, rather than the needs and concerns of the broader public. Others argue that the news values used by news organizations can be influenced by factors such as ideology, politics, and commercial considerations.
Overall, the discourse of news values is an important concept in understanding how news organizations create newsworthiness and shape public opinion. By recognizing the news values that are used by news organizations, we can better understand the ways in which news is constructed and presented to the public.