1. Elements of News What editors consider Slide 1

2. What is news? 1.Come up with your own definition of what news is to share with class. Write this down. 2.Discuss with persons at your table. 3.As a group come up with a definition on which all can agree. Write this down. 4. How did the definition change? 5.Was it difficult to agree what news is? Slide 2

3. What is news? News is an account of an event which a newspaper prints in the belief that by so doing it will profit. Curtis D. MacDougall 1938 classic Interpretative Reporting 6. How does groups definition compare to MacDougalls? Slide 3

4. Gatekeepers Editors* make decisions based on criteria* Variation of criteria wording exists However, reasoning is same or similar Control what is reported (gatekeeping) * Newsroom leaders *A standard for judging or deciding Slide 4

5. Newsworthy Noteworthy as news Topical Having value as news Slide 5

6. Deciding whats news 7.Discuss with persons at your table how editors (people running TV, newspapers, etc.) decide what stories to run. 8.List top three criteria your table believes is important in deciding which items make something newsworthy. Slide 6

7. Elements of News Criteria for deciding whats news a)Timeliness b)Prominence c)Consequence d)Proximity e)Change / Progress / Action Slide 7

8. Elements of News Criteria for deciding whats news f)Concreteness / Impact g)Personality / Human Interest h)Rarity / Singularity (uniqueness) i)Conflict Slide 8

9. a) Timeliness Something that just happened is newsier than something that happened a while ago Key on the latest development, not the original incident Its new, otherwise, wed call it olds Slide 9

10. b) Prominence Celebrity, politician famous A famous person This does not refer to groups A story about a teacher is not necessarily newsworthy just because teachers occupy a prominent place in society Slide 10

11. c) Consequence Importance Importance of the event. How large number of people will/did it an effect on? consequence Less consequence when affecting fewer people. Ask yourself how many people will be affected. Slide 11

12. d) Proximity Local angle* How to define? In some cases, local local; in other cases the whole state, region or country Think about a bull's eye, closer to center higher the score Just because something happened nearby doesnt mean its newsworthy *direction story takes, slant Slide 12

13. e) Change / Progress / Action When there is a new or different way to do something An advancement Slide 13

14. f) Concreteness / Impact Real, not theoretical* World could end tomorrow Death is the ultimate impact Numbers also matter (how many) *in theory only, not tangible (touchable) Slide 14

15. g) Personality / Human Interest emotions Anything that appeals to the readers emotions Makes him laugh, cry, get angry, feel sympathy, etc….has the potential for human interest. Warm and fuzzy feeling Slide 15

16. h) Rarity/Singularity (uniqueness) unusual An unusual, strange occurrence May have never happened before The strange or unusual is fascinating to many readers. Related to Personality/Human Interest Slide 16

17. i) Conflict Ranges from policy disputes (politics) To sports rivalries To shooting wars Any time there is a struggle Slide 17

18. Examples Set 1 S1Sarah Johnson has always wanted a dog. Now a 10 week old puppy wiggles in her lap, frantically trying to lick her face. S2The Mustang football team will play Wilsonville tomorrow, hoping to continue its win streak. S1Sarah Johnson has always wanted a dog. Now a 10 week old puppy wiggles in her lap, frantically trying to lick her face. S2The Mustang football team will play Wilsonville tomorrow, hoping to continue its win streak. Slide 18 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict

19. Examples Set 2 S3Construction has closed school entrances and closed portions of parking lots, forcing students and faculty alike to scramble to rearrange their normal patterns. S4Its been 41 years since Arnold Palmer won the last of his seven major championships. But hes still the biggest draw. S3Construction has closed school entrances and closed portions of parking lots, forcing students and faculty alike to scramble to rearrange their normal patterns. S4Its been 41 years since Arnold Palmer won the last of his seven major championships. But hes still the biggest draw. Slide 19 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict

20. Examples Set 3 S5Be the first to know: "Like" the North Clackamas Schools Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Nor thClackamasSchools to get regular posts about NC12 schools and community events. www.facebook.com/Nor thClackamasSchools S5Be the first to know: "Like" the North Clackamas Schools Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Nor thClackamasSchools to get regular posts about NC12 schools and community events. www.facebook.com/Nor thClackamasSchools Slide 20 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict

21. Examples Set 4 S6Geologists have detected a fault zone tat stretching about 20 miles from the northern flank of Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. Hidden by trees and dense vegetation, it had previously gone unnoticed. Slide 21 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict

22. Examples Set 5 S7Geologists have detected a fault zone stretching about 20 miles from the northern flank of Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. Hidden by trees and dense vegetation, it had previously gone unnoticed. S8 The founder of Zupan's Markets, a grocery chain in Oregon, has died, following a hit-and-run crash. S7Geologists have detected a fault zone stretching about 20 miles from the northern flank of Mt. Hood to the Columbia River. Hidden by trees and dense vegetation, it had previously gone unnoticed. S8 The founder of Zupan's Markets, a grocery chain in Oregon, has died, following a hit-and-run crash. Slide 22 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict

23. Examples Set 6 S9People in one Tigard neighborhood are fighting the city to keep a beaver dam in place. S10 A former bathroom in the nation's oldest public park is being converted into a sandwich shop. S9People in one Tigard neighborhood are fighting the city to keep a beaver dam in place. S10 A former bathroom in the nation's oldest public park is being converted into a sandwich shop. Slide 23 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity H. Rarity I. Conflict I. Conflict

24. Examples Set 7 S11On September 25, 11 teams will test their mettle on The Amazing Race. One of the contestants this year is farmer and rancher Bill Alden, 63, of Albany, Ore.The Amazing Race S12 Crews work to protect historic Mt Hood buildings from wildfire. S11On September 25, 11 teams will test their mettle on The Amazing Race. One of the contestants this year is farmer and rancher Bill Alden, 63, of Albany, Ore.The Amazing Race S12 Crews work to protect historic Mt Hood buildings from wildfire. Slide 24 A. Timeliness A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence C. Consequence D. Proximity D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity H. Rarity I. Conflict I. Conflict

25. Examples Set 8 S13A top official in China's turbulent Xinjiang region said security forces have defused a number of threats to public safety in recent weeks but is providing few details. S14 MAX turns 25 on Friday, with TriMet celebrations planned in Portland and Gresham. S13A top official in China's turbulent Xinjiang region said security forces have defused a number of threats to public safety in recent weeks but is providing few details. S14 MAX turns 25 on Friday, with TriMet celebrations planned in Portland and Gresham. Slide 25 A. Timeliness A. Timeliness B. Prominence B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict I. Conflict

26. Examples Set 9 S15 Karen Grondin recently opened Grapevine Graphics and Picture Framing at Singer Hill Cafe and Desserts at 623 Seventh St. S16 A house fire in Damascus is estimated to have caused $150,000 worth of damage. S15 Karen Grondin recently opened Grapevine Graphics and Picture Framing at Singer Hill Cafe and Desserts at 623 Seventh St. S16 A house fire in Damascus is estimated to have caused $150,000 worth of damage. Slide 26 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict

27. Examples Set 10 S17 Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley is prepared to fully the support the Portland City Council if it chooses to request a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys requirement to replace the citys five open reservoirs. Slide 27 A. Timeliness B. Prominence C. Consequence D. Proximity D. Proximity E. Change E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity I. Conflict

28. Examples Set 11 S18 Its been 10 years since terrorists attacked New Yorks Twin Towers and the Pentagon and passengers foiled another attack by crashing a plane into a Pennsylvania field. S19 More than two decades since the great-grandmothers first skydive, Frankie Bryant, 69, still loves the sensation of falling through the skies. S18 Its been 10 years since terrorists attacked New Yorks Twin Towers and the Pentagon and passengers foiled another attack by crashing a plane into a Pennsylvania field. S19 More than two decades since the great-grandmothers first skydive, Frankie Bryant, 69, still loves the sensation of falling through the skies. Slide 28 A. Timeliness A. Timeliness B. Prominence B. Prominence C. Consequence C. Consequence D. Proximity E. Change F. Concreteness G. Personality H. Rarity H. Rarity I. Conflict

29. Always a balancing act Stories having more elements of news have stronger newsworthiness But there are gradations within each category Bigger & smaller celebrities; bigger & smaller impacts; bigger & smaller conflicts Slide 29

30. Who are our readers? Local paper Traditional values Homogeneous* vs. heterogeneous* Sports/outdoors *Same mix throughout *Different throughout Slide 30

31. Three goals of journalism Inform Educate Entertain 31

32. Goal of publisher* Make money! * A person or company owning a news organization Slide 32