What Made This News? Missouri, Illinois ACT scores not showing progress Missouri’s graduating class of 2015 had an average of 21.7 on the ACT college entrance exam, an overall score that has hardly budged in the last five years, according to results released Wednesday. The trend is also true for Illinois and across the nation, prompting those in charge of the test to say the lack of progress should be a wake-up call for the country. “The needle is barely moving on college and career readiness, and that means far too many young people will continue to struggle after they graduate from high school,” said Jon Whitmore, ACT’s chief executive officer. This was the first year all juniors at Missouri public schools had the opportunity to take the college entrance exam for free, but results released Wednesday won’t reflect that. The 2015 results consist of scores in English, math, reading and science for students who graduated this past spring at both public and private schools.

Understanding News  Definition of News  News Triangle  News Values  Interest Elements  Functions of the Media  Determining the Angle

“News is the first rough draft of history.” -Phillip Graham, Washington Post editor

“When a dog bites a man, that is not news. But, when a man bites a dog, that IS news.” -Charles Dana, New York Sun editor

“News is anything you can find out today that you didn’t know before.” -Turner Catledge, New York Times editor

“News is anything that makes a reader say, ‘Gee Whiz’.” -William Randolph Hearst, American newspaper tycoon

A Definition of News  News must be factual, yet not all facts are news.  News may be opinion, especially that of a prominent person or an authority on a subject.  What is news today is often not news tomorrow.

A Definition of News  News is primarily about people— what they say & do.  News is not necessarily a report of a recent event.  What is important news to one community or school may have little news value in another or may be important/interesting to everyone.  What is news for one person may not be news for another.

Media Functions -Publish the news -Comment on the news -Entertain readers -Help readers -Publish advertising

Not News No News Bearers The Duh Room

Hard News & Soft News  Hard News: has significance for a large audience; about timely events in gvt., politics, foreign affairs, education, labor, religion, courts, finances etc.  Soft News: usually less important because it entertains first, informs second. It includes human interest and feature stories.

Getting News To People You have to constantly ask one question: WHO CARES? SO WHAT? Show readers why they need to care!

Newspaper Coverage Interest Facts Audience What makes something “News”?

News Qualities -Accuracy: all facts checked -Balance: emphasis & completeness; cover both sides & select facts equally -Objectivity/Fairness: be fair; avoid conflicts of interest -Conciseness/Clarity: avg. 8th grade level -Timeliness: doesn’t mean current, means appropriate

Avoiding Bias Journalists must approach their stories with an unbiased perspective Unbiased does not mean trying not to have opinions or feelings on things or people, it means we keep our own perspectives out of news stories so that we can focus on facts and expert opinions

Types of Bias 1. Bias by omission: leaving out facts that you don’t “like” or you don’t “think are true.” Or, leaving out an important perspective. 2. Bias by selection of sources: including sources that only support one view. Including sources that are trying to further their own agenda. 3. Bias by story selection: choosing stories that further a cause, or ignoring stories that you don’t like or that might cause trouble for friends. 4. Bias by word choice: using loaded words or labels that convey certain meanings instead of more neutral terms (“freedom fighter v. terrorist”)

How Do Different Media Outlets Cover The Story?  Story Topic: Presidential Race  Media: People, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Seventeen, Post- Dispatch, Image, Rolling Stone, local tv broadcast

How Do Different Media Outlets Cover The Story?  Story Topic: World Series  Media: People, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Seventeen, Post- Dispatch, Image, local tv

Interest Elements Impact/Consequence: does it affect the audience? Timeliness: focus on the newest angle Proximity: is it close to home or heart? Prominence: well known or talked about people make items newsworthy Novelty/Human Interest: something new, odd, surprising, emotional, original Conflict: opposing forces, suspense, rivalry, political battle Currency: Is it something everyone is talking about in social media or other news media

Impact / Timeliness / Proximity / Prominence / Novelty / Conflict / Currency 1) School Board elections next month 2) Students form new Paintball Club 3) Class rank dropped 4) New driving/cell phone law passed 5) New freshman class includes five sets of twins, two sets of triplets & set of quads 6) Parents/students protest dress code 7) Caitlyn Jenner magazine cover Interest Elements Practice