What is news?

1. What is news? October 4, 2013

2. News Elements • Timeliness • News isn’t news, we often are told, if it is not of recent vintage. In today’s 24/7 media landscape, it’s stressed more than ever. It also underscores the tyranny of the deadline. • Impact • Impact describes an issue’s effect on the public. • Currency • Articles with currency describe ongoing issues, using the ongoing nature of the story to maximum advantage.

3. News Elements Cntd. • Conflict • Perhaps the most common news value, conflict appears in nearly every imaginable story. • Novelty/Emotions • An unusual aspect to a story often gets coverage. In fact, human interest stories often cause news organizations to disregard the main rules of newsworthiness — they don’t date as quickly, they need not affect a large number of people and it may not matter where in the world the story takes place.

4. News Elements Cntd. • Prominence • Prominent individuals, such as politicians, celebrities and athletes often receive coverage by virtue of their position in society • Proximity • News events in areas close to the audience are covered to be more relevant than those further away

5. Local examples • http://www.dailycamera.com/cycling/ci_24231378/amy-dombroski-killed-europe-belgium-training-crashQuestions • http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-schools/ci_24227220/centaurus-engineering-students-build-test-cardboard-boats • http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_24227801/boulder-council-members-urge-action-trash-cans • http://www.dailycamera.com/the-bottom-line/ci_24233555/britney-spears-being-pushed-make-sexy-videos

6. Hallin’s spheres

7. Hallin’s spheres: Consensus • Sphere of Consensus • Contains those topics on which there is wide spread agreement, or at least the perception thereof. • Examples: free speech, the abolition of slavery, or human rights. • Journalists do not feel compelled to present an opposing view point or to remain disinterested observers.[2]

8. Hallin’s spheres: Controversy Sphere of Legitimate Controversy • Rational and informed people hold differing views. • These topics are the most important to cover, and also ones upon which journalists are obliged to remain disinterested reporters, rather than advocating for or against a particular view. • Examples?

9. Hallin’s spheres: Deviancy • Sphere of Deviancy • Topics in there sphere are rejected by journalists as being unworthy of general consideration. Such views are perceived as being either unfounded, taboo, or of such minor consequence that they are not news worthy. • For example, a person claiming that aliens are manipulating college basketball scores might have difficulty finding media coverage for such a claim.

10. Hallin’s spheres • In class, we looked at homosexuality in the 1950s. What other examples can you give of topics that have moved between spheres in the past century? • How have technological advancements influenced this model? • Do you think this model is still relevant, given what we know about media audiences?