What is news?

1. What is news? ILEANA OROZA JANUARY, 2010

2. “The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society.” Bill Kovach

3. “Journalism is a form of cartography: It creates a map for citizens to navigate society.” Tom Rosenstiel, Bill Kovach

4. THE ELEMENTS OF JOURNALISM Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.   Its first loyalty is to citizens.   Its essence is a discipline of verification.   Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.   It must serve as an independent monitor of power.   It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.   It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.   It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.   Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience. (Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news.) Tom Rosenstiel, Bill Kovach

5. 2. JOURNALISM’S FIRST LOYALTY IS TO CITIZENS The basis of a news organization’s credibility is the audience’s understanding that the news is not slanted at the convenience of advertisers or owners Media organizations should provide coverage of all groups and offer a representative picture of all segments of society

6. WHAT IS “NEWS”? A CHANGE IN A RELATIONSHIP OR SOMETHING THAT DISRUPTS THE STATUS QUO CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT, BIG AND SMALL CONFLICT A WAR ISSUES OR PROBLEMS IN A COMMUNITY A CRICKET GAME A DISASTER TSUNAMI, HURRICANE, PLANE CRASH OTHER TRAGEDIES OF COMMUNITY CONSEQUENCE SOMETHING UNEXPECED TAKES PLACE POLICE ARREST STOCK MARKET “GENIUS” BERNARD MADOFF AND ACCUSE HIM OF CONDUCTING A $50 BILLION PONZI SCHEME

7. WHAT IS “NEWS”? A PROMINENT PERSON IS INVOLVED (THEIR ACTIONS COULD HAVE CONSEQUENCES, INSPIRE OTHERS OR ATTRACT CURIOSITY) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI IS PUNCHED IN THE NOSE FIRSTS; DISCOVERIES ADVANCES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS SOMETHING USEFUL IS REVEALED (CONSUMER STORIES) MEDICAL NEWS WAYS TO SAVE MONEY HUMAN INTEREST STORIES SOMETHING THAT WILL SIMPLY MAKE FOLKS TALK

8. WHAT DRIVES COVERAGE? The importance of a story determines its play The importance of a story is augmented by: Timeliness Magnitude Proximity

9. WHAT DRIVES COVERAGE? • MANY PEOPLE DECIDE WHAT IS IMPORTANT • Reporters • Assignment editors • Managing editors • Readers (webpage hits)

10. WHY DIDN’T MY STORY GET PLAY? • OFTEN THE DECISION TO RUN/PLAY A STORY DEPENDS ON MULTIPLE FACTORS • Staffing/Time/Expertise • Budget/Space • Competition/Exclusivity • Ownership of a story • Style and goal of newspaper • Possibilities for art/video • Day of week • Time of day

11. 7. JOURNALISM MUST STRIVE TO MAKE THE SIGNIFICANT INTERESTING Audience must be engaged as well as enlightened Part of a journalist’s responsibility is not just providing information but also providing it in such a way that people will be inclined to listen.

12. MAKE THE SIGNIFICANT INTERESTING • GOOD JOURNALIMS INVOLVES CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION • THE BEST APPROACH TO A STORY • THE BEST SOURCES • THE MOST INTERESTING DETAILS • TOOLS • VISUALIZATION • BRAINSTORMING

13. ONCE YOU ENGAGE READERS… • DON’T LEAVE THEM IN SUSPENSE • FOLLOW UPS • TICKLER FILE