* originally posted in "News in B-more" on 9/10/08
How often do you see, read or hear a story and say, “Can I have those two minutes of my life back?” Stories considered news in some venues are far from important in other arenas. As a journalist in training, I have been pondering the concepts of news and newsworthiness. Here is my working definition of news: Accurate, relevant information regarding a current event which is reported to a particular audience.
My textbook, All The News, gives much more detail. It lists nine factors that determine what is reportable. Community impact and proximity to the audience are key factors to publication and placement of a story, but there are other determinants. For instance, prominence (ie: public figures), unusualness and timeliness go without explaining.
Many have heard of human interest stories which are rooted in emotion. Another factor is currency. A story that is current will be related to other stories already in the news. Obviously, conflict makes up a huge portion of news content. “People are interested in other people who share characteristics…with them,” according to the text. This is called affinity.
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