The role of a journalist is to be out and about in the community, going to events, listening to people, and meeting them. Journalists get to know people connected to a story they are interested in (these people are commonly referred to as “sources”). If that person does not want to help, journalists might ask if they know someone else who might be good to talk to.
But the story has to be more than just interesting to the journalist – it needs to hold significance to the audience, too. Every day, journalists around the world are challenged with identifying what is newsworthy and what isn’t. Identifying news values in a potential story is one way to determine which topics are worth pursuing and which ones are not.
News Values
Timeliness
Immediate, current information and events are newsworthy because they have just recently occurred. It’s news because it’s “new.”
Does the story report an event that just happened, which viewers need to know about right now? Such as, the “just-in” election results of the town’s mayoral race or a breaking news report of an Amber alert for a missing child.
Proximity
Local information and events are newsworthy because they affect the people in our community and region. We care more about things that happen “close to home.”
Is the story important to viewers because it concerns their immediate environment? Building a new freeway in Washington, DC might be very important to residents of Washington, DC and its suburbs, but the story means very little to residents of Phoenix, AZ.
Prominence
Is the principal character in the story a well-known (prominent) individual, making the story newsworthy? The town mayor has decided to run for governor. A celebrity quits Hollywood to enlist in military service.
Conflict
When violence strikes or when people argue about actions, events, ideas or policies, we care. Conflict and controversy attract our attention by highlighting problems or differences within the community.
Does the story contain a controversy, struggle, or issue with two or more sides? Is the final outcome of interest to the public? For example, political campaigns, crime stories, governmental votes, and sporting events.
Impact
Does the story directly affect a significant number of viewers? If taxes are not raised by the city council, the salaries of all public workers (including firefighters, police officers, teachers, and city employees) will be reduced next year. Do the consequences of the story require the public to act or react in a specific way? Tornados have been sighted five miles outside of town. Schools are closing three hours early due to inclement weather.
Human interest
People are interested in other people. Everyone has something to celebrate and something to complain about. We like unusual stories of people who accomplish amazing feats or handle a life crisis because we can identify with them.
More…
Solution
People are interested in solutions. What can be done to solve a problem I care about? What are the possible solutions, what works and what doesn’t? What are the trade-offs and are the people making the decisions being honest about them?
Relevance
People are attracted to information that helps them make good decisions. If you like music, you find musician interviews relevant. If you’re looking for a job, the business news is relevant. We need relevant information that helps us make decisions.
Unusualness
Is there a particular aspect that makes the entire story unusual? A four-year-old boy is a piano prodigy and has been asked to perform at Carnegie Hall. Someone in the community celebrating a birthday is ordinary, but someone celebrating her 105th birthday is unusual and interesting.
Emotion
Will the story “pull at the heartstrings” of the public? A young soldier endured a two-year tour of duty in a war-ravaged land and finally returned to his hometown. He was crossing the street at the bus station to greet his wife and infant son, and was killed by a drunk driver who ran a red light.
Achievement
Does the story involve an amazing effort that leads to an outstanding achievement? The story of a young athlete who suffered a devastating injury and was told he would never be able to play his sport again. Sheer determination and training brought him back from his injuries to win a spot on the US Olympic Team.
Contrast
Does the contrast of two elements in the story create general interest? A story of two very different families celebrating the same religious holiday. A story detailing the life of a carnival worker 30 years ago, in contrast with the life of a carnival worker today.