Introducing a converged news operation is rarely easy. Those trying to introduce changes in workflows, roles and responsibilities are often met with resistance.

Media Helping Media received a request from a national newspaper in the Caribbean for advice about introducing newsroom convergence.

The person who contacted us had met resistance to change from senior newspaper staff who feared that convergence would threaten their jobs, strip their newspaper of resources,  and weaken its impact.

What they had failed to grasp is that newsroom convergence is an essential editorial and business strategy. It involves the creation of a ‘content factory’ delivering news to whatever device/format the audience uses in order to receive their news.

The following is the advice we shared, which was followed and implemented.

The challenge of converging news operations

Merging different news platforms (print, TV, online, and all digital and social outlets) into a single, unified operation, known as “convergence,” is an essential process for the survival of a media business. However it is often faces significant resistance.

Why resistance occurs:

• Fear of change: Existing departments, especially the dominant ones, often view convergence as a distraction or a threat to their established workflows and roles.
• Lack of senior leadership buy-in: Without strong support from top editors and managers, convergence efforts can be met with negativity or half-hearted attempts.

How to overcome resistance and implement convergence:

• Establish clear business imperatives:
  • Senior management must communicate clearly the necessity of convergence for the media organisation’s survival and future success.
  • They need to explain why it’s essential, what it entails, how it will be implemented, and who will be responsible.
  • Convergence should be integrated into a new, well-defined business model with a solid business plan.
• Secure unwavering senior management support:
  • All senior leaders must fully embrace convergence based on its business logic.
  • They must communicate the implementation steps to all staff and address how each department will be affected.
• Address staff concerns:
  • Acknowledge and address staff fears, which may include:
    • Dilution of responsibilities and loss of status.
    • Challenges in managing different publishing cycles (daily/weekly vs. real-time).
    • The need to learn new technologies.
    • Concerns about a potential decline in quality.
• Create a centralised “Content Factory”:
  • Establish a “superdesk” as a central command-and-control area for all news production.
  • Ensure close collaboration between input, production, and output teams.
  • Implement a single, comprehensive news meeting involving representatives from all platforms (print, broadcast, online, social media, etc.).
  • Change the mindset from deadline driven output, to verified information driven output.
• Align objectives and appraisals:
  • Make convergence a core business objective that filters down to departmental, unit, and individual goals.
  • Incorporate convergence performance into staff appraisals.
• Tailor convergence to your specific needs:
  • Recognise that convergence is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
  • Adapt the process to fit your organisation’s location, market, audience, and potential.
• Ask the important questions:
  • Is your media business keeping pace with changing audience behaviour?
  • Are you maximising all content exploitation opportunities?
  • Are you effectively informing public debate across all platforms?

The importance of convergence:

• Convergence is crucial for the survival and future viability of media organisations.
• While staff may have doubts, it’s essential to move forward with a clear and decisive strategy.
• The challenge for media managers is how to articulate that strategy in a way that is convincing, inclusive, positive for the individuals involved, and which assures all that it is the only way to future-proof the media organisation’s business.

Questions

1. What is newsroom convergence, and why is it considered an essential strategy for media businesses?
2. Identify two main reasons why senior newspaper staff might resist newsroom convergence.
3. Describe the role of senior management in successfully implementing convergence in a media organisation.
4. What is a “content factory,” and how does it function within a converged newsroom?
5. Explain how convergence can be tailored to fit the specific needs of a media organisation.
6. Discuss the importance of aligning objectives and appraisals with convergence goals.
7. How can media managers effectively communicate the necessity of convergence to their staff?
8. What are some potential staff concerns regarding convergence, and how can they be addressed?
9. Analyse the impact of convergence on the quality of news production and distribution.
10. Evaluate the statement: “Convergence is crucial for the survival and future viability of media organisations.”

Answers

1. Newsroom convergence is the merging of the news gathering, production and distribution of different news platforms into a single operation. It is essential for media businesses to adapt to changing audience behaviours and maximise content exploitation opportunities.
2. Resistance may occur due to fear of change and lack of senior leadership buy-in.
3. Senior management must clearly communicate the necessity of convergence, integrate it into a business model, and secure support from all leaders.
4. A ‘content factory’ is a centralised ‘command-and-control’ area for news production, ensuring collaboration across platforms and focusing on verified information.
5. Convergence should be adapted to the organisation’s location, market, audience, and potential, recognising it is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
6. Aligning objectives and appraisals ensures that convergence becomes a core business goal, influencing departmental and individual performance.
7. Media managers should articulate a clear, inclusive, and positive strategy that assures staff of convergence’s necessity for future-proofing the business.
8. Staff concerns include dilution of responsibilities and learning new technologies. Addressing these involves acknowledging fears and providing support.
9. Convergence can enhance quality by ensuring consistent, verified information across platforms, though it may also challenge traditional publishing cycles.
10. Convergence is crucial as it allows media organisations to remain competitive and relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape.

Lesson plan for trainers

If you are a trainer of journalists we have a free lesson plan: ‘Newsroom convergence‘ which you are welcome to download and adapt for your own purposes.

We have more resources about convergence, how to introduce it, and the workflows and roles and responsibilities involved.

Creating a converged news operation

Convergence: workflows, roles and responsibilities

The post Convergence: transforming news production first appeared on Media Helping Media.

The job of the journalist is to uncover the stories that shape our understanding of the world.

It’s not merely about reacting to events, but about proactively seeking the narratives that illuminate the human experience.

While traditional categories such as conflict and disaster remain relevant, the modern news landscape demands a more nuanced and interconnected approach.

Expanding the traditional categories:

• Conflicts: Beyond the battlefield:
  • While armed conflicts remain significant, the concept of conflict has broadened. We must consider:
    • Information warfare: The spread of misinformation and disinformation as a tool of conflict.
    • Cyber conflicts: Attacks on critical infrastructure and data breaches.
    • Social and cultural conflicts: Debates surrounding identity, representation, and social justice.
    • Economic conflicts: Trade wars, financial instability, and resource scarcity.
  • Example: A story could explore the impact of social media algorithms on political polarisation, highlighting the subtle but powerful conflicts shaping society.
• Disaster and tragedy: Resilience and response:
  • Beyond reporting the immediate devastation, journalists must focus on:
    • Climate change-induced disasters: Increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
    • Systemic failures: Investigating the root causes of disasters, such as inadequate infrastructure or regulatory oversight.
    • Community resilience: Highlighting stories of recovery and adaptation.
    • Psychological impact: reporting on the mental health toll of disasters.
  • Example: An in-depth report on the long-term effects of rising sea levels on coastal communities, focusing on adaptation strategies and the displacement of populations.
• Progress and development: Sustainable and inclusive growth:
  • Development is no longer solely about economic growth. It encompasses:
    • Sustainable development: Balancing economic progress with environmental protection.
    • Social equity: Addressing inequalities in access to education, healthcare, and opportunity.
    • Technological ethics: Examining the societal implications of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies.
    • Cultural preservation: Documenting the impact of globalisation on local traditions and languages.
  • Example: A story on a community-led initiative that combines renewable energy with traditional farming practices, promoting both economic and environmental sustainability.
• Crime: Justice, accountability, and prevention:
  • Crime reporting should go beyond sensationalism to explore:
    • Systemic issues: Investigating the root causes of crime, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity.
    • Cybercrime: The increasing prevalence of online scams, identity theft, and data breaches.
    • White-collar crime: Holding corporations and individuals accountable for financial misconduct.
    • Restorative justice: Exploring alternative approaches to crime that focus on rehabilitation and community healing.
  • Example: An investigative report on the rise of online scams targeting vulnerable populations, examining the role of social media platforms and law enforcement.
• Money: The economics of everyday life:
  • Beyond financial markets, focus on:
    • The gig economy: The impact of precarious employment on workers’ lives.
    • Financial literacy: Empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions.
    • Economic inequality: Examining the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
    • Inflation: The impact of inflation and interest rates on the average person.
  • Example: a series of stories that follow the financial lives of several families in a community, highlighting the challenges they face in managing their budgets.
• The underdog: Amplifying marginalised voices:
  • This remains crucial, but we must also consider:
    • Intersectionality: Recognising the complex interplay of social identities and experiences of marginalisation.
    • Citizen journalism: Empowering individuals to tell their own stories.
    • Holding power to account: Investigating abuses of power in all sectors of society.
    • Accessibility: ensuring that information is accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.
  • Example: A collaborative project that partners with community organisations to document the experiences of undocumented immigrants.
• Religion: Faith, culture, and society:
  • Focus on:
    • Interfaith dialogue: Promoting understanding and cooperation between different religious communities.
    • The role: How religion is active in social and political movements.
    • The impact: The affect secularisation has on religious institutions.
    • Extremism: The rise of religious extremism.
  • Example: a report on how different religious communities are working together to address climate change.
• Famous people: Influence and accountability:
  • Beyond celebrity gossip, explore:
    • Influencers: The influence of social media influencers.
    • Public figures: The responsibility of public figures to use their platforms for good.
    • Youth: The impact of celebrity culture on young people.
    • Executive: Holding powerful people accountable for their actions.
  • Example: An investigation into the environmental impact of a celebrity’s private jet usage.
• Health: Wellbeing in a changing world:
  • Include:
    • Mental health awareness: Removing the stigma from mental illness and promoting access to care.
    • Public health crises: Reporting on pandemics, epidemics, and other health threats.
    • The environment: The impact of environmental factors on health.
    • Isolation: The effect of social isolation on health.
  • Example: A story on the mental health challenges faced by young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Sex: Beyond taboos:
  • Cover:
    • Diversity: Gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.
    • Harm: Sexual violence and harassment.
    • Well-being: Reproductive health.
    • Understanding: Changing social norms around sexuality.
  • Example: A report on the challenges faced by transgender individuals in accessing healthcare.
• Weather: Climate and its impact:
  • Focus on:
    • Effect: The long-term effects of climate change.
    • Populations: The impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable populations.
    • Science: The science of climate change.
    • Economy: The economic cost of climate change.
  • Example: A series of stories that document the impact of drought on farmers in a particular region.
• Food and drink: Sustainability and security:
  • Include:
    • Security: Food security and hunger.
    • Sustainability: Sustainable agriculture.
    • Environment: The impact of food production on the environment.
    • Alternatives: The rise of plant based diets.
  • Example: An investigation into the effects of industrial agriculture on water resources.
• Entertainment: Culture and reflection:
  • Focus on:
    • b The role of art and culture in social change.
    • Technology: The impact of technology on the arts.
    • World variety: The globalisation of culture.
    • Culture: The importance of preserving cultural heritage.
  • Example: A report on the rise of independent filmmakers in a particular country.
• Sport: Beyond the game:
  • Cover:
    • Society: The impact of sports on society.
    • Ethics: The ethics of sports.
    • Diversity: The role of sports in promoting social inclusion.
    • Economy: The business of sports.
  • Example: An investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports.
• Human interest: The power of personal stories:
  • Cover:
    • Inspiration: Stories that inspire hope and resilience.
    • Stereotypes: Stories that challenge stereotypes.
    • Humanity: Stories that connect us to our shared humanity.
    • Experience: Stories that are told by the people who lived them.
  • Example: A story about a refugee who starts a successful business in a new country.

The purpose of news in the digital age:

The purpose of news remains to inform and educate, but in the digital age, we must also consider:

• Combating misinformation: Providing accurate and reliable information to counter the spread of fake news.
• Promoting media literacy: Empowering individuals to critically evaluate information sources.
• Fostering civic engagement: Encouraging informed participation in democracy.
• Building community: Connecting people through shared stories and experiences.

Conclusion:

Finding news stories is an ongoing process of observation, investigation, and critical thinking. By embracing a broader perspective and exploring the interconnectedness of our world, journalists can uncover the stories that truly matter.

Questions

1. What is the primary role of a journalist?
2. How has the concept of conflict expanded beyond traditional warfare?
3. Describe the modern approach to reporting on disasters and tragedies.
4. What are some main elements of sustainable and inclusive growth in journalism?
5. How should crime reporting evolve beyond sensationalism?
6. Explain the significance of amplifying marginalised voices in journalism.
7. Discuss the role of religion in social and political movements as mentioned in the text.
8. How should journalists approach the topic of health?
9. What are the challenges faced by journalists in the digital age?
10. How can journalists uncover stories that truly matter?

Answers

1. The primary role of a journalist is to uncover stories that shape our understanding of the world.
2. The concept of conflict has expanded to include information warfare, cyber conflicts, social and cultural conflicts, and economic conflicts.
3. The modern approach to reporting on disasters and tragedies involves focusing on climate change-induced disasters, systemic failures, community resilience, and the psychological impact of disasters.
4. Main elements of sustainable and inclusive growth include sustainable development, social equity, technological ethics, and cultural preservation.
5. Crime reporting should explore systemic issues, cybercrime, white-collar crime, and restorative justice.
6. Amplifying marginalised voices involves recognising intersectionality, empowering citizen journalism, holding power to account, and ensuring accessibility.
7. Religion plays a role in promoting interfaith dialogue, influencing social and political movements, and addressing the impact of secularisation and extremism.
8. Journalists should approach health by raising mental health awareness, reporting on public health crises, examining environmental impacts on health, and addressing social isolation.
9. Challenges in the digital age include combating misinformation, promoting media literacy, fostering civic engagement, and building community.
10. Journalists can uncover stories that truly matter by embracing a broader perspective and exploring the interconnectedness of our world.

Lesson plan for trainers

If you are a trainer of journalists we have a free lesson plan: Where does news come from?which you can download and adapt for your own purposes.

The source of this training module is Media Helping Media and The News Manual. The image of journalists reading a news bulletin is by David Brewer .

The post Where does news come from? first appeared on Media Helping Media.

The job of the journalist is to sort through daily events and package them into stories in order to inform the public.

The most important news will be broadcast first in a TV or radio bulletin and as a page one lead in a newspaper.  Lesser news will be given in less detail later in the bulletin or on an inside page; and the rubbish will have been thrown away.

So, how do journalists decide what is news and what is not? How do they distinguish between a big news story and a small one?

The answer is that they do it in exactly the same way as everybody else. Everybody makes those same judgments whenever they decide to talk about one event rather than another.

For example, which do you think is more interesting:

a) A girl going to primary school, to high school, or to university?
b) A man aged 25 marrying a girl aged 20, or a man aged 55 marrying a girl aged 15?
c) A car killing a chicken, a pig or a child?

Every one of these events might be news for the community in which it happens, but some are more newsworthy than others.

You very likely answered that the most interesting things were a girl going to university, a man aged 55 marrying a girl aged 15, and a car killing a child. If your answer was different, though, it does not necessarily mean that you were wrong.

The same event can have different levels of interest in different societies, and will be talked about in different ways. If a farm wall has collapsed, killing a cow and a pig, which is more important? Clearly, the answer will vary from one society to another, depending upon the relative importance of cows and pigs.

For this reason, the content of the news can be different in different societies. The way in which the news is judged, though, is the same everywhere.

Criteria of news

The criteria by which news is judged are:

• Is it new?
• Is it unusual?
• Is it interesting?
• Is it significant?
• Is it about people?

These elements make up what we call the “news value” of information. The stronger the elements are, the higher the news value.

Is it new?

If it is not new, it cannot be news. The assassination of Mrs Gandhi is unusual, interesting, significant and about people, but it cannot possibly be reported in tomorrow’s papers, because it is not new.

If some facts about that assassination became known for the first time, however, that would be news. The assassination would not be new, but the information would be.
Events which happened days or even weeks earlier can still be news, as long as they have not been reported before. If you are telling a story for the first time, it is new to your readers or listeners and therefore it can be news.

News of the death of Mao Tse-tung, for instance, was not released to the world by the Chinese government for several days; when they did release it, however, it was still very definitely news.

Is it unusual?

Things are happening all the time, but not all of them are news, even when they are new. A man wakes up, eats breakfast and goes to work on a bus; it has only just happened, but nobody wants to read about it because it is not unusual. Ordinary and everyday things do not make news.

Of course, if that same man was 90 years old and was still catching the bus to work every day, it would be unusual!

The classic definition of news is this: “Dog bites man” is not news; “Man bites dog” is news.

This definition, though, is not universal. If dogs are eaten in your society (at feasts, for instance) then it will not be news when a man bites a dog – so long as it has been cooked.

What is usual in one society may be unusual in another. Again, we will expect the content of the news to vary from society to society. In every society, though, whatever is unusual is likely to be news.

Is it interesting?

Events which are new and unusual may still not be of general interest. Scientists may report that an insect has just been found living on a plant which it did not previously inhabit. The discovery is new, and the event is unusual, but it is unlikely to interest anybody other than a specialist or enthusiast.

In a specialist publication this could be big news, but in a general news broadcast or paper it would merit at most a few words.

Is it significant?

However, if that same insect was one which had a huge appetite, and which had previously lived on and eaten bush grass and if the new plant on which it had been found was rice, then the story becomes news, because it is significant.

People may not be interested in bugs, but they are interested in food. If this insect is now threatening their crops, it becomes a matter of concern to them. It is news because it is significant.

Similarly, if a peasant farmer says that the Roman Catholic Church should ordain women priests, that is not news. If an archbishop says it, it is news, because what he says on the subject is significant. It is the views of people such as the archbishop which help to form the policy of the Church.

Once again, what is interesting or significant in one society may not be interesting or significant in another. The content of the news may be different, therefore, in different societies, but the way it is identified will be the same.

Is it about people?

Most news is automatically about people, because it is the things people do to change the world which makes news.

However, news can also be made by non-human sources, such as a cyclone, a bush fire, a drought, a volcanic eruption or an earthquake. It is when reporting these stories that it is important to make sure that the story is centred on people.

The cyclone would not matter if it blew itself out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, away from any inhabited islands; the fire could burn for as long as it likes in bush where nobody lives; the Sahara Desert has a near-permanent drought, but in most of it nobody is there to rely on rains; a volcanic eruption or an earthquake which damages nobody’s property and injures nobody is really not news.

All these natural disasters only become news when they affect people’s lives. Every story can be told in terms of people. Always start by asking yourself the question: “How does this affect my readers’, listeners’ or viewers’ lives?”

Whenever you have a story which tells of how something has happened which affects both people and property, always put the people first

RIGHT: More than 100 people were left homeless after Cyclone Victor struck Suva yesterday. WRONG: Seventeen houses were flattened when Cyclone Victor struck Suva yesterday.

How strong a story?

A story which is new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people is going to be a very good story indeed. One way of deciding the strength of a story is to check how many of those five criteria it meets.

There are other factors, though, which make stories strong or weak:

Closeness

The same event happening in two different places can have two quite different news values. A coup d’état in your own country is as big a story as you can ever have (although you will probably not be at liberty to report it as you would wish!). A coup in the country next door is still a big story, because it may affect the stability of your own country.

However, a coup in a small country in another continent is unlikely to merit more than a few paragraphs.

The appeal of local news is that your readers or listeners might know the people or place involved.

The word “local” means different things to different people. If you broadcast to a wide area or sell your newspaper in many different towns, you must realise that a small story which interests readers in one place, because it is local, may not be of any interest to readers elsewhere.

Personal impact

The average reader, listener or viewer may be a parent, a person wanting a good education for the children, dreaming of buying a car, looking forward to going home on leave, anticipating the next big community feast or festival. You will need to have a very clear understanding of what your own readers or listeners are like.

So stories about bride-price or dowries, children, land disputes, new schools, cheaper or dearer fares, or whatever else is important and may affect your average reader, will have personal impact.

People can identify with stories about other people like themselves. So those stories with which many people can identify are stronger than those which only apply to a few.

How do we get news?

A lot of news will come to you as a journalist without any real effort on your part. Government handouts, Ministers’ speeches and announcements of new developments come into the newsroom after being processed by press officers or public relations officers.

Passing on such information, as long as it is genuinely interesting and informative, is an important function of the media, to provide society with the hard facts of what is happening in the country.

It is part of your job as a journalist to sort out what is interesting and informative from the millions of boring words which may be sent to you.

There is also news which journalists find for themselves and reveal to the public. This need not be a subject which somebody wants to be kept secret. Many people have a story to tell but do not know how to write a media release. It is part of your job as a journalist to find these people and report their stories.

There are also some stories which people want to keep secret but which the public ought to know about. When you hear about such a situation, it is your duty to investigate fairly but fearlessly.

Where does news come from?

Now we know what makes news. The following are the main areas of life in which we expect frequently to find news stories. For each category below, think of at least one event or situation which could make a news story in your own society.

Conflicts: This category includes wars, strikes, revolutions, secessionist groups, tribal and clan fights, elections and the power battles of politics.

Disaster and tragedy: This may include air crashes, train crashes, ships sinking, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or human tragedies like children falling down deep wells from which they cannot be rescued.

Progress and development: Development is always news in a developing country. The report should be always of how the changes affect people’s lives, for better or for worse. New ideas or progress in one area may stimulate ideas in another. Development stories may include education, the development of new technology, improvement of farming techniques, road building and irrigation schemes. Citizens of more developed countries may also appreciate stories about developments in things which affect their lives or well-being, such as medical breakthroughs, new technologies or initiatives to make transport easier, quicker or cheaper.

Crime: Any crime can be news, whether it is a road traffic offence, break and enter, corruption, forgery, rape or murder – but more serious crimes or unusual crimes generally make bigger news stories.

Money: These stories include fortunes made and lost, school fees, taxes, the Budget, food prices, wage rises, economic crises and compensation claims.
It is not only large sums of money which make news; the little girl who gives her only ten cents to a huge fund-raising event is more interesting than the businessman who gives $100.

The underdog: This is one of the great themes of literature and drama (David and Goliath, the Hare and the Tortoise, Cinderella). One traditional role of the journalist is to defend the rights of the little person – the soldier against the unjust officer, the innocent man against false charges, the poor against exploitation.

Religion: There are two types of religious news story. First, there are events involving people’s religious lives, such as the building of a new church or a pilgrimage. Second, there are statements by religious leaders on moral and spiritual affairs, such as contraception or salvation. It is important for the journalist to be aware of the relative numerical strengths of Christianity, Islam and other religions – including traditional local beliefs – in his or her country. The importance of a statement by a religious leader in your society depends both upon the news value of what he has to say and upon the size of his following.

Famous people: Prominent men and women make news. What people in the public eye do, the lives they lead and what they look like, are all of interest. It is especially newsworthy when they fall from power, lose their money or are involved in scandal.

Health: Many people are concerned with their health, so they are interested in stories about traditional remedies, medical research, diseases, hospitals and clinics, drugs, diet and exercise.

Sex: All societies are interested in sex, even if they do not talk about it openly. Many news stories about sex involve behaviour which goes outside society’s generally accepted standards.

Weather: The weather may affect the daily routine of people and is of interest when it behaves unusually, with exceptionally high or low temperatures, or exceptionally high or low rainfall.

Food and drink: The rich person plans feasts, the poor person wants enough to eat and drink. Shortages and gluts, crop diseases and harvest sizes, prices of food in the market or the launch of a new brand of beer – these all make news.

Entertainment: Stories about music, dance, theatre, cinema and carving keep us informed of developments in the arts, who is doing what, who is performing where, and what it is worth going to see or hear.

Sport: Many people participate in sport and many others are spectators. They all want to know sports results, news of sportsmen and sportswomen and their achievements.

Human interest: There are often unusual and interesting aspects of other people’s lives which are not particularly significant to society as a whole. Stories about these are called human interest stories. Examples might be a child going abroad for surgery; a pilot recovering from injuries received in an air crash and determined to fly again; or a man with a collection of a million picture postcards.

News and entertainment

Most people agree that the purpose of the news media – newspapers, magazines, radio and television – is to inform, to educate and to entertain. However, the purpose of the news itself is to inform and to educate your readers, listeners or viewers.

The entertainment can come from other areas – music and drama programs on radio; cartoons and crossword puzzles in newspapers. It is not the job of news to entertain.

This does not mean that news should be dull. If a news event has an element of humour, you should always try to write the story in a way to amuse your readers or listeners.

Nevertheless, the news should only be reported if it is real news. Do not report non-news as if it was news only because the story is entertaining.

As you gain more experience, you may be able to write things which are purely entertaining – such as a humorous look at current events. This is not news, however, and should not be presented as if it was.

Make it clear to your readers or listeners what is news and what is not.

The source of this training module is The News Manual’s Chapter 1: What is News?

Questions

1. What is the primary role of a journalist according to the text?
2. List the five criteria used to judge the news value of information.
3. Explain why the assassination of Mrs. Gandhi cannot be reported as news today.
4. How does the concept of “closeness” affect the news value of a story?
5. Why might a story about a 90-year-old man taking the bus to work be considered newsworthy?
6. Discuss how cultural differences can influence what is considered newsworthy.
7. What is the significance of personal impact in determining the strength of a news story?
8. How do journalists typically receive news, and what is their role in processing it?
9. Identify and describe two main areas of life where news stories frequently originate.
10. Why is it important for journalists to distinguish between news and entertainment?

Answers

1. The primary role of a journalist is to sort through daily events and package them into stories to inform the public.
2. The five criteria are: Is it new? Is it unusual? Is it interesting? Is it significant? Is it about people?
3. The assassination of Mrs. Gandhi cannot be reported as news today because it is not new.
4. “Closeness” affects news value by making events more relevant to the audience if they occur nearby or have a direct impact on them.
5. A story about a 90-year-old man taking the bus to work is newsworthy because it is unusual for someone of that age to still be working and commuting.
6. Cultural differences can influence newsworthiness because what is considered significant or interesting can vary between societies.
7. Personal impact is significant because stories that affect the audience’s lives or that they can relate to are stronger and more engaging.
8. Journalists receive news through government handouts, speeches, and announcements, and their role is to sort out what is interesting and informative.
9. Two main areas are “Conflicts,” which include wars and political battles, and “Disaster and tragedy,” which include natural disasters and human tragedies.
10. It is important to distinguish between news and entertainment to ensure that the audience receives accurate and informative content rather than just entertainment.
    

    ---

The post How news value is assessed first appeared on Media Helping Media.