How do we know what is “news”? There are millions of things going on in the world all the time and only some of them become news stories.

A journalist is able to pick out the newsworthy items and turn them into stories that people will want to read and hear and watch. That ability is what we call “news sense”.

It is tricky to define.

It is probably an instinct and our own experience suggests that some people are born with that instinct while others develop it through practice.

We asked a number of experienced journalists to try to explain what news sense is, and how it can be developed. The following is what they said. We have listed the names of the contributors alphabetically.

When you’ve read their definitions, please feel free to suggest your own or offer examples of news sense at work on our Facebook page.

Rahnuma Ahmed, writer, and Shahidul Alam, writer, photojournalist, and social activist, Bangladesh.

“News is information that is of value which was previously unknown. Both criteria need to be met, but the criteria might not apply equally to all. It may well have been known to some and shielded from others, or of great value to some but not of equal value to others. 

“The death of an unknown child in a remote village, may have little news value to people far away, but be major news to the community. If it is symptomatic of a major pandemic that could affect millions, that same death might become news for the world. The treatment of that pandemic might have news value to pharmaceutical companies, to health workers, scientists, insurance companies and even undertakers. If none of these applied it would still have immense news value to the child’s mother.”

Jonathan Baker, formerly Head of the BBC College of Journalism and Professor of Journalism at Essex University.

“Old hands will tell you that what makes a story cannot be defined, but that they know one when they see one.   

“It’s true that instinct and experience are important elements of news sense. But anyone can make a good news judgement by asking a number of simple questions: 

 “Is it new? Is it important? Is it interesting or amusing? Who is affected by it? Is there a human element? 

 “You need to answer all of these questions through the perspective of your readers, listeners or viewers. They should always be foremost in your thoughts. Who are they? Will they want to know about this? Do they need to? Is it relevant to their lives? 

“The answers to these questions should help you decide whether or not a story is newsworthy, as well as helping develop an instinctive news sense over time.”

John Bottomley, former chief sub-editor and Head of Sport at Trinity Mirror Cheshire, England.

“News sense is an important component of a reporter’s skills. It is intuition, being able to recognise instantly what will make ‘a good story.’ A good journalist never loses the feeling of satisfaction at spotting one. And if the subject matter lies beyond the reporter’s ‘patch’ he or she will work hard to unearth a local angle to ensure the story isn’t wasted.

“Good news sense may itself inspire investigative journalism but is at its best when homing in on the makings of a one-off good yarn, one which doesn’t always have to a ‘big’ story, a quirky one is often just as good or even better. When ‘shark bite’ was spotted on the list of operations scheduled at the local hospital it was destined to be ‘a good story’ no matter how serious or frivolous the details.*

“Good new sense can involve identifying current news trends and following them locally. If a serious dog attack makes national headlines then any minor one locally can naturally assume a higher profile.

“News sense may often be intuitive but surely it can be taught. In local journalism this can go alongside getting to know the area so that a flip through the latest planning applications may flag up something of interest eg. plans to build homes on a well-known flood plain etc.

“Good news sense can see a good story revisited. The closure of a long established family-run village butcher’s shop can easily lead to follow-up stories: ‘The end of an era,’ ‘Death of the High Street,’ ‘The village that is dying’ (lack of public transport to the nearest butcher?) and may also inspire a website campaign or two. Plus there is the  bigger picture. Is the shop’s demise just about economics? What about changing eating habits? Does the closure of a butcher’s reflect the growth of vegetarian values nationally? Is the village now home to any new ‘artisan food’ shops or restaurants? And ultimately, you never know, a build-up to perhaps making the claim it is a contender for ‘greenest village in the UK?’”

* A baby shark at the local aquarium had bitten the arm of the keeper feeding him. He needed a bit of patching up, the event hadn’t really been that dramatic but that didn’t stop the story being front page lead in the local paper.

Justin Burke, publisher of eurasianet, a news and analysis website covering Central Asia and the Caucasus.

“News sense is the value added that experienced journalists give to observations of everyday events. It enables journalists to organise stories in ways that make it easier for readers to make sense of the news and understand why events are unfolding the way they are. It helps writers show how the past is shaping the present, placing current affairs in a broader context.  New sense also fosters forward-looking analysis that allows readers to make connections concerning current affairs, identify trends and be more aware of potential outcomes.”

Bob Clifford, formerly of the BBC.

“News sense is a form of involuntary reaction to things going on around you – the ability/gift/curse to be able to spot a potential story in virtually anything you see or hear. 

“It’s a bit like when the doctor taps that spot just below your kneecap and your leg jerks up. 

“Something happens – you react.

“You pass a man who’s smoking a pipe and it strikes you that it’s now a very rare sight – so phone the Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers for a story on how they see their future or lack of it.

“You watch a television personality doing a solemn piece to camera while walking among Commonwealth war graves and notice that, as usual, she has her sunglasses perched on top of her head. Isn’t that rather relaxed and disrespectful? Phone a veterans’ group for an angry reaction. 

“The electrician fixing your lights tells you he hasn’t had any Covid jabs because his wife is trying to get pregnant. Are there lots like him? Ask the NHS and others for figures and comment.

“You overhear a fellow bus passenger phoning their dentist to say they are running late. But they don’t say sorry and you realise that this isn’t the first time you have noticed this. Phone social commentators and etiquette experts to help work up a piece for the feature pages on the death of manners..  

“A good test:

“You leave home, get to work and the boss says the diary page is short of one last item, time is running out, and have you seen anything that can be turned into a couple of interesting paragraphs?

“If you have kept your eyes really open, and your news sense fully engaged, you should be able to come up with at least something of interest – which, in the end, is what journalism is all about.” 

Caroline Faraj, CNN VP, CNN Arabic editor-in-chief

“Many in our industry understand the term but find it hard to explain in words, simply because it is encouraging the young journalists to use their senses.

“I usually tell our young members or interns to use their senses and try to answer some questions, like: Is there a story here? Would our audience be interested in it? Is it relevant to them? Am I focusing on reporting the truth? If yes, do I have the story covered from all sides? Then when you have elements that can be considered worth a story, would I feel proud to add my byline on it? If yes, then I would encourage the young journalist to write it and own it too.”

Phil Harding, broadcaster and formerly Director of News for the BBC World Service.

“It’s what’s new, it’s what is interesting, it’s what is important. It’s what you think will interest your audience or readership but not just what they may already be interested in – or what they tell you they are interested in – it’s sometimes about telling them about something that they become interested in once you have told them about it.”

Vincent Kahiya, former group editor-in-chief Alpha Media Holdings Zimbabwe, including The Standard, NewsDay, and The Independent.

“Reporters must cultivate what’s called a “news sense” as an instinctive feel for what constitutes a big story. For an experienced reporter, the news sense often manifests itself as a voice screaming inside their head whenever a big story breaks. “This is important,” the voice shouts. “You need to move fast.”

“The main building blocks to having news sense are reading newspapers, watching/listening to news bulletins, and having an awareness about the relationship between readers and their environments; that is context.

“Now, you can drill the factors that make something newsworthy into young journalists – impact, loss of life, consequences and so on. But at some point the development of a news sense must go beyond routine learning and be absorbed into a reporter’s body and soul. It must be instinctive, part of a journalist’s very being

“But that won’t happen if a student isn’t excited about the news, because a news sense is really all about the adrenaline rush that anyone who’s ever covered a big story knows so well. It’s the feeling one MUST have if he or she is to be even a good reporter, much less a great one.

“You won’t make it as a reporter if you don’t develop a nose for news, if you don’t hear that voice yelling inside your head. And that won’t happen if you’re not excited about the work itself.”

Ivan Kuzmanovski, senior reporter, Sitel Television, North Macedonia.

“News sense is probably the first thing you will hear when you start working as a reporter. It is something more than following the rules of making the story, but establishing a real connection with the audience. You need to know what the public is interested in and give them the information they need at the right time. It does not matter whether it is a political event, accident, crime story, investigative story, natural disasters, health problems, pandemic, always have the needs of your audience at the forefront of your mind.”

TP Mishra, the Executive Editor of the Bhutan News Service, an all-volunteer-run news agency for Bhutanese refugees.

“As a Bhutanese refugee editing news for my community I always ask myself whether the story is of interest to me. If it is, then an intuitive feeling kicks in to help me explore the angles that are of most importance to those I am writing for.

“In 2004 I was the editor leading a small team that set up a newspaper for the exiled Bhutanese living in refugee camps in Nepal. Our newspaper, The Bhutan Reporter, had a clear purpose, to keep Bhutanese refugees informed about news related to the home they had left in Bhutan, and their new home in the camps.

“So we had well-defined areas of interests that we decided to cover on behalf of our readers. And that purpose helped us tune our news sense to meet that need. We just knew what mattered most to those we were writing for. And we could pass that on to new recruits who joined us.”

The question of what constitutes “news” is a complex one. In a world saturated with information, only a tiny fraction of events become news stories.

The ability to identify these newsworthy items and craft them into compelling narratives is a skill known as “news sense.”

While often described as an instinct, it’s more accurately a combination of innate aptitude and developed expertise.

Experienced journalists often struggle to define news sense, yet they recognise it instantly. It’s a gut feeling, honed through years of practice, that signals the potential of a story.

This intuition isn’t mystical; it’s grounded in a deep understanding of audience needs, current events, and the mechanics of storytelling.

One crucial aspect of news sense is understanding relevance. A seemingly insignificant event in one context might be hugely impactful in another.

The death of a child in a remote village, for example, might be a local tragedy, but if it reveals a wider public health crisis, its significance expands exponentially.

News sense allows journalists to discern these layers of relevance and understand how a story connects to different audiences. It’s about asking: Who is affected by this? Why should they care?

Another important element is newsworthiness. Is the information new? Is it important? Is it interesting? These questions, while simple, require careful consideration.

“New” doesn’t just mean recent; it can also mean previously unknown or a fresh perspective on a familiar issue.

“Important” can be subjective, but generally refers to events that have a significant impact on people’s lives.

“Interesting” encompasses a range of factors, including human interest, novelty, and emotional resonance.

News sense also involves understanding the broader context of events. It’s not enough to simply report what happened; journalists must also explain why it happened and what it means.

This requires a deep understanding of history, culture, and the forces that shape society. By placing current events in a broader context, journalists help their audiences make sense of the world around them.

Developing news sense is a continuous process. It involves staying informed, observing the world, and constantly asking questions.

Reading widely, watching news, and engaging in discussions about current events are all essential.

It also involves developing empathy and understanding the perspectives of different audiences.

While some individuals may have a natural inclination towards news sense, it can also be learned and refined.

Experience is a valuable teacher, but so is mentorship and guidance from seasoned professionals.

Journalism schools and news organisations play a crucial role in cultivating news sense in aspiring reporters.

Ultimately, news sense is about more than just identifying stories; it’s about understanding their significance and communicating them effectively to an audience.

It’s the ability to connect with people, to inform and engage them, and to help them make sense of the complex world we live in.

It is a crucial skill for any journalist who wants to make a difference.

Questions

1. What is “news sense” and why is it important?
2. Why is relevance considered a crucial aspect of news sense?
3. Define “newsworthiness”
4. What role does understanding the broader context of events play in journalism?
5. How can journalists develop and refine their news sense?
6. Explain how empathy contributes to a journalist’s news sense.
7. Discuss the significance of mentorship and guidance in cultivating news sense in aspiring reporters.
8. Is news sense an innate aptitude or a developed expertise?
9. Analyse the relationship between news sense and audience engagement.
10. Evaluate the importance of news sense in making a difference in journalism.

Answers

1. News sense is the ability to identify newsworthy items and craft them into compelling narratives. It is described as a combination of innate aptitude and developed expertise.
2. Relevance is crucial because it helps journalists discern the significance of events in different contexts and understand how a story connects to various audiences.
3. Newsworthiness is defined by whether the information is new, important, or interesting, requiring careful consideration of these factors.
4. Understanding the broader context helps journalists explain why events happened and what they mean, aiding audiences in making sense of the world.
5. Journalists can develop news sense by staying informed, observing the world, engaging in discussions, and learning from experience and mentorship.
6. Empathy allows journalists to understand different audience perspectives, enhancing their ability to connect with and engage their audience.
7. Mentorship and guidance from seasoned professionals are crucial in helping aspiring reporters cultivate their news sense.
8. News sense is both an innate aptitude and an expertise which developed through practice and understanding in honing this skill.
9. News sense is related to audience engagement by enabling journalists to identify and communicate stories that resonate with and inform their audience.
10. News sense is important in journalism as it helps journalists identify significant stories and communicate them effectively, making a difference in society.

Lesson plan for trainers

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

Media Helping Media thanks all those who contributed to this piece.

The post Developing and applying news sense 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.

In this scenario we look at a situation where a journalist is faced with breaking the law in order to gather essential information for informing the public debate.

You are a radio reporter in a maritime city where shipbuilding is a major source of employment and wealth.

The local shipyard has announced 800 job losses on top of 800 announced a few months earlier.

In an effort to save their jobs, 37 workers decide to occupy a gas accommodation platform and a frigate, which are moored in the river adjacent to the shipyard.

Their protest has been going on for almost 14 weeks. Police and pickets surround the gates of the yard and the ramps leading to the occupied vessels.

For more than three months local media has received news releases and statements from the shipyard management, politicians, and from the union representing the occupying workers – but nobody has heard directly from the workers taking the action.

The only contact with them is via handwritten notes which are smuggled off one of the vessels, the gas accommodation platform, by messengers who, under the cover of darkness, dodge the police lines and use ropes to swing over barbed fencing and across the water between the accommodation platform and the shore, and then scramble aboard with the help of the occupying workers.

One morning, speaking live on your radio station, the union representative claims that management has turned off the water supply in an effort to end the occupation.

The representative says conditions on the occupied accommodation platform are bad and that some of the occupying workers are unwell. Their families express concern on your radio station’s morning phone-in. Many are distressed.

You have been reporting events since the start, and one obvious angle not yet covered is what life is like on the occupied platform. You have heard second-hand, but feel it’s important that you see for yourself the living conditions of the striking workers so that you can report the situation accurately.

Your news editor agrees, and it’s decided that you should try to board and interview the men. You know you will be trespassing, and could face legal action, but you go ahead anyway.

You meet union representatives on the quay next to the rig at 2am and, with the help of a rope thrown down by the occupying workers, scramble aboard. You are carrying a small transmitter called a ‘Cubi’ (these are the days before mobile phones were common). You also carry a tape recorder.

For the next few hours you talk to the occupying workers and record interviews. At 11:30am you broadcast live in the mid-morning news and current affairs programme including interviews you had recorded earlier.

After broadcasting your report, your radio station receives a phone call from the shipyard’s management threatening legal action unless you leave the platform immediately. The following day a letter from their lawyers warns against any further attempt to gain access to the vessel and interview the occupying workers.

Questions

• Is it ever right to defy the law in order to gain access to information?
• Should the radio station apologise to the shipyard management for the trespass?
• Should the radio station continue to use the material gathered during the trespass?
• Or should the radio station management instruct reporters to leave the story alone for fear of the shipyard taking legal action?
• Does the editorial motivation to get the whole story replace your duty of care to those whose words you broadcast?
• Is trespassing in order to talk to those occupying the vessel in the public interest?

Suggested responses

As journalists we will frequently face obstacles when news-gathering.

Public relations and communications officers will always be happy to feed you the side of the story that suits their needs. This is their job.

However, it is not always that easy to explore, understand, and articulate those elements of the story that are hidden behind legal barriers.

And, without all the facts, it’s difficult to relay a complete version of events to your audience.

Journalists need to be able to paint the fullest picture possible of what is really happening, without putting themselves, or those they are interviewing, in harm’s way.

In this particular case the decision to trespass in order to talk to the occupying workers face-to-face, and to see first-hand the conditions they were living under, was taken on editorial grounds after careful consideration by senior editorial staff.

Together, they decided the risk of arrest for trespass was worth taking in return for hearing a perspective on a major local news story that, for 14 weeks, had not been told.

One major consideration was whether scrambling on to the occupied rig to hear from the occupying workers was in the public interest.

So it’s important always to refer up to your line manager in all cases where you feel you need to take actions that could be legally dangerous.

Your line manager will need to decide whether the information you hope to gather is in the public interest, and your organisation’s legal team will assess the risk to you and to the company.

Summing up

This text describes a situation where a local shipyard’s significant job losses have led to a 14-week occupation of a gas accommodation platform and frigate by 37 workers. The workers are protesting the job losses, but their voices have been largely unheard, with communication limited to smuggled handwritten notes. A radio reporter, aware of the lack of direct information and concerned about the workers’ well-being (especially after allegations of the water supply being cut off), decides to board the occupied platform to interview them and report on their living conditions. This action, while potentially illegal trespass, is deemed necessary by the reporter and their editor to provide a complete and accurate account of the situation to the public. The text then raises ethical questions about defying the law for information, the station’s responsibility, and the balance between editorial drive and duty of care.

This scenario presents a classic ethical dilemma faced by journalists: the conflict between upholding the law and fulfilling the public’s right to know.

Key elements:

• Public Interest:
  • The shipyard’s job losses have a significant impact on the community, creating a strong public interest in understanding the situation.
  • The workers’ occupation, their conditions, and the alleged management actions all contribute to this public interest.
• Lack of direct information:
  • For months, the public has received information from limited sources (management, politicians, unions).
  • The perspectives of the occupying workforce – the heart of the story – remains unheard.
• Humanitarian concerns:
  • The workers’ alleged lack of water and deteriorating health raise serious humanitarian concerns.
  • These are important considerations which, unless checked cannot be confirmed.
• Journalistic duty:
  • The reporter feels a strong obligation to provide accurate and firsthand information about the workers’ living conditions.
  • This is a local story involving local residents being covered by a local reporter working for a local radio station. The journalist’s role is to inform that audience with accurate and reliable information.
• Legal risk:
  • The reporter and the radio station are aware that boarding the occupied platform constitutes trespassing and could lead to legal action.
  • It is a decision not taken lightly and is the result of the reporter having first ‘referred up’ to ensure that senior editors approved of the action.
• The power of first hand reporting:
  • The first hand reporting allows the public to make a more informed decision.

Analysis:

• The scenario highlights the limitations of relying solely on official sources or press releases. Sometimes, journalists must take risks to uncover the truth and provide a balanced perspective.
• The reporter’s decision to board the platform, while legally questionable, is driven by a desire to fulfil the core journalistic function of informing the public.
• The use of a hidden transmitter and tape recorder emphasises the need for journalists to be resourceful and innovative in gathering information.
• The reaction from the shipyard management shows the tension between the press and powerful organisations.
• The fact that the information was broadcast live, shows the urgency of the situation.
• The use of the radio phone in by the families, shows the power of the radio medium to give a voice to those who would not normally have one.

Issues:

• Ethical considerations:
  • This scenario forces us to consider the ethical boundaries of journalism.
  • Is it ever justifiable to break the law in the pursuit of truth?
  • How does one balance the public’s right to know with legal obligations?
• The importance of unbiased reporting:
  • The scenario underscores the importance of seeking out diverse perspectives and avoiding reliance on biased (or one-sided) sources.
  • Multiple perspectives are important when covering any news story.
• The role of journalism in holding power accountable:
  • By exposing the workers’ living conditions and the alleged management actions, the reporter is acting as a watchdog, holding those in power accountable.
  • This is a fundamental role of journalism.
• The power of radio:
  • In a time before wide spread mobile phone usage, radio was a powerful tool in getting information out to the public.

This scenario presents a complex ethical and legal dilemma faced by a journalist. The reporter’s decision to break the law is driven by a strong sense of public duty and a desire to provide accurate and firsthand information. The scenario highlights the importance of unbiased reporting, the ethical considerations involved in journalism, and the role of the media in holding power accountable. It also shows the power of radio as a medium for communicating information quickly and efficiently.

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