News Values

News values is the piece of criteria used by journlists to select stories that get featured in media. Therefore a method is needed to select what stories/events will make the news due to millions of stories revealed each day. All news is a 'construction of choices by journalists about images and text.'

Below are examples of new values:

1. Frequency - the more similar the frequency of the event is to the frequency of the news medium, the more likely is to be recorded. For example if a murder happens quickly and its meaning is established rapidly it is more likely to get in the news.

2. Threshold/amplitude/numbers - the size of an event will govern the amount of attention it is given; the bigger the better.

3. Unambiguity - the simplicity of a story will also make it more attractive to the media as it will easier for the journalist to investigate and easier for the audience to understand.

4. Meaningfulness - culturally relevant or culturally proximate events are more likely to make the news. Audiences are far more interested in events which have happened close to home or which contain reference t values, beliefs and attitudes it shares.

5. Consonance - events which meet our expectations are more likely to become news.

6. Unexpected/surprise - events which have initially been defined as news will continue to carry importance in news agenda, even in the latter stages.

7. Composition - news organisations try to balance news output. News that is balanced between home and foreign news and includes an element of lighter news within a news bulletin to make it less depressing for the audience. for example the 'dead donkey' story at the end of news bulletin to provide a sense of innocent humour.

8. Reference to elite nations - Major Western nations such as America, Germany and France are more likely to get in the news even if the story is not that big, as appose to Third World nations like Africa and Asia.

9. Personalisation - personalised events or news stories are more likely to be reported than those which have no specific individual concerned.

10. Negativity - the idea that 'bad news is good news' is used here.

11. Actuality - for example, if a newspaper has a photograph/s of an event then the story is more likely to be reported than it otherwise would or it might have a greater/higher priority within the bulletin that it would otherwise deserve.


Research Into Local Newpapers:

International:

1. FIFA World Cup 2010 – ‘Green blunder costs England victory against U.S.’
Summery: disastrous blunder by England goalkeeper Robert Green cost his side victory as they drew 1-1 with the United States in their Group C opener in Rustenburg on Saturday night.
2. ‘Ten Mexican police killed in ambush’
Summery: Ten Mexican federal police were killed in an ambush on a convoy Monday, the government said. An undisclosed number of criminals also were killed, the government's Information Ministry said.
3. Oil leaks: BBC News - Growing concerns over Gulf of Mexico oil leak
Summery: A US Coast Guard official says if leaks from an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico are not stemmed soon, they could cause one of the worst spills in US history.

Celebrity/human interest:

1. Piers Morgan 'To Replace CNN's Larry King'
Summery: Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan is reportedly set to replace veteran American TV host Larry King.
2. Cheryl Cole’s Divorce
Summery: London - Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole is seeking divorce from soccer star husband Ashley Cole after a “sex text” scandal.
3. Charlotte Church calls the wedding off.
Summery: Charlotte Church has told her ex-fiancé Gavin Henson that she’s getting on with her life after he accused her of “doing a Jordan”.

Local story:

1. Knaresborough Bed Race
Summery: An annual event is the Knaresborough Bed Race held in June where teams decorate bed frames according to the annual theme.
2. Miss Harrogate 2010 (Ashleigh Jayne Spanton)
Summery: A formal pupil of Rossett high school has been crowned Miss Harrogate and District 2010.
3. Motorists shocked by naked men cavorting at roadside
Summery: Early morning commuters were confronted by two men cavorting naked in the road after a birthday party, a court was on told on Tuesday.

Home/national news:

1. MP’s £40,000 farewell payout
Summery: Former Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis has been given a pay-out of £40,000 after leaving parliament.
2. David Cameron
Summery: David Cameron's cover was blown yesterday on his plan to save billions with savage spending cuts.
3. Paul Gascoigne car crash: Witnesses reveal they thought he was dead
Summery: Paul Gascoigne car crash: Witnesses reveal they thought he was dead