The News

1. Identify, define, and give an example of the 6 criteria of newsworthiness.

Criteria 1: Unusualness
Definition: The different, unusual, and out-of-the ordinary news, the unusual is more often found in bad news.
Example: Airplane crashes

Criteria 2: Significance
Definition: Significant happenings in people's lives; more personal.
Example: Taxes, elections, wars, the economy

Criteria 3: Timeliness
Definition: Current news that people are interested in; not old.
Example: A flood while its happening

Criteria 4: Proximity
Definition: Nearby events
Example: New state tax law, the roposed regional highway

Criteria 5: Prominence
Definition: When well-known people, buildings, or places are involved
Example: If a movie star was arrested, it would make the news

Criteria 6: Human Interest
Definition: Stories about ordinary people or animals, humorous, or dramatic stories, heart warming or heart wrenching; an emotional and personal appeal that draws our attention. Often about good news.
Example: A veterinarian who specializes in elephants

2. On page 23 it discusses the differences between print journalism and broadcast journlism. Please describe 3 ways they are different and explain.
Newspapers- provides fuller coverage and readers act as their own editors; picking and choosing what they want to read.
News magazines- in depth coverage or a number of important stories
Radio news- fast-breaking stories and reports are updated hourly with up-to-minute information
TV news- most dramatic news coverage, contains video

3. List all the criteria the story we watched at the beginning of class fits under and why.
Unusualness- if a truck tips over, pigs arent usually spilled
Timeliness-happened recently
Proximity-happened nearby

4. List all the criteria the 2nd story we watched fits under and why.
Significance- family trying to find a home for the two dogs
Timeliness- Still currently looking for an owner
Human Interest- heart-wrenching; sympathetic, people want to help
Unusualness- one cant see, one cant hear

5. List all the criteria the 3rd story we watched fits under and why.
Timeliness- within the last week, awards
Prominance- celebrities well-known getting awards
Human interest- draws attention to those who are interested in clebrities