what is news? part 2. who decides? how does news get to be news?
TRANSCRIPT
WHAT IS NEWS?
Part 2
Who decides?
How does news get to be news?
“Gatekeepers”
Too much information out there; can’t possibly put it all in newspaper or broadcast.
Each news outlet has a person or people who select what will be the news for that “edition.”
Those people are gatekeepers. Also known as … Editors Producers Directors
What criteria do you think gatekeepers use in making their decisions?
Making Decisions
How are you a gatekeeper?
You = personal gatekeeper
Playing Gatekeeper
Pretend you’re the editor of a Scott High School newspaper or podcast.
On a sheet of paper, make 3 columns Label them: “News,” “Sports, “Student
Life” List 3 ideas for stories in each category
Playing Gatekeeper - 2
Trade papers “Grade” each idea:
X = doesn’t interest you √ = interests you = interests you a lot
Trade papers again
What criteria did you use
to make your decisions?
Top Stories?
3 Criteria
Facts Adequate Accurate Timely
Audience Who will be reading? What are their values? Interests?
Interest Have meaning to the audience
These factors influence the news that gets to public (different from newsworthiness)
6 Factors
Factor 1: News hole
the amount of space in the newspaper or time in a newscast available for news
what determines news hole? business factors
Web: not too much of a factor
Factor 2: News flow
the number of news stories available to run at any one time
Example: Sports Illustrated
Factor 3: Medium
some stories play better on TV than in newspaper & vice versa newspapers – many stories, some depth magazines – depth, some perspective radio – fastest & sound TV – fast & pictures Internet -- hybrid
Factor 4: Deadlines
the latest time a story can be finished in order to be printed in that paper or shown on that newscast
Game-changers: 24-hour cable Internet
Factor 5: Editorial Philosophy what a media outlet chooses to cover
Factor 6: Business
What sells!
Where does news come from?
Finding News
Beats
Beat A regular assignment give to reporters A place reporters go to regularly to get info
Reporters work a beat to find stories Gain expertise & contacts—which lead to
stories
Sources
Source Someone who provides information to a
journalist Journalists develop regular sources
through their beat assignments People contact reporters with stories
“Local Angle”
Local Connection – a fact or person that connects a story originating elsewhere to the local audience George Clooney – “Maysville native” War in Afghanistan – local soldiers
involvement (killed or wounded) Local groups raising money or collecting
supplies for Haitian earthquake victims
Chad Ochocinco: 'Dancing with the Stars' will help in off-season
Bengals wide receiver practices four hours daily with partner Cheryl Burke
By John Kiesewetter • [email protected] • March 9, 2010
Chad Ochocinco took a few minutes away from “Dancing with the Stars” practice to provide a scouting report on his attempt to master the cha-cha in three weeks.
“It’s extremely, extremely hard,” says Ochocinco, 32, one of 11 celebrities who will compete on the hit ABC show that starts March 22.
“Local Angle” – 2
Local Focus – bringing a larger national or international story into the local community Swine flue – local update Local impact of national controversies
Follow Up
“Next day” Reporting that follows up on a story from
the previous day Futures file
Coming back to a story for a planned update