news and its resources

1. Dr. Eman khatab

2. News is difficult to define
because it has many
variables.
News must be factual, yet
not all facts are news.

3. News is primarily
about people,
what they
say and
do.

4. A report of any event or situation.
A record of the most interesting,
important and accurate
information obtained about the
things man think and
says, sees and
describes, plans
and does.

5. “It is anything published in a
newspaper which interests
a large number of people”

6. News is “any event, idea or
opinion that is timely, that interests
or affects a large number of
persons in a community, and that is
capable of being understood by
them.”
- Dean M. Lyle Spencer
Former Dean, School of Journalism
Syracuse University

7. According to Carl
Warren, Former
Radio News
Editor of New
York Times, “ all
news is intended
to interest, inform
or entertain
somebody
somewhere –
large sections of
the public.

9. If something is happening NOW, it
is more newsworthy than if it
happened yesterday or last week or
two weeks ago. Oftentimes the
most newsworthy element in the
story is the most recent happening,
the latest thing in
a series of happenings.

10. The news story must immediately tell the
impact of the event.
b. The value of the news depends upon the
newness of the happening.
c. It concerns not only of the recency
(time of occurrence) but also primacy
(you gasp with surprise when you first
hear or see it is news to you, regardless
of age)

12. How close to your readers is this
event taking place? All other things
being equal, something that is
happening in or near their location is
much more meaningful to them than
something taking place across town
or across the world.

13. Interests of the readers primarily
depends upon the closeness of their
own personal affairs.
Closeness not only place but
interest.

15. Is a well-known person part of the
story? Readers like to read about
people they know. If a person is
well-known, more readers will be
interested than if a person who is
mentioned is not known.

17. A good example is the
newsworthiness of the classic
remark made by Charles A. Dana,in
1882: “When a dog bites a man
that is not news, but when a man
bites a dog that is news.”

19. How will this event impact your
readers? How important is it?
Something that is more important
will be more newsworthy than
something that is of little
importance, all other things being
equal.

21. Is there a conflict between persons in the
story? A rivalry? A misunderstanding?
People are naturally drawn to conflict
and find it fascinating.
This element is essential in catching the
attention of the readers like the intense
conflicts of the different political groups
in the Philippines.

23. Anything that appeals
to the reader’s
emotions…makes
him laugh, cry, get
angry, feel sympathy,
etc….has the
potential for human
interest.

25. Another factor in stimulating the
appeal and interest of the readers.
The continuing suspense of day-to-
day news events will always attract
the attention of the reading public.

27. News story that
is appealing to
the readers,
irrespective of its
point of origin,
such as local,
community,
national and
international.

29. In order to avoid boredom on the
part of the readers, it is important
that the news writer must “pounce
with delight upon news that
usually titillates their bump
of credulity or make them smile”
once in a while.

30. Suggest the breadth and extension of
the news.

31. It adds color and vitality to the story.

32. • Mystery, suspense,
comedy, the unusual, the
bizarre are chief elements
of drama

34. It is present in stories of romance,
marriage, divorce and other
relationships.

35. Involves any significant change for
the betterment of mankind.

36. How will a particular event affect the
readers? Similar to consequence but
stronger and more personal.

37. “When love and skill work
together, expect a
masterpiece.” John Ruskin