2. WHAT ARE NEWS?
• Newly received and noteworthy information about recent or important
events. News are presented to us through many platforms such as:
newspapers, television and the internet. This ensures that news of current
events can easily be broadcasted to us in numerous ways, keeping us
updated with the events that are going on within the world around us. News
manages to spread very quickly because of these platforms and this is why
large scale events can easily be informed to regions all over the world. For
example, the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the twin towers in New York, USA were
an immense deal and due to its large media coverage, the world was
aware of such an event, in a short space of time.
3. FACTORS AFFECTING THE NEWS
PROMINENCE
• The issue with news is that what makes the news, depends on many factors.
One event on a particular person may make the news whereas this same
event on another person may go unnoticed. This is known as prominence.
For example, if a celebrity, such as Kim Kardashian, had got robbed whilst
out on the street, this could make the headlines, but if an average person,
who isn’t famous, had got robbed out on the street, this probably wouldn’t
make the news because the person isn’t as well known. However, although
both of these events are issues, the one upon Kim Kardashian would
become a bigger deal and the media would become more interested in
her scenario rather than with the other person. Journalists would be eager to
find out more information about the event and get different sides of the
story, to entertain its audience.
4. HUMAN INTEREST
• Another factor is human interest, which is how unusual
the event may seem and how appealing it would be to
those watching the news. If a dog was to bite a man,
this most likely wouldn’t make the news, but if a man
was to bite a dog, such bizarre behavior would attract
great speculation. Because of how uncommon this
event is, it would mean that it would intrigue more
people as to what sparked such an event and the news
views this as an event worth sharing to its viewers. This
kind of viewpoint is what problematizes the concept of
news, as it only chooses to present what it thinks people
want to see, rather than what is actually relevant.
5. HUMAN INTEREST
• Another way the news promotes human interest is by using the viewer’s
feelings to their advantage. They may broadcast a report where something
happens that could grasp at your affectionate side. For example, if an
explosion goes off in a shop and no one is killed, this probably wouldn’t be
such a big deal with the news, but if that explosion had killed a number of
people, including 3 very young children, this may be presented as a bigger
deal. They do this because it most likely would attract your attention of how
such a thing happens to young, innocent people. It makes you sympathise
for how horrific the event was. Also, because of the victims of the explosion
being young, defenceless individuals, makes the majority of those hearing
the news feel sorry for them. Human interest is more about entertainment
value and maintaining those viewing the news displayed.
6. IMPACT & PROXIMITY
• A factor which may affect what the news presents to its viewers may also depend on its
relevance to the people who will be viewing it. For example, for a local news station, they
would broadcast news that are relevant to the people of the surrounding area rather than
a national issue. This is because these news may have a direct effect on the people living
there, therefore, they would be better off knowing about problems within the area that
may impact their lives. Its more about presenting what the people are better off hearing
about, over presenting whatever news they can find. The impact of the news can vary
depending on where the event has happened and how many people would be effected
by such events. The news may choose to present whatever would have a larger effect on
the people viewing their content. The closer the news has occurred to someone, the more
knowledge they would want to have on the recent occurrence.
7. TIMELINESS
• The general rule for news is: the more recent, the more newsworthy.
However, this is not always the case, as the news does tend to go
back to previous events, if it is necessary. Overall though, the newer
the event is, the more likely it is to be published. For example, an
earthquake which occurred a few days ago is much more likely to
be broadcasted than an earthquake of a few years ago. Although,
if the earthquake of a few year ago does have some relation to the
more recent one, then the news may give some information on the
older one to remind us of what had happened. They could say how
the newest disaster has been the most destructive one since the
earthquake of some years ago. Also, new information about news
of the past may come about, so they may readdress the news of
before with this updated information.
8. CONFLICT
• Conflict is another factor that affects what
content the news puts out because it
provides entertainment value as well as
keeping the viewers informed of the
competition between two or more sides. A
debate between two opposing political
parties would be something the news would
update people on, for instance. This is
because some of the viewers may support
one side and others may support the other
side, and by broadcasting conflict on the
news, it gives a strong sense of rivalry. It gives
the sides a chance to sway more people
towards their views or just keep people
informed of what they aim to do. Conflict
keeps people entertained because they
enjoy seeing people with opposing views,
fight over their beliefs and want to know
what is going on at all times. This causes
great controversy, allowing the audience to
create an opinion on the conflict.
