This document discusses what editors consider when determining if a story is newsworthy. It begins by asking readers to define news and compare definitions. It then shares Curtis MacDougall's 1938 definition of news as "an account of an event a newspaper prints to profit." The document outlines nine criteria editors use to decide what qualifies as news: timeliness, prominence, consequence, proximity, change, concreteness, personality/human interest, rarity, and conflict. Real-world examples are provided to demonstrate how editors apply these criteria when deciding which stories to publish.

1. Elements ofElements of
NewsNews
What editors considerWhat editors consider
SlideSlide 11

2. What is news?
1. Come up with your own definition of
what news is to share with class.
Write this down.
2. Discuss with persons at your table.
3. As a group come up with a definition
on which all can agree. Write this
down.
4. How did the definition change?
5. Was it difficult to agree what news is?
SlideSlide 22

3. What is news?
“News is an
account of an
event which a
newspaper
prints in the
belief that by so
doing it will
profit.”
“News is an
account of an
event which a
newspaper
prints in the
belief that by so
doing it will
profit.”
Curtis D. MacDougall
1938 classic
“Interpretative Reporting”
6. How does group’s
definition compare to
MacDougall’s?
SlideSlide 33

4. Gatekeepers
Editors* make decisions based
on criteria*
Variation of criteria wording
exists
However, reasoning is same or
similar
Control what is reported
(gatekeeping)
*Newsroom leaders
*A standard for judging or decidingSlideSlide 44

5. Newsworthy
Noteworthy as news
Topical
Having value as news
SlideSlide 55

6. Deciding what’s news
7. Discuss with persons at your table
how editors (people running TV,
newspapers, etc.) decide what
stories to run.
8. List top three criteria your table
believes is important in deciding
which items make something
newsworthy.
SlideSlide 66

7. Elements of News
Criteria for deciding what’s news
a)Timeliness
b)Prominence
c)Consequence
d)Proximity
e)Change / Progress / Action
SlideSlide 77

8. Elements of News
Criteria for deciding what’s news
f)Concreteness / Impact
g)Personality / Human
Interest
h)Rarity / Singularity
(uniqueness)
i)ConflictSlideSlide 88

9. a) Timeliness
Something that just happened is
newsier than something that happened
a while ago
Key on the latest development, not the
original incident
It’s new, otherwise, we’d call it “olds”
SlideSlide 99

10. b) Prominence
Celebrity, politician
A famousfamous person
This does not refer to groups
A story about a teacher is not
necessarily newsworthy just because
teachers occupy a prominent place in
society
SlideSlide 1010

11. c) Consequence
ImportanceImportance of the event.
How large number of people will/did it
an effect on?
Less consequenceconsequence when affecting
fewer people.
Ask yourself how many people will be
affected.
SlideSlide 1111

12. d) Proximity
Local angle*
How to define?
In some cases, local local; in other
cases the whole state, region or country
Think about a bull's eye, closer to
center higher the score
Just because something happened
nearby doesn’t mean it’s newsworthy
*direction story takes, slant
SlideSlide 1212

13. e) Change / Progress / Action
When there is a new or different way
to do something
An advancement
SlideSlide 1313

14. f) Concreteness / Impact
Real, not theoretical*
“World could end tomorrow”
Death is the ultimate impact
Numbers also matter (how many)
*in theory only, not tangible
(touchable)
SlideSlide 1414

15. g) Personality / Human Interest
Anything that appeals to the reader’s
emotionsemotions
Makes him laugh, cry, get angry, feel
sympathy, etc….has the potential for
human interest.
“Warm and fuzzy” feeling
SlideSlide 1515

16. h) Rarity/Singularity
(uniqueness)
An unusualunusual, strange occurrence
May have never happened before
The strange or unusual is fascinating to
many readers.
Related to Personality/Human Interest
SlideSlide 1616

17. i) Conflict
Ranges from policy disputes (politics)
To sports rivalries
To shooting wars
Any time there is a struggle
SlideSlide 1717

18. Examples Set 1
S1 Sarah Johnson has always
wanted a dog. Now a 10
week old puppy wiggles in
her lap, frantically trying to
lick her face.
S2 The Mustang football team
will play Wilsonville
tomorrow, hoping to
continue its win streak.
S1 Sarah Johnson has always
wanted a dog. Now a 10
week old puppy wiggles in
her lap, frantically trying to
lick her face.
S2 The Mustang football team
will play Wilsonville
tomorrow, hoping to
continue its win streak.
SlideSlide 1818
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

19. Examples Set 2
S3 Construction has closed school
entrances and closed portions
of parking lots, forcing students
and faculty alike to scramble to
rearrange their normal
patterns.
S4 It’s been 41 years since Arnold
Palmer won the last of his
seven major championships.
But he’s still the biggest draw.
S3 Construction has closed school
entrances and closed portions
of parking lots, forcing students
and faculty alike to scramble to
rearrange their normal
patterns.
S4 It’s been 41 years since Arnold
Palmer won the last of his
seven major championships.
But he’s still the biggest draw.
SlideSlide 1919
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

20. Examples Set 3
S5Be the first to know:
"Like" the North
Clackamas Schools
Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/NorthClackamasSch
to get regular posts
about NC12 schools
and community events.
S5Be the first to know:
"Like" the North
Clackamas Schools
Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/NorthClackamasSch
to get regular posts
about NC12 schools
and community events.
SlideSlide 2020
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

21. Examples Set 4
S6 Geologists have detected a
fault zone tat stretching
about 20 miles from the
northern flank of Mt. Hood
to the Columbia River.
Hidden by trees and dense
vegetation, it had
previously gone unnoticed.
S6 Geologists have detected a
fault zone tat stretching
about 20 miles from the
northern flank of Mt. Hood
to the Columbia River.
Hidden by trees and dense
vegetation, it had
previously gone unnoticed.
SlideSlide 2121
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

22. Examples Set 5
S7 Geologists have detected a
fault zone stretching about 20
miles from the northern flank of
Mt. Hood to the Columbia
River. Hidden by trees and
dense vegetation, it had
previously gone unnoticed.
S8 The founder of Zupan's
Markets, a grocery chain in
Oregon, has died, following a
hit-and-run crash.
S7 Geologists have detected a
fault zone stretching about 20
miles from the northern flank of
Mt. Hood to the Columbia
River. Hidden by trees and
dense vegetation, it had
previously gone unnoticed.
S8 The founder of Zupan's
Markets, a grocery chain in
Oregon, has died, following a
hit-and-run crash.
SlideSlide 2222
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

23. Examples Set 6
S9 People in one Tigard
neighborhood are fighting the
city to keep a beaver dam in
place.
S10 A former bathroom in the
nation's oldest public park is
being converted into a
sandwich shop.
S9 People in one Tigard
neighborhood are fighting the
city to keep a beaver dam in
place.
S10 A former bathroom in the
nation's oldest public park is
being converted into a
sandwich shop.
SlideSlide 2323
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

24. Examples Set 7
S11 On September 25, 11
teams will test their mettle
on The Amazing Race.
One of the contestants this
year is farmer and rancher
Bill Alden, 63, of Albany,
Ore.
S12 Crews work to protect
historic Mt Hood buildings
from wildfire.
S11 On September 25, 11
teams will test their mettle
on The Amazing Race.
One of the contestants this
year is farmer and rancher
Bill Alden, 63, of Albany,
Ore.
S12 Crews work to protect
historic Mt Hood buildings
from wildfire.
SlideSlide 2424
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

25. Examples Set 8
S13 A top official in China's
turbulent Xinjiang region said
security forces have defused a
number of threats to public
safety in recent weeks but is
providing few details.
S14 MAX turns 25 on Friday, with
TriMet celebrations planned in
Portland and Gresham.
S13 A top official in China's
turbulent Xinjiang region said
security forces have defused a
number of threats to public
safety in recent weeks but is
providing few details.
S14 MAX turns 25 on Friday, with
TriMet celebrations planned in
Portland and Gresham.
SlideSlide 2525
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

26. Examples Set 9
S15 Karen Grondin recently
opened Grapevine
Graphics and Picture
Framing at Singer Hill Cafe
and Desserts at 623
Seventh St.
S16 A house fire in Damascus
is estimated to have
caused $150,000 worth of
damage.
S15 Karen Grondin recently
opened Grapevine
Graphics and Picture
Framing at Singer Hill Cafe
and Desserts at 623
Seventh St.
S16 A house fire in Damascus
is estimated to have
caused $150,000 worth of
damage.
SlideSlide 2626
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

27. Examples Set 10
S17 Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff
Merkley is prepared to fully
the support the Portland
City Council if it chooses to
request a waiver from the
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s
requirement to replace the
city’s five open reservoirs.
S17 Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff
Merkley is prepared to fully
the support the Portland
City Council if it chooses to
request a waiver from the
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s
requirement to replace the
city’s five open reservoirs.
SlideSlide 2727
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

28. Examples Set 11
S18 It’s been 10 years since
terrorists attacked New York’s
Twin Towers and the
Pentagon and passengers
foiled another attack by
crashing a plane into a
Pennsylvania field.
S19 More than two decades since
the great-grandmother’s first
skydive, Frankie Bryant, 69,
still loves the sensation of
falling through the skies.
S18 It’s been 10 years since
terrorists attacked New York’s
Twin Towers and the
Pentagon and passengers
foiled another attack by
crashing a plane into a
Pennsylvania field.
S19 More than two decades since
the great-grandmother’s first
skydive, Frankie Bryant, 69,
still loves the sensation of
falling through the skies.
SlideSlide 2828
A. TimelinessA. Timeliness
B. ProminenceB. Prominence
C.
Consequenc
e
C.
Consequenc
eD. ProximityD. Proximity
E. ChangeE. Change
F.
Concretenes
s
F.
Concretenes
sG. PersonalityG. Personality
H. RarityH. Rarity
I. ConflictI. Conflict

29. Always a balancing act
Stories having more elements of news
have stronger newsworthiness
But there are gradations within each
category
Bigger & smaller celebrities; bigger &
smaller impacts; bigger & smaller
conflicts
SlideSlide 2929

30. Who are our readers?
Local paper
Traditional values
Homogeneous* vs. heterogeneous*
Sports/outdoors
*Same mix throughout
*Different throughout
SlideSlide 3030

31. Three goals of journalism
Inform
Educate
Entertain
3131

32. Goal of publisher*
Make money!
* A person or company owning a
news organization
SlideSlide 3232