The document discusses what constitutes news and how to identify news stories. It notes that news is about people, death, issues and controversy. While meetings and speeches can potentially be news, the key things to report on are the reasons for meetings, issues discussed, and what was said in prominent speeches. The document advises writing headlines that convey the essence of what someone said rather than just stating an event took place. It identifies focusing on quotes and issues as what to write about for news stories.

1. HOW TO IDENTIFY NEWS
Adventist News Network
www.news.adventist.org
Thursday, June 25, 2009

2. News is...
New (duh)
Thursday, June 25, 2009

3. News is...
About people
Thursday, June 25, 2009

4. News is...
About death
Thursday, June 25, 2009

5. News is...
About issues (controversy)
Thursday, June 25, 2009

6. A meeting is not news...
...but the reason for the meeting, or issues
discussed at the meeting, could be news
Thursday, June 25, 2009

7. Ineffective headlines
“City council meets”
“Church board meeting a success”
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8. finding news at a meeting
What are the issues?
Thursday, June 25, 2009

9. A speech by a prominent person could be
news
What did they say?
Thursday, June 25, 2009

10. Bob
Woodward
(rockstar status among
young journalists)
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11. poor headline
“Watergate reporter Bob
Woodward speaks at UC Davis”
Thursday, June 25, 2009

12. more effective headlines:
Watergate reporter Woodward still
won’t reveal Deep Throat
Hillary now difficult to
pinpoint in White House race,
says Watergate reporter Woodward
Thursday, June 25, 2009

13. what to write about:
What did they say?
Thursday, June 25, 2009

14. Great resource:
Handbook of Independent Journalism
Thursday, June 25, 2009

15. adventistnews@gc.adventist.org
Thursday, June 25, 2009