This document outlines the key topics and readings for a journalism class on how news is made. It includes: 1) Group assignments where students will lead discussions on assigned reading questions and reporting on group attendance. 2) An overview of chapter 3 which covers the distinctions between news, information and journalism, criteria for newsworthiness, the news making process, news beats, enterprise stories, pseudo events and how news is constructed and commodified. 3) Examples of news values like timeliness, proximity, impact and entertainment that influence newsworthiness. 4) The sources of news like planned events, beats, investigations and examples of distinguishing news from just information.

1. How News Is Made
Principles of News
JOUR 2300
Professor Neil Foote
Mayborn School of Journalism

2. 2
Group Assignments
• Each group leader is responsible for:
1. Leading his/her group in a 20 – 30 minute
discussion during class time to respond to the
assigned questions based on the readings
2. Be ready – upon request – to personally
respond or have a team member respond to
key questions about the readings, e.g.
offering a summary of an article, highlighting
major themes or findings or identifying the
most significant sources or people featured in
story
3. Report attendance of group to the Graduate
Assistant

3. 3
Chapter 3 – How News is Made
• Distinctions among news, information and
journalism
• Criteria of newsworthiness
• The news-making process
• Beats
• Enterprise stories
• Pseudo events
• News as a construction
• Commodification of news

4. 4
Newsworthiness
Timeliness
Proximity
Unique
Human
Interest
Impact
Helpfulness
Celebrities
Entertainment
Dramatic

5. 5
Where does news come from?
• Spontaneous
• Random
• Extraordinary
• Planned/staged: Press releases,
press conferences
• Beats
• Enterprise/investigative

6. News v. information?
• News
• Reported: interviews
with knowledgeable
sources
• Requires judgment
• Verified
• Transparent
• Organized
• Answers the questions:
who? What? Where?
Why? When?
• Information
• Anyone can share
information
• It’s everywhere –
become a
commodity
• Not always fact-
based

7. 7
What’s news?
• Rescued Subway Kitties, Arthur and August,
Getting "Much-Needed TLC": ACC
• Service was suspended for about an hour on
the B and Q lines when the kittens ran on
the tracks last week
• http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Kittens-
Subway-Tracks-Brooklyn-MTA-Delays-Shut-
Down--221662261.html

8. 8
Let’s discuss…
• Do readers and viewers understand
the difference between information?
News? Journalism?
• Examples????

9. 9
News or Not News?
• Plaza Towers Mother Supports New Push to Build
Storm Shelters in Schools
• http://www.newson6.com/story/23282949/plaza-
towers-mother-supports-new-push-to-build-storm-
shelters-in-schools
• Glacier National Park Seeks Advice
• http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/23343085/glacier
-national-park-seeking-advice
• Many turn out for Red Top parade
• http://www.live5news.com/story/23315634/red-top-to-
host-labor-day-parade

10. 10
News or Not News?
• Music Matters at Local School
• http://www.localnews8.com/news/music-matters-at-
local-school/-/308662/21768478/-/o6e5iq/-/index.html
• Dog mauls Stubbs, honorary cat mayor in Alaska
• http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/05/dog-mauls-
stubbs-honorary-cat-mayor-in-
alaska/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&ut
m_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fnational+%28Inter
nal+-+US+Latest+-+Text%29
• ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 17 Cast
Revealed
• http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/
hollywood_wrap&id=9235773

11. 11
Let’s discuss…
• Are certain types of media better at
conveying stories with certain types
of news values?
• Examples????