2. “This business of giving people
what they want is a dope pusher’s
argument. New is something
people don’t know they’re
interested in until they hear about
it. The job of a journalist is to take
what’s important and make it
interesting .”
-Reuven Frank,
former NBC News president
4. Five News Qualities
-Accuracy: all facts checked
-Balance: emphasis & completeness; cover
both sides & select facts equally
-Objectivity/Fairness : be fair; avoid
conflicts of interest
-Conciseness/Clarity : average reader at
8th grade level
-Timeliness: doesn’t mean current, means
appropriate
5. Interest Elements
Timeliness: emphasize newest angle
Proximity: nearness, impact on readers
Importance/Consequence: effect on
readers
Prominence/Names: familiar to readers
Conflict/Drama: opposing forces, suspense
Variety: unusual, strange, original events
Humor: don’t force it, must be inherit in story
Human Interest: sadness, happiness,
animals, babies etc.
6.
7. Functions of a Newspaper
-Publish the news
-Comment on the news
-Entertain readers
-Help readers
-Publish advertising
8. News By The Numbers
-from Inside Reporting, Tim Harrower
1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life = 0
1 ordinary man + 1 extraordinary adventure = News
1 ordinary husband + 1 ordinary wife = 0
1 ordinary husband + 3 wives = News
1 bank teller + 1 wife + 7 children = 0
1 bank teller - $250,000 = News
1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life of 70 years =0
1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life of 100 years = News
1 ordinary student + 1 ordinary schedule = 0
1 ordinary student + ? = News
