Definition of Broadcast News: The medium through which news is delivered to the audience via television, radio, and internet.
Importance of identifying what stories resonate with a personal audience.
What Makes a News Event?
News Values:
Elements of News Worthiness
Magnitude: Large-scale effects on people's lives (e.g., natural disasters, major accidents).
Prominence: Involves well-known figures or events (e.g., celebrity incidents, political happenings).
Conflict: Engaging the audience with stories of clashes or disputes (e.g., strikes, legal battles).
Currency: Relevance to current events; the notion of timeliness in reporting.
Proximity: Local importance; news that directly affects the audience's community.
Unusual: Surprising events that grab attention and spark curiosity.
Human Spirit: Celebrating extraordinary achievements or resilience (e.g., sporting feats).
Galtung & Ruge's Framework (1965) as Expanded by Other Scholars
Different scholars, such as Golding & Elliot, Lanson, and Harcup, contributed to the understanding of news values over time:
Negativity: Bad news often has a higher news value than good news.
Dramatic: Events should have a narrative arc.
Visual Appeal: Stories that visually engage audiences are prioritized.
Simplicity & Unusualness: Easy to understand stories that captivate.
Impact, Consequence, and Magnitude
Important news reports affect a large number of people; high casualties in events like natural disasters garner more attention than minor incidents.
Prominence
The public's tendency to track the lives of prominent figures; stories related to celebrities, politicians, or cultural icons are of high interest.
Conflict
The inherent news value in human conflicts; political and economic disputes, especially those impacting public sentiment.
Proximity & Timeliness
Proximity
News relevant to individuals based on location (e.g., local crime, community events).
Timeliness
For news effectiveness, it must be current; older events lack relevance compared to recent happenings.
Unusual & Human Spirit
Unusual
Events that defy expectations and provoke emotional responses.
Human Spirit
Celebrating human achievements or extraordinary feats that uplift and inspire audiences.
Objectivity in Journalism
The ideal that news should be presented without bias; however, complete value-free reporting is often unattainable.
Standards: Aggressive, precise reporting is expected, based on thorough research and objective questioning.
Balance and Attribution
Fairness in covering all viewpoints; credibility is strengthened through proper attribution of information sources.
Comprehensiveness
Providing sufficient context and information for audiences unfamiliar with the subject matter; journalists act as fact recorders, not moral judges (Kinsey).
Role of the Journalist
Journalists must use sound judgment to evaluate newsworthiness while adhering to constitutional protections for press freedom.
Watchdog Function: Monitoring societal institutions is a key responsibility of the media.
Advantages of TV Broadcasts Over Print
TV excels in visual storytelling; relevant for immediate questions of what, who, where, and when, while weaker in providing depth on how and why.
Accessibility for illiterate audience members and acting as a universal communication medium.
Collecting News
Methods
Discovery of News: Relying on direct observation, interpersonal networks, and accessing documented information.
Successful news reporting often involves uncovering narratives beneath simple facts.
Questions in Reporting
Reporters should approach interviews systematically; asking straightforward and significant questions is crucial for effective storytelling.