Elaborate the values that qualify an event to be newsworthy? Explain these values with suitable examples.
Print Media Part-1 (5625)
There are several values that journalists and news organizations consider when determining whether an event qualifies as newsworthy. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Timeliness: A news event that has just occurred or is ongoing is more likely to be considered newsworthy than something that happened a long time ago. For example, a major earthquake that just hit a city will be considered more newsworthy than an earthquake that happened a year ago.
- Impact: Events that have a significant impact on people’s lives, such as natural disasters, major policy changes, or high-profile court cases, are often considered newsworthy. For example, a new law that affects the rights of a particular group of people, such as the legalization of same-sex marriage, would be considered newsworthy due to its impact on society.
- Proximity: Events that occur close to home are often considered more newsworthy than those that happen far away. For example, a car accident on a major local highway would be considered more newsworthy than a similar accident that happened in a different part of the country.
- Conflict: Events that involve conflict or controversy are often considered newsworthy. For example, a political scandal involving a high-profile government official would be considered newsworthy due to the conflict and controversy surrounding the situation.
- Human interest: Events that are of human interest, such as heartwarming stories of individuals overcoming adversity or acts of kindness, are often considered newsworthy. For example, a story about a local firefighter rescuing a kitten from a burning building would be considered newsworthy due to its human interest value.
- Novelty: Events that are unusual or unexpected are often considered newsworthy. For example, a man giving birth to a baby or a rare sighting of an exotic animal in a local park would be considered newsworthy due to their novelty value.
- Relevance: Events that are relevant to a particular audience or group are often considered newsworthy. For example, a story about the impact of climate change on a particular region would be considered newsworthy for an audience interested in environmental issues.
In conclusion, these values are not mutually exclusive and often overlap. A story may have multiple values that make it newsworthy, and different news organizations may prioritize these values differently. Journalists and news organizations must use their judgment and apply these values in a responsible and ethical manner when determining whether an event qualifies as newsworthy.
