A to Z Challenge - N for News value

Theme - Journalism jargons

News value is what determines which news is important and which is not. Yes, it is subjective. What is important for you, might not be important for me; and vice versa.

However, there are a few general guidelines that are followed to determine news value. Here they are:

PROMINENCE - When prominent people say something that becomes news. That is why there is a greater probability of what President Trump of the US says making to the media around the world, compared to the statements made by other heads of state. Similarly, when something eventful has happened at a prominent building or place, that is news. For example, the fire at Notre Dame in Paris has surely made it to the front page of almost all major newspapers in the world.

PROXIMITY - A news development close to the place of publication becomes important. These are generally what gets termed as local or city-centric news items. Report of a major car crash in New York will be in New York papers, but it won't be there in any newspaper in other parts of the world.

NEWNESS - The latest development gets priority over stories that are older. Thus we have 'breaking news'.

IMPACT - The more widespread the impact of a news development, the more important it becomes. That is why government policy decisions, however boring it could be, are important.

UNIQUENESS - Something that is unusual, out of ordinary, that raises curiosity becomes news. Thus the famous adage: 'When a dog bites man it is not news, when a man bites dog it is news.'

(This post is a part of the "Blogging from A to Z Challenge April 2019".)