WHAT IS NEWS?Part 2

Who decides?

How does news get to be news?

“Gatekeepers” Too much information out there; can’t

possibly put it all in newspaper or broadcast. Each news outlet has a person or people

who select what will be the news for that “edition.”

Those people are gatekeepers. Also known as … Editors Producers Directors

What criteria do you think gatekeepers use in making their decisions?

Making Decisions

How are you a gatekeeper?

You = personal gatekeeper

Playing Gatekeeper Pretend you’re the editor of a Scott High

School newspaper or podcast. On a sheet of paper, make 3 columns Label them: “News,” “Sports, “Student

Life” List 3 ideas for stories in each category

Playing Gatekeeper - 2 Trade papers “Grade” each idea:

X = doesn’t interest you √ = interests you = interests you a lot

Trade papers again

What criteria did you use

to make your decisions?

Top Stories?

3 Criteria Facts

Adequate Accurate Timely

Audience Who will be reading? What are their values? Interests?

Interest Have meaning to the audience

These factors influence the news that gets to public (different from newsworthiness)

6 Factors

Factor 1: News hole the amount of space in the newspaper

or time in a newscast available for news what determines news hole? business

factors Web: not too much of a factor

Factor 2: News flow the number of news stories available to

run at any one time Example: Sports Illustrated

Factor 3: Medium some stories play better on TV than in

newspaper & vice versa newspapers – many stories, some depth magazines – depth, some perspective radio – fastest & sound TV – fast & pictures Internet -- hybrid

Factor 4: Deadlines the latest time a story can be finished in

order to be printed in that paper or shown on that newscast

Game-changers: 24-hour cable Internet

Factor 5: Editorial Philosophy what a media outlet chooses to cover

Factor 6: Business What sells!

Where does news come from?

Finding News

Beats Beat

A regular assignment give to reporters A place reporters go to regularly to get info

Reporters work a beat to find stories Gain expertise & contacts—which lead to

stories

Sources Source

Someone who provides information to a journalist

Journalists develop regular sources through their beat assignments

People contact reporters with stories

“Local Angle” Local Connection – a fact or person that

connects a story originating elsewhere to the local audience George Clooney – “Maysville native” War in Afghanistan – local soldiers

involvement (killed or wounded) Local groups raising money or collecting

supplies for Haitian earthquake victims

Chad Ochocinco: 'Dancing with the Stars' will help in off-season

Bengals wide receiver practices four hours daily with partner Cheryl Burke

By John Kiesewetter • jkiesewetter@enquirer.com • March 9, 2010

Chad Ochocinco took a few minutes away from “Dancing with the Stars” practice to provide a scouting report on his attempt to master the cha-cha in three weeks.

“It’s extremely, extremely hard,” says Ochocinco, 32, one of 11 celebrities who will compete on the hit ABC show that starts March 22.

“Local Angle” – 2 Local Focus – bringing a larger national

or international story into the local community Swine flue – local update Local impact of national controversies

Follow Up “Next day”

Reporting that follows up on a story from the previous day

Futures file Coming back to a story for a planned

update