How Do Journalists Evaluate News?

News

There are many ways to evaluate news. Some of the methods include content analysis, timeliness, and impact. For example, a television news network may focus on breaking news or sports events. It may also focus on a single topic, such as the impact of a current event. Another method relies on the audience’s interest.

Content analysis of news values

Content analysis of news values is an attempt to understand the determinants of newsworthiness. It is important to note that this analysis can be applied to different media, including newspapers and television news. However, the study of news values has its limitations. Although the theory provides an explanation for some news values, it does not account for all of them. Many arbitrary factors can alter a story’s value, such as the newsroom’s decision to drop it at the last minute or to replace it with a different story.

Factors influencing journalistic selection

In this study, we sought to explore the factors that influence the selection of journalists. We used a cross-sectional, quantitative approach and collected data from 47 journalists in the Egyptian Journalists Federation. Among other things, we examined the relationship between biasness and organizational factors, personal morals of journalists, and various kinds of news content. We found that these factors were positively related with one another, with p-values less than 0.05 considered significant.

Impact of an event

Events are a key component of news stories, as audiences want to learn about issues that affect them. Even something as trivial as a burglary in a hotel can create a big story for the media. As the number of news stories on the web grows, current search engines are forced to decide which stories are worth showing. Understanding the future impact of an event will help newspapers and news search engines make informed decisions about which stories to include in their news feeds.

Timeliness

In media history, the timeliness of news has played a central role in news production and audience response. In the nineteenth century, it was critical for newspapers to produce timely accounts that engaged their audience. In turn, timeliness was reified by monetary and organizational rewards. It also enhanced readers’ prospects of participating in distant affairs. In addition, the ritualistic nature of news reinforced its value.

Relevance

According to professional journalists, news stories should be relevant to readers. But what determines whether a news story is relevant? The relevance of a story depends on a range of factors. First, news stories may be relevant to one person but not to another. For instance, the damage caused by a train accident may be relevant to a large group, but not to a single person.

Impact of a story

The impact of a story in news is dependent on how many people it affects. The larger the number of affected people, the more newsworthy the story. The more people affected by an event, the stronger the impact, and the more extreme the effect, the more newsworthy the story is likely to be.

Bias in reporting

There is considerable evidence of bias in reporting, as highlighted in a study by Dickersin and colleagues examining Gabapentin trials. The trials, which were meant to address bipolar disorder, were reported as having negative results and outcomes. In the study, the authors cited several examples of spin used in reporting the data.