One of the things that people enjoy reading is news. This may come in print, broadcast or digital form. Examples of typical news: breaking news stories by local or international governments, businesses or other institutions (e.g., companies announcing their latest profits or status reports); celebrity news (e.g., interviews by celebrities or newspapers); and new trends or new studies. News can be from any media, and can be factual, opinion-based or news-driven.
We can divide news content into two groups: those that are newsworthy, and those that are not. There are many standards for judging newsworthy material, but the crux of the matter is that if the content is new, significant, and intriguing enough, it is newsworthy. A news article, a news story, a press release, or a blog post that contains such information is newsworthy. But how do you know if a piece of news is newsworthy?
The basic answer to this question is: only if it makes news. News, as any one can observe, is mostly repetitive. Repetitive items, in the news, either repeat what has already been said or inform the reader about something that has not been covered elsewhere. News stories that make news include: breaking news, such as the airplane crash that killed the third flight attendant on an Air Force One flight; scoop stories, which report on a story that is not being covered elsewhere, as in the case of a missing child. Also considering newsworthy are stories of local interest, and those that deal with an interesting or unusual venue or situation.
There are also two other factors that contribute to determining news value: readership and listenership or audience. Readers pick up on things that other readers might not notice. And listeners absorb what they hear. If you can break down these elements and make them relevant to your readers and your audience, you have a very good chance of getting your news into the hands of readers and viewers that will make news. For example, if you were writing about new laws regarding billboards, but your audience specifically wanted to learn more about the new restrictions on billboards in certain areas, you would be well advised to focus on your story’s relevance to your readers’ needs. Adding graphics or other methods of conveying your point may be helpful, but if you do not add other relevant details, your news item will most likely remain a news item rather than making it into a newsworthy item.
There are many different ways to make news. A few of the most effective methods include breaking news, which occurs when a major event occurs and national or international media is immediately reporting the event. But these kinds of stories generally make news because the world is literally glued to the event. Many people stay online or check their cell phones for the rest of the day, keeping an eye on the developments, as a result. Even though this type of news story makes news, it is normally noteworthy, as it tends to get more airtime than a local or national edition.
The six values listed above are all important factors when deciding whether a story is newsworthy. Not only does your story have to be newsworthy in itself, but it must also have information that is of value to others. This includes details that are not necessarily significant to you but are of importance to the people who will be affected by the story. By following these six values, you will be ensuring that your news article has the highest chances of being newsworthy.