Announcing/Defining News

What is News?
News can be defined as "anything timely that interests a number of persons."

News writers try to uphold three traditional journalistic values:
 * Accuracy (factual, true)
 * Clarity (clear, unambiguous)
 * Objectivity (free of bias)

Where does news come from?
Journalists gather news from various sources.

The assignment editor continuously monitors:
 * wire services (like AP and Reuters)
 * police and fire radio scanners
 * National Weather Service broadcasts
 * telephone beat check and phoners
 * news releases that are faxed or mailed in
 * stock and sports tickers
 * cable news channels and other media

The assignment editor may decide that a story
 * can be read as is by a newscaster
 * should be rewritten by a copywriter
 * needs an actuality (a.k.a. sound bite), a recorded quote from a news maker
 * should be written as a wraparound, with a lead-in and lead-out around an actuality
 * needs raw sound (a.k.a. natural sound), background sounds from the environment

Often the assignment editor will assign the story to a reporter to gather more details:
 * A field reporter goes out into the field to cover on-the-scene breaking news.
 * A beat reporter regularly covers a beat, like City Hall and the Police Department.
 * A feature reporter covers soft news‚ stories, like health, consumer and entertainment.
 * A stringer is a free-lance reporter who works on an as-needed basis for many stations.

Journalists as Gatekeepers
Journalists are called gatekeepers because they decide what is and what isn't news. Only some news gets through the gate.

News Factors

 * Timeliness
 * Prominence
 * Proximity
 * Significance
 * Conflict
 * Time of day
 * The Medium
 * Management
 * Advertisers
 * News sources
 * Personal values