News Values and the Selection Process

News

News is a type of information that is distributed to the public. While real events are often the source of news, the selection process is crucial in determining what goes into a news story. Various factors influence whether a story becomes newsworthy, and we’ll discuss some of them in this article. We’ll also discuss how to analyze news values and the selection process, as well as the impact of professional and organizational models.

Content analysis of news values

Content analysis of news values is a useful framework for examining news stories and their meanings, particularly for journalists and media practitioners. It is crucial to understanding how news audiences consume news in a mediated society. However, it is not as straightforward as it may seem. Various factors, including media deadlines and the influence of advertisers and public relations practitioners, can influence how news stories are perceived.

One way to measure and study news values is to use a system developed by researchers Johan Galtung and Mari Holmboe Ruge. The system aims to assess the newsworthiness of news stories in various media, from newspapers to broadcasts.

Impact of audience on selection of stories

The impact of audience on the selection of stories in news is a complex issue. Despite the influence of audience data on editorial decision-making, journalists often downplay its role. This study makes an effort to clarify how audiences shape content selection. It uses an innovative qualitative methodology that builds on insights from audience surveys and online tracking.

The study identified several factors that influence the selection of news stories. They included brand, proximity, sociability, topic, and previous knowledge. The results indicate that brands and topic are among the top drivers of news selection.

Influence of professional model

There are numerous factors that influence the content of news media. One useful framework is the Hierarchy of Influences Model, which describes the different levels of influence that are relevant to news media. The model identifies five levels that contribute to the content of news. For instance, political ideology can influence news content, and the power of a single individual can affect news content.

Traditional news media outlets are expected to present information that is favorable to those in power, and they will tone down stories that touch on political corruption. However, newer media outlets are less under the control of elites, and they challenge this power by presenting information in an unfiltered manner. One recent example is Facebook, which was recently accused of failing to deal with misleading content.