"Newsworthy" Vocabulary

...immediate, current information and events are newsworthy because they have just recently occurred. It’s news because it’s “new.”

• timeliness

• proximity

• conflict and controversy

• relevance

...local information and events are newsworthy because they affect the people in our community and region. We care more about things that happen “close to home.”

• timeliness

• proximity

• conflict and controversy

• relevance

....when violence strikes or when people argue about actions, events, ideas or policies, we care. Conflict and controversy attract our attention by highlighting problems or differences within the community.

• timeliness

• proximity

• conflict and controversy

• relevance

People are attracted to information that helps them make good decisions. If you like to cook, you find recipes relevant. If you’re looking for a job, the business news is relevant. We need depend on relevant information that helps us make decisions.

• timeliness

• proximity

• conflict and controversy

• relevance

People are interested in other people. Everyone has something to celebrate and something to complain about. We like unusual stories of people who accomplish amazing feats or handle a life crisis because we can identify with them.

• timeliness

• human interest

• conflict and controversy

• relevance

...a position where it is seen first, for example on the top half of the front page of a newspaper or in the part of a web page that you see first when you open it.

• above the fold

• human interest

• conflict and controversy

• relevance

...an item or issue intended to be a focus of attention. In online journalism it is the story that viewers see first on the webpage.

• above the fold

• human interest

• conflict and controversy

• centerpiece story