JMC 457
Lecture Notes 1
Arizona State University
Spring 2023
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News Selection in Media and Journalism
Definition of news selection
News selection is the process of choosing which news stories to cover and report on by
media outlets. (Vos, 2018)
It involves identifying potential stories, researching and verifying information, evaluating
the relevance and significance of the stories, and making editorial decisions. (Witschge et
al., 2016)
News selection is a critical aspect of journalism and media, as it determines what
information the public receives and how they perceive events and issues. (Shoemaker &
Vos, 2009)
Importance of News Selection in Journalism and Media
News selection is a crucial aspect of journalism and media as it involves choosing which stories
to cover and which to ignore. The process of selecting news involves several factors such as
relevance, significance, timeliness, and audience interest. The importance of news selection in
journalism and media cannot be overemphasized as it determines the type of news that is
disseminated to the public, which ultimately shapes public opinion and perception. In this
lecture, we will discuss the importance of news selection in journalism and media, and the goals
of news selection.
Goals of News Selection
The goals of news selection in journalism and media are multifaceted and can vary depending on
the media outlet, the audience, and the nature of the news. However, there are some common
goals that journalists and media outlets strive to achieve when selecting news.
1. Informing the public: The primary goal of news selection is to inform the public of
current events, issues, and trends. According to Denis McQuail, a renowned
communication scholar, the goal of news selection is to provide "accurate, complete, and
balanced information about events and issues of public interest" (McQuail, 2010). This
goal is crucial in ensuring that the public is well-informed about the world around them,
which is essential in making informed decisions.
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2. Educating the public: News selection also aims to educate the public on complex issues,
policies, and events. This goal is important in providing the public with a deeper
understanding of the world around them, which is essential in fostering critical thinking
and promoting civic engagement.
3. Entertaining the public: While the primary goal of news selection is to inform and
educate, it is also important to consider the entertainment value of news. News that is
entertaining can attract a wider audience, which can ultimately increase the reach and
impact of the news. However, it is important to strike a balance between entertainment
and informative value to avoid sensationalism and misinformation.
4. Reflecting public interest: Another goal of news selection is to reflect public interest.
Journalists and media outlets often select news based on what they believe the public
wants to know. This is important in ensuring that the news is relevant to the audience and
can increase the likelihood of audience engagement.
5. Maintaining editorial standards: The final goal of news selection is to maintain
editorial standards. Journalists and media outlets have a responsibility to provide
accurate, objective, and unbiased news to the public. This goal is crucial in ensuring that
the news is credible and trustworthy.
Importance of News Selection in Journalism and Media
1. Shaping public opinion: The news that is selected can shape public opinion and
perception. The media has the power to influence how people think about certain issues
and events, and news selection plays a significant role in this process. According to a
study by Robert Entman, "media framing can set the agenda and shape public opinion by
defining the most important issues and providing a context for understanding them"
(Entman, 1993).
2. Fostering accountability: News selection is also important in fostering accountability.
Journalists and media outlets have a responsibility to hold those in power accountable for
their actions. By selecting news that highlights corruption, injustices, and other forms of
wrongdoing, the media can promote transparency and accountability.
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3. Ensuring diversity of perspectives: News selection is also crucial in ensuring diversity
of perspectives. The media has a responsibility to provide a platform for different voices
and opinions. By selecting news that represents different perspectives, the media can
promote inclusivity and diversity.
4. Increasing audience engagement: News selection is also important in increasing
audience engagement. The news that is selected can determine
II. News Selection Criteria
News organizations use a variety of criteria to select the stories that they report on. This section
will focus on three of the most important news selection criteria: timeliness, relevance, and
significance.
A. Timeliness
Timeliness refers to how recently an event has occurred. News organizations prioritize stories
that are happening now or have just happened over stories that are older. Timeliness is important
because people want to know what is happening in the world right now.
News organizations often have to balance timeliness with accuracy. They want to be the
first to report on a story, but they also want to make sure that they have all of the facts
straight before they go to press.
Timeliness is also important because it affects the amount of attention a story will
receive. Stories that are reported on right away are more likely to be picked up by other
news organizations and shared on social media.
B. Relevance
Relevance refers to how much a story matters to the audience. News organizations prioritize
stories that are relevant to their audience over stories that are not. Relevance is important because
people want to read about things that affect them directly.
News organizations often have to balance relevance with other factors, such as timeliness
and significance. They may choose to report on a less relevant story if it is more timely or
significant than a more relevant story.
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Relevance is also important because it affects the audience's engagement with the story.
If a story is not relevant to the audience, they are less likely to read it or share it on social
media.
C. Significance
Significance refers to how important a story is in the grand scheme of things. News organizations
prioritize stories that are significant over stories that are not. Significance is important because
people want to know about things that will have a lasting impact on the world.
News organizations often have to balance significance with other factors, such as
timeliness and relevance. They may choose to report on a less significant story if it is
more timely or relevant than a more significant story.
Significance is also important because it affects the audience's perception of the story. If
a story is significant, the audience is more likely to see it as important and to engage with
it on a deeper level.
Effective Writing: The Four Key Elements
Writing is a form of communication that requires a certain level of skill and mastery. As such, it
is important to understand the key elements of effective writing. In this lecture, we will focus on
four key elements of effective writing: proximity, human interest, conflict and controversy, and
novelty. These elements are essential in making your writing interesting and engaging to your
audience.
E. Proximity
Proximity refers to the idea that events or issues that are happening close to us are more relevant
and important to us than events that are happening farther away. Proximity can be used as a tool
to make your writing more relevant and engaging to your readers.
Use local examples: Incorporating local events or issues in your writing can make it more
relevant to your readers. For example, if you are writing about climate change, you could
use examples from your local area to make it more relatable to your readers.
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Highlight the impact: When writing about an issue, highlight how it affects people in
your readers' community. This will make your writing more relatable and engaging.
F. Human Interest
Human interest refers to the idea that people are more interested in stories that involve other
people. People are naturally curious about the lives of others, and this curiosity can be used to
make your writing more engaging.
Tell stories: Incorporating personal stories or anecdotes into your writing can make it
more interesting and engaging. For example, if you are writing about the benefits of
exercise, you could include a personal story about how exercise has impacted your life.
Use emotional language: Emotional language can help to evoke empathy and interest in
your readers. Using descriptive language can help your readers to visualize the people
and events in your writing, making it more engaging.
G. Conflict and Controversy
Conflict and controversy can be used to make your writing more interesting and engaging.
People are naturally drawn to conflict and controversy, and this can be used to make your writing
more attention-grabbing.
Take a stance: Taking a stance on an issue can be a way to create conflict in your writing.
By presenting two sides of an issue, you can create tension and make your writing more
engaging.
Be controversial: Controversy can be used to make your writing more interesting and
engaging. However, it is important to be careful when using controversial topics. You
should always be respectful and considerate of your readers' views.
H. Novelty
Novelty refers to the idea that people are more interested in things that are new and different.
This can be used to make your writing more engaging and interesting.
Be creative: Creativity can help to make your writing more engaging. By using new and
different ideas, you can capture your readers' attention and keep them interested.
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Use humor: Humor can be used to make your writing more engaging and interesting.
However, it is important to use humor carefully and appropriately.
Proximity, human interest, conflict and controversy, and novelty are four key elements of
effective writing. By using these elements, you can make your writing more engaging and
interesting to your readers.
News Selection Process
The process of selecting news stories is critical to the success of any news organization. In this
lecture, we will discuss the three key steps in the news selection process: identifying potential
news stories, researching and verifying information, and evaluating news selection criteria.
A. Identifying potential news stories
Identifying potential news stories is the first step in the news selection process. News
organizations are constantly scanning various sources to identify potential news stories. Here are
some key strategies that can be used:
Monitor social media: Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are a great
source of potential news stories. By monitoring trending hashtags and discussions, news
organizations can quickly identify potential news stories.
Stay in touch with contacts: Journalists often have contacts in various industries and
sectors. These contacts can provide leads on potential news stories.
Follow news wires: News wires like Associated Press and Reuters provide breaking news
stories that can be used as a starting point for further research.
B. Researching and verifying information
Once potential news stories have been identified, the next step is to research and verify the
information. Here are some key strategies that can be used:
Conduct interviews: Interviews with eyewitnesses and key sources can provide valuable
information for news stories.
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Verify information: It is important to verify information before publishing any news
story. This can be done by cross-checking information with other sources and using fact-
checking tools.
Conduct background research: Background research can provide context and background
information for news stories.
C. Evaluating news selection criteria
The final step in the news selection process is to evaluate news selection criteria. News
organizations use a range of criteria to evaluate potential news stories. Here are some key criteria
that can be used:
Relevance: The relevance of a news story is a key consideration. News organizations
need to consider whether the story is important to their audience.
D. Making editorial decisions
Making editorial decisions involves deciding which news stories to cover, how to cover them,
and how much attention to give them. The editorial team is responsible for making these
decisions. The editorial team includes the editor- -chief, managing editor, news editors, and in
reporters. The following are some of the factors that the editorial team considers when making
editorial decisions:
The relevance of the story to the audience
The newsworthiness of the story
The available resources to cover the story
The potential impact of the story
The editorial policy of the news organization
The editorial team also considers the ethical implications of reporting a particular story. For
example, the editorial team may decide not to report a story if it would invade someone's privacy
or if it would harm national security.
E. Prioritizing news stories
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After the editorial team has decided which news stories to cover, the next step is to prioritize
them. Prioritizing news stories involves deciding which stories are most important and should be
given the most attention. The following are some of the factors that news organizations consider
when prioritizing news stories:
The urgency of the story
The impact of the story
The audience's interest in the story
The potential consequences of the story
The availability of resources to cover the story
News organizations often use a news value hierarchy to prioritize news stories. The news value
hierarchy ranks news stories based on their newsworthiness. The following are the news values
that are typically used in a news value hierarchy:
Timeliness
Proximity
Impact
Prominence
Conflict
Novelty
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References
Galtung, J., & Ruge, M. H. (1965). The structure of foreign news: The presentation of the
Congo, Cuba, and Cyprus crises in four Norwegian newspapers. Journal of Peace
Research, 2(1), 64-90.
Gopen, G. D., & Swan, J. A. (1990). The science of scientific writing. American Scientist, 78(6),
550-558.
Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T. (2010). The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should
Know and the Public Should Expect (Revised and Updated ed.). Three Rivers Press.
McCombs, M. E., & Shaw, D. L. (1972). The agenda- tting function of mass media. Public se
Opinion Quarterly, 36(2), 176-187.
McManus, J. H. (1994). Market-Driven Journalism: Let the Citizen Beware? Sage Publications.
Pinker, S. (2014). The sense of style: The thinking person's guide to writing in the 21st century.
Penguin.
Shoemaker, P. J., & Reese, S. D. (1996). Mediating the message: Theories of influences on mass
media content (2nd ed.). Longman.
Shoemaker, P. J., & Vos, T. P. (2009). Gatekeeping theory. Routledge.
Strunk, W., & White, E. B. (2000). The elements of style. Pearson Education.
Vos, T. P. (2018). News values. In The International Encyclopedia of Journalism Studies (pp. 1-
10). Wiley-Blackwell.
Witschge, T., Anderson, C. W., Domingo, D., & Hermida, A. (2016). The SAGE Handbook of
Digital Journalism. SAGE Publications.
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