Here are the potential news items discussed in a class on Feb. 12, 2009.
— Police are investigating a drive-by shooting in the 300 block of Hot Wells Boulevard (on the city’s Southeast Side) which killed an 89-year-old grandmother sitting in her living room watching the 6 p.m. local news.
This item received some support from the groups, but not as the top story. We talked about how a good reporter could take the news nugget and turn it into several possible stories: A human interest story about the woman with interviews with her family, the neighbors and others who knew her to discover what a wonderful person she was (we hope.) A series about crime in the neighborhood with a map and startling statistics (if they are available) and with interviews with SAPD and others.
Unfortunately, the news nugget by itself would not be that newsworthy since driveby shootings have become common; unfortunate but real. News values: timeliness, proximity, high Hispanic, a bit of oddity, conflict and high retiree interest.
— An explosion near the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel has left ship traffic tied up and video footage is available. An oil tanker developed a leak which has spread in the channel, threatening the environment.
The groups liked this news nugget, but we decided it would be best for TV if video was available. News values: proximity in Texas, disaster, environmental interest, consequence and economic interest (how would this affect shipping of items from South and Central America? Will the price of my bananas go up?)
— An American pilot held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan says he was told by his captors that a fellow crewman was “chopped up” after their helicopter was shot down. He was interviewed in the British newspaper, The Guardian.
Some interest in this story because of high military and military retiree and outrage about the “chopped up” statement. Also, video of the pilot may be available. News values: the two above plus timeliness, conflict and consequence (Is this the beginning of deeper problems in Afghanistan?)
— Parents are upset over a strip search of 20 students at Royal High School in Brookshire, TX. A school administrator ordered the search after another student said she was missing some money.
This item garnered support from all the groups for a variety of reasons. Students said they would be disgusted and offended by this. One mother in the group was especially bothered. I suggested that the item by itself would not be that newsworthy, but it can be localized by taking the news nugget and localizing it by calling school districts in S.A. and Bexar County and asking if this type thing could happen there. News values: timeliness, proximity in Texas, oddity, conflict and consequence.
— Hundreds of Iraqis opposed to the U.S. intervention in their nation marched in the streets of Baghdad yesterday shouting, “Death to the Yankees.”
Even though this may have interest in the military and retired military community it may not have much local appeal, especially in a market which is experiencing a smaller news hole. It could have good visuals for TV, but it would not be that newsworthy for the newspaper. News values: timeliness, conflict.
— Fabricio Oberto, a Spur, was arrested Sunday for possession of a concealed weapon. Oberto, who was stopped for a minor traffic violation, said he does not know how the weapon got into his gold 2008 BMW convertible.
A definite story for the sports section, sad but true. News values: high Hispanic, timeliness, proximity, prominence, oddity, conflict and consequence.
We also talked about working for human interest, sidebars, budget meetings, the news hole, slow news day and the Two-step Flow of information. I didn't remember to talk about Opinion Leaders, but we can do that later.
GOOD JOB! All the groups.
These television stories were taken from MSNBC; thus their news values are national in scope. Traditional criteria of news value are those journalists use to decide which sets of facts make up news stories and which stories are more newsworthy than others. As you analyze each of the stories for their news values, please don't say HUMAN INTEREST on every story, although that is a possibility with extra work on the part of the reporter. For example, the airplane crash in the Hudson River spawned many human interest stories. Look for that in each of these stories. Look for a possible HUMAN INTEREST STORY based on each of the main stories.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
What is a "slow news day"?
What are sidebars for this story if localized? A sidebar is a tool used by newspapers and magazines to increase the interest in a main article or story. The sidebar should be its own separate companion piece to the article that will encourage readers to read the more detailed article.
Finally, this story will draw many letters to the editor of the newspaper, comments on Web sites and calls to the television station.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Here is a story about a Fox News producer's trouble with the law. Check it for newsworthiness, and think about media law questions such as potential libel, invasion of privacy or anything else.
And while we're at it, start thinking about your favorite commercials or your nominations for the worst. I know it's painful, but try it. Check out this post, Commercials smell up the airwaves on my blog to see some funny ones.