News Values

There are 12 main factors which govern the agenda of newspapers.

Frequency

The more similar the frequency of the event is to the frequency of the news the more likely it is to be recorded. E.g. if a murder happens quickly and is solved quickly it is more likely to be reported than one that has a story that evolves over weeks.

Amplitude

The size of the event affects the amount of media attention it receives.

Unambiguity

The simplicity of a story will make it more attractive to the media, as it will be easier for a journalist to investigate.

Meaningfulness

News audiences are more interested in culturally relevant stories so they are more likely to make it into a newspaper.

Consonance

Events that meet are expectations are more likely to make the news just as much as….

Surprise

Events that are surprising are more likely to make the news.

Continuity

News that continue to carry importance will appear regularly in papers

Composition

News papers try to balance the types of stories used, so not to have too many depressing hard news articles.

Reference to elite nations

Major western countries are more likely to get into the news than 3^rd world countries.

Reference to elite persons

Events with celebrities and politicians will be popular.

Personalisation

Events that effect lots of people are more likely to be personal to lots of people so are more likely to make the news.

Negativity

Bad news makes good news.

Plus a more modern addition

Actuality

An event with video or audio evidence is more likely to make the news.

There are nine golden rules of news 'speak', these are:

1.KISS
-Keep It Short and Simple, 16-20 words in a sentence, simple/ ordinary, everyday language.

2. Reading for speed
- Headlines, cross heads to break the story up, narrow columns and short words.

3.Never use three words when one will do.
-e.g. In the first instance = firstly

4.Don't repeat yourself.
-e.g. Uniquely Special could just be special.

5. Use active verbs.
- e.g. Burglars took the dog = active

6. Use Puns.

7.Make the story personal.

8. Categorise people.
- e.g. Blond, 17 years old, Harrogate Grammar School student = Heidi Merrin

9. Things to avoid:
a) Clichés
b) Being too chatty and gossipy
c) Unnecessary foreign or American phrases.


Headline Language
TONY TO MEET HIS PHONEY - Rhyme and informality

EMMA POOPED - Slang/ Coloquial

JACKO'S FAMILY ALBUM - Abriviation

LEFT HOLDEN THE BABIES - Pun

GIFT THRIFT AT XMAS - Abriviation

SKIPPER KEVIN SPANKS SPURS WITH SUPER STRIKE - Alliteration

BIRDBRAIN BURGLAR KIDNAPS PET PARROT - Alliteration and pun



More Language
Reported Speach - No speach marks as reported tells the reader what has been said.
Dynamic Speach - Speach within speach marks, direct from source.
Opening sentences/paragraphs - must answer all the questions of who, what, where, when and why, in a short and snappy way so that key questions can be answered quickly.