The news industry is a global one. Many of us have watched a news program, read an article, or even been a part of one. But what makes news? In this article, we will explore the categories that make news, how journalists select their stories, and the influence of social media on news selection. Here are 20 categories of what makes news.
Content analysis of news
Content analysis is a tool that allows you to study a mass media text and determine its meaning and significance. Content analysis is a method that explores the linguistic, cognitive, affective, social, and cultural significance of a particular text. The method is based on data collected in newspapers, radios, and TVs.
The simplest form of content analysis involves analyzing the text in terms of frequency. It may be as simple as the page area taken up by a newspaper column, or as complex as the length of a radio or television program. However, this method is limited because it cannot address the ambiguity caused by the meaning of a single word in relation to other words in the text. This can be addressed by a method called Key Word In Context (KWIC). This method places words in their context and eliminates ambiguity introduced by synonyms.
20 categories of what makes news
News stories come in many forms, but most of the time, they revolve around the lives of people. Crimes, for example, are often the basis for news stories, especially if they are particularly severe or unusual. Money stories are another common source of news stories. People are concerned with their health, and stories on medical research and remedies are often included in news stories. In addition, stories about food prices and other matters related to food and beverages are common. Entertainment stories are also common and can focus on arts and culture.
A third category of news sites focuses on media issues and media news. These are often designed as media watchdogs, but they can also be extended index and category sites. The editorial content that these sites produce is generally produced by a variety of journalists and discusses other media content or the processes underlying its production.
Journalistic selection process
Despite the growth of online news aggregators, user-generated content, and blogs, the selection process for news stories remains an important part of news journalism. While many journalists describe this process as an instinctive “nose,” academic research suggests that it requires the attention of multiple factors in evaluating news stories for value.
Various studies have shown that a journalist is most likely to choose information that fits a particular frame. This is due to the way that journalists process incoming information during routine coverage. In the absence of a major event, such as a natural disaster, a journalist is likely to select information that fits into a pre-conceived framework. However, when a key event occurs, a new frame may emerge, resulting in a new perspective on the story.
Influence of social media on news selection
Social media has made an impact on journalism in several ways. Journalists use Twitter and Facebook to share stories and information with their audiences. One example of how this has affected the news process is the Fort Hood shooting. On the day of the shooting, people claimed to be witness to the shootings, and many of these stories were picked up by mainstream media outlets. In fact, the New York Times and NBC Today show set up aggregated lists of stories that people had tweeted about the shootings.
Many news organizations have adopted social media guidelines and hired social media specialists in order to better leverage this technology. This will help news organizations improve their public relations efforts. ABC News, for example, was among the first TV stations to use Facebook to connect with their audience. They created pages where people could follow their reporters, read stories, participate in debates, and watch videos.