In the current world, the Internet has become a major medium for the propagation of news during times of government crackdowns. Whereas traditional media outlets are easily shut down, mobile devices are more difficult to detect and have given rise to citizen journalists. This article outlines some of the approaches used to study news values.
Content analysis of published outputs
A content analysis refers to a method used to study the content of media. It has numerous applications in various fields of human science, including linguistics (discourse analysis), anthropology (thematic analyses of discourses of the mentally ill), and history. The technique was first developed following the Alberton House Congress in 1955. After the Congress, the use of the technique began to wane, largely due to criticisms of it.
One method is to use a statistical approach to extract key topics from newspaper articles. This approach involves tokenizing articles using a Python word segmentation module (NLTK) and then clustering them according to topic. This approach produces 46,189 keywords. From these keywords, researchers develop topic models using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model. They also use the Gensim package, a Python content analysis tool.
Taxonomy of news values
The Taxonomy of News Values offers a conceptual framework for understanding how news is selected and interpreted. It identifies the different types of news and explores the extent to which the value of news changes over time. Scholars have used a range of methodologies in conceptualising news values, including organisational, cultural, and economic factors. In their study, Galtung and Ruge, for instance, conceptualised news values based on the Norwegian press context. Other scholars have derived concepts of news value through their own experiences or analysis of news output.
Taxonomy of news values can be used to assess how news is perceived and how it affects communities. There is no single unified framework for evaluating the importance of news, but common approaches have included the use of ranking systems to determine which stories are most popular. The higher the news value, the more likely readers will be to engage with the story.
Approaches to the study of news values
A number of approaches to the study of news values have been proposed. In the early twentieth century, the work of Walter Lippmann, who published Public Opinion, emphasized the significance of news values, which journalists use to shape the news. Later, the work of Galtung and Ruge, who developed a system of news factors, operationalized the study of news values. These approaches are now considered the classic social science answer to the question of ‘what makes a news item important?’
A third approach highlights the role of the media and the way in which audiences choose what they want to read. By focusing on specific events, topics, or issues, researchers can focus on which newsworthy events are more likely to be reported, and how the various components of news reporting influence news values. For example, a mass demonstration in Burma in 1988 received relatively little media attention because foreign journalists were not allowed to enter the country’s hostile regime.
Explanations of news values in mainstream journalism
Explanations of news values in mainstream journalism vary widely, and rely on different assumptions. For instance, some authors attribute greater news value to events that are out of the ordinary, such as a dog biting a man. Another approach considers the audience’s knowledge of the situation and its relevance to the receiver. In general, stories that have simple backgrounds or that are easily digestible tend to be more likely to be picked up by journalists.
Explanations of news values in mainstream journalism can also be based on different types of media. For example, a travel-oriented publication may focus on pre-existing events, while a newswire based on pre-prepared public relations material may focus on a specific topic. In addition, the influence of public relations and press officers in the selection of news content is increasing.
Examples of news stories
Whether you’re a student looking for more experience in news writing, or are an experienced professional looking to improve your skills, examples of news stories can help you get started. Many news writing textbooks include examples of real news stories to illustrate the principles of writing news stories. This textbook also features real news stories from various newspapers and emphasizes the importance of ethical reporting.
There are several types of news stories, and defining the right one for your audience is a crucial first step. The news story you choose should be relevant to your audience, not only the general public. Feature stories, which are also known as “soft news,” are generally more in-depth than straight news. They often employ storytelling devices and novel-style details.