What is News?

1.  Identify, define, and give an example of the 6 criteria of newsworthiness.

Criteria 1: Unusualness
Definition: News is out-of-the-ordinary, different, unusual.
Example: If an airplane lands on time, that isn't news. If it crashes, regrettably, it is news.

Criteria 2: Significance
Definition: Important events that affect many people are news.
Example: Taxes, elections, economy.

Criteria 3: Timeliness
Definition: Sharing the news while it's happening, not when it's old news.
Example: Hearing news about a flood while it's happening, not next month when it's all dried out.

Criteria 4: Proximity
Definition: News about nearby events.
Example: The new state tax law.

Criteria 5: Prominence
Definition: News about well known people, buildings, or places.
Example: If a movie star is arrested for stealing.

Criteria 6: Human Interest
Definition: Stories about ordinary people or animals, they have an emotional and personal appeal that draws our attention. They are often good news.
Example: A minister who runs a drop-in center for troubled teenagers.

2. On page 23 it discusses the differences between print journalism and broadcast journalism.  Please describe 3 ways they are different and explain. 
Print journalism includes newspapers and news magazines. Broadcast journalism includes radio news and television news. Print journalism provides a fuller coverage of more stories, while broadcast journalism is more timely and dramatic. Print journalism includes more human interest and entertainment features, but it isn't nearly as powerful as television news because the addition of video is more dramatic. 

3.  List all the criteria the story we watched at the beginning of class fits under and why.
Unusualness, because traffic is rarely ever stopped because of pigs grazing.
Significance, because many people drive on I-94 and need to know about traffic.
Timeliness: Was reported while it was happening.

4.  List all the criteria the 2nd story we watched fits under and why.
Unusualness, because not many dogs are blind or deaf, especially two brother dogs.
Timeliness, dogs are still looking for a new home, just reported.
Human Interest, because it emotionally appeals to us, making us feel sympathy.

5.  List all the criteria the 3rd story we watched fits under and why.
Timeliness, was a recap of what happened the night before, was good for those who missed it.
Prominence, MTV awards about celebrities.