Thinking about News
It needs no special talent to be able to recognise conventional ‘big’ news stories when they occur. Political changes, natural and man-made disasters, social upheavals, unusual crimes, notable trials — all speak loudly for themselves. What distinguishes the journalist from the rest is a well-honed ability to identify the subjects which, although less obvious, stimulate interest or have real bearing on people‘s lives.
Opening ‘The Gate’
A commonly held view is that television journalism offers a strictly limited view of society, and a parochial one at that. Some sociologists call it ‘The Gate‘, an inevitable byproduct of the upbringing, education and social attitudes of those in the profession. There is, it is said, too much emphasis on conventional Westminster-based political news, with mainstream news programmes regarded as unadventurous and straitjacketed by an establishment and ‘official’ outlook in their domestic and foreign coverage. Alternative, ‘democratic’ news of interest to the wider audience is overlooked by accident or design. Other critics maintain the news agenda has always been determined by newspapers and television lacks the will and resources to break the mould. To some extent the recruitment of more national and regionally based correspondents by the BBC is an acknowledgement of the need to generate more original journalism and reduce the reliance on agency-inspired news stories. But remember also the champions of ‘alternative’ news may have their own reasons for wishing to change the way television news makes its choices: not all have carry with them the burden of having to appear impartial.
Differences in news values
Television and newspaper journalists differ widely in their attitudes towards news. The tabloid press will frequently splash their front pages with offbeat or bizarre stories ignored by the more serious newspapers. Television will sometimes kick off with picture items which have little relevance for either print or sound. So how does anyone assess what is news?
● First, always ask yourself how valuable it is to the audience.
● Scouring the newspapers for stories to follow up is a poor substitute for your own ideas.
● Do not sit back and wait to be spoon-fed by what pours off the agency wire services.
● Get as close to the grass roots as possible in an attempt to generate original material.
Thinking about the news
Journalists differ widely in their attitudes. Newspapers aim their content at known socio-economic groups and don’t rate subjects to which others give high priority.