Reporting on current events
Reporting on current events can be an effective way for students to practice their analytical and critical thinking skills. This assignment may also help them meet the Common Core Standard of differentiating fact from opinion. Students can do this by recording five facts from an article and then applying their knowledge to formulate their own opinion. This will lay the foundation for their future ability to separate fact from opinion in other text.
Selection of stories
The selection of stories for publication in news organizations is influenced by factors within and outside the journalism field. For example, the editorial board of a major newspaper may select a story that is unlikely to have a negative impact on the public. Or, a news editor may choose a story that does not negatively affect the public’s perception of the news organization’s credibility. The editors’ decisions may be influenced by factors that are external to journalism, including the political climate.
Impact
The impact of news on our emotions depends on a variety of factors. The size and scope of an event play an important role. If thousands of people are killed, news coverage is likely to be more extensive and emotional. The proximity of the event also influences the impact of news. People are more likely to care about a local catastrophe, rather than a global disaster.
Timeliness
The timeliness of news is central to the practice of news production and dissemination. In the past, journalists have tried to make news timely by incorporating this practice into their reporting. However, the application of electricity to communications has radically altered the practice. The emphasis on timeliness has largely eclipsed the other constituents of journalistic timeliness, such as objectivity.
Credibility
There are several approaches to evaluating the credibility of news content. Some approaches focus on the content’s logical fallacies, while others look for unethical advertising tactics and deception by promoters. These approaches are often difficult to implement in practice, however.
Media monopolies
Media monopolies are when a single company controls the vast majority of mainstream media. One example is News UK, which owns a number of popular newspapers in the UK. This power allows a company to push an agenda that is detrimental to its consumers. These agendas often include anti-refugee rhetoric. This is problematic for the freedom of speech and information, which are protected as Fundamental Rights in our Constitution.
Value of human-interest stories
Human-interest stories are a powerful way to bring context to news stories. Whether a person dies, gets a transplant or suffers from a chronic illness, these stories can help the audience connect with the events and people in the news. They can also illuminate social problems and the experiences of marginalized groups.