Definitions- Relating to the News

General Definitions:

• News

         -Something that's happened, is happening or is about to happen.
         - Something we need to know or want to know.
         - Information that appeals to a vas amount of people.

• News Values- Importance we place on certain stories.
• News Worthy- Whether a story earns a place in a news bulletin.

Gattung and Ruge (1981)- 9 elements that make stories news worthy:

• Relevance- For an event to be reported it must be seen to affect, however indirectly, the lives of the audience.
• Timeliness- Stories tend to stress what is happening now rather than reflect past events. Events that take place at times when they can be easily monitored are favoured.
• Simplification- Stories that can be told in straightforward unambiguous terms that are easily understood.
• Predictability- Stories that deal with events known about in advance like anniversaries, the release of the latest unemployment figures, or state occasions.
• Unexpectedness- Something that is unusual or rarely happens.
• Continuity- Stories where the initial event has repercussions that affect people and so need regular updates on what is happening.
• Composition- An item that helps balance a news bulletin, as editors like a mix of stories; for example local story to national story, or positive story to negative story.
• Elite People- Items including well-known people from various categories; for example a Politian, a Sportsperson, Royalty, Actress/Actor.
• Elite Nations- Events in first-world countries, especially USA and Europe.
• Negativity- Bad news is generally deemed more interesting than Good news so stories about disasters and crimes feature highly.

Selecting the News:

• Gate-Keeping/ Gate-Keeper- People who decide what goes into the press and what doesn't. Could be to do with political, religious or personal bias.
• Bias/Impartiality- Partial means giving only part of a story. Impartiality is giving all or both sides of a story. Bias meaning the journalist puts a spin on a story causing it to favour one side of the argument; usually consistent over a long period of time.
• Ideology- Set of ideas/beliefs held by an individual or group of people.

Convections of Radio News Bulletins:

• Copy- Basic type of writing; story being read out (no extra audio).
• Cue and Clip- Start of a story; audio attached to the end of it called the clip.
• Cue and Vox Pop- Introduce a story; ask a bunch of people one question related to the story (opinions).
• Voicepiece/Voicer- Cue then pre-recorded report (maybe specialist reporter).
• Wrap- Used with a cue; within a voicepeice introduce a clip/vox pop; then back to voicepiece.
• Bed- Music playing underneath news bulletin.
• Jingle- Short piece of music often with the name of the radio station.
• Stab/Sting- Shorter version of the jingle with no words; used to separate parts of the bulletin.
• Two Way- Interviews between the news reader and a reporter.
• Back Announcement- Remind the listener who is talking.
• Intro- News readers/reporters signing in; introducing themselves to the listener.
• Outro- News reader/reporter signing out; formally ending by telling the listener who they were.