The best way to improve the odds that your event or news item will generate coverage is to make sure it is newsworthy.
What creates a newsworthy story?
Journalists weigh news values when determining whether or not to cover an event or announcement. Here are the values that we consider when developing an outreach strategy.
Impact
Arguably the most important element of newsworthiness is whether or not the news item being communicated impacts a news outlet's audience. For example, let's imagine researchers have found a cost-effective solution to a common problem. The more people affected, the greater the news interest.
Proximity
Proximity is important. Journalists are interested in things that impact their communities. For example, research on a state's new tax code likely won't generate the same interest across state borders.
Occasionally experts can help localize a larger national story that impacts more than just a city or state. In these cases, it is important to be on the lookout for opportunities where subject matter experts can provide insight or where similar projects may be happening locally.
Timeliness
News consumers expect timely information. If you are publishing newsworthy research, loop in MarComm prior to the article being published so that the pitch can emphasize the newest element of the story: the publication of the research.
Prominence
Events and announcements that involve high-profile figures are more likely to generate media coverage. Visits from national figures often require months of preparation due to anticipated community interest. MarComm staff have helped many campus partners plan communication for events involving prominent figures.
Conflict
Stories often involve some kind of conflict. By definition, these stories are almost always controversial to some degree. Fortunately, university staff and faculty are generally perceived as impartial experts. We can help mitigate potential reputational risk with these stories while also increasing the odds of generating coverage.
Human Interest
While many of the above news values are interwoven, human interest stories often stand apart. These stories speak to our shared experience, emphasizing uniquely human elements such as personal growth or an unexpected act of kindness. Human interest elements can add news value to other stories that might appear to be lacking in the other values.
Novelty/Oddity
The novelty or oddity of a situation can help influence whether or not a news outlet is likely to cover a story.
Requesting Media Outreach
While this is not an exhaustive list, checking to see if your news item or event has these qualities before contacting us will help you determine which elements hold the most news value. Think you have a great story? We want to hear from you.
Email: unonews@unomaha.edu
FAQs
Newsworthy Vocabulary
1. Timeliness Immediate, current information and events are newsworthy because they have just recently occurred. It's news because it's “new.” 2. Proximity Local information and events are newsworthy because they affect the people in our community and region.
What does it mean to be newsworthy? ›
Newsworthiness is the term used to describe whether or not a topic is interesting enough for people to want or need to know. It's the first thing the Media Relations team considers before pitching a story or drafting a press release.
How do you decide what is newsworthy? ›
What is Newsworthy?
- Impact. Arguably the most important element of newsworthiness is whether or not the news item being communicated impacts a news outlet's audience. ...
- Proximity. Proximity is important. ...
- Timeliness. News consumers expect timely information. ...
- Prominence. ...
- Conflict. ...
- Human Interest. ...
- Novelty/Oddity.
The most important aspects in order to determine newsworthiness include timeliness, significance, proximity, human interest, conflict, novelty, and prominence.
What is newsworthy simple? ›
sufficiently interesting to be reported in a news bulletin.
What are examples of newsworthy news? ›
What that means is that any story involving loss of human life—from a shooting to a terrorist attack—is newsworthy. Likewise, nearly any story that involves property destruction on a large scale—a house fire is a good example—is also newsworthy.
What does newsworthy mean for kids? ›
: interesting enough to the general public to warrant reporting. newsworthiness.
What does not newsworthy mean? ›
un·news·wor·thy ˌən-ˈnüz-ˌwər-t͟hē -ˈnyüz- Synonyms of unnewsworthy. : not interesting enough to warrant reporting : not newsworthy. an unnewsworthy event.
Is newsworthy one word? ›
newsworthy. adjective [ not gradable ] /ˈnuzˌwɜr·ði/ Add to word list Add to word list. considered important enough to be in news reports, newspapers, etc.
How do you use newsworthy in a sentence? ›
Examples from Collins dictionaries
The number of deaths makes the story newsworthy. This situation might develop into an even more newsworthy item if the police were involved.
Timeliness: Events that have only just happened, are current, ongoing, or are about to happen are newsworthy. Familiarity: To do with people or places close to the target audience. Others prefer the term Proximity for this news value, which includes geographical and cultural proximity (see "meaningfulness").
What makes a press release newsworthy? ›
A newsworthy piece of content is timely, relevant, impactful; it should overall reveal something and be worth reading or writing about. Not sure where to start? Take a look at these 40 ideas— the possibilities that exist within your own organization may surprise you: Opening a new business.
What is the main element of news? ›
Here are some of the most important ones: Timeliness, proximity, prominence, dimension, consequence, conflict, empathy, adventure and weather, among others. Timeliness: The time of occurrence of an event is the most important element of a news story. People want to know about the event as quickly as possible.
What is hard news? ›
hard news, journalistic style and genre that focuses on events or incidents that are considered to be timely and consequential to people locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally. Traditionally, hard news covers topics such as politics, international affairs, economics, and science.
What are the 10 elements of news and definition? ›
List the 10 Elements of News. Timeliness, Proximity, Impact, Prominence, Drama, Oddity, Conflict, Sex, Emotion, Progress. Timeliness. It is happening and important right now. What's news today isn't always news tomorrow.
What is newsworthy for a press release? ›
A press release must reveal something new or “newsworthy” to capture the attention of both the media and your audience. A newsworthy piece of content is timely, relevant, impactful; it should overall reveal something and be worth reading or writing about.
What is newsworthy in law? ›
Courts generally find social value in topics such as crimes, accidents, deaths, fires, police activity, entertainment events, and activities of public officials; therefore, they are typically considered newsworthy.
What makes a story newsworthy quizlet? ›
significance. the quality of being important or relevant. timeliness. the quality of having happened recently, or being relevant to something that happened recently.
