In our last lecture, along with going around the room with everyone saying something that is currently in the news (which reminds me a lot of those annoying 'get-to-know-you' games they made us play on Year 12 camp for some reason), we discussed what makes a story newsworthy? There is an obvious prominence for news stores that contain certain 'values' if you will, values that seem to draw in a larger audience and keep their attention.
After have a look at News website NineMSN, the main story is of course of international ghost plane, missing Malaysian flight MH370. Of course in a dramatic twist the main feature of the headline, is not the finding of debris in the Southern Indian Ocean, but instead there is a major focus on a generic text message that was allegedly sent to the families of the victims.
On the side of the NineMSN headline is a column of other 'newsworthy' stories, such as 'Boy recites every rude word he can,' 'Mad Miley spits on fans at concert,' and 'Kim Kardashian in tears over 'fat' Vogue cover.' As interesting it is too read about Heidi Klum's tropical nipple slip, somehow I personally feel that perhaps an article on the annexing of Crimea by Russia is somewhat slightly more important.
What we all care about seeing; Kim Kardashian in a botched photo shoot, and then her crying about it
In todays world, news is released according to how well it suits Western Media. The most prominent 'newsworthy' value is of course, death and destruction; However in order for death and destruction to make the news it must in someway effect at least one person from the Western world- white-skinned preferably. Death and destruction in the Middle East with 11 Iraqi civilians killed? Hardly a story. White Australian killed in car bomb in Middle East then its basically 9/11 all over again. Death and Destruction has happened in a Western nation? Even better.
The story we are all still hearing about two years later. Don't even get me started on Michael Jackson or Amy Winehouse. Grieving is still permit for Paul Walker however (obvious physical reasons)
The next major 'value' is of course the 'celebrity factor.' Considering we now live in a world where some people look through Johnny Dept's rubbish bin and steals Britany Spears' underwear as a full-time job, celebrity news is pretty well regarded by an audience. Dead Celebrity? You will probably hear about it for the next few years.
An often underrated news value is uniqueness of a story. Remember last week when a surfer hit a dolphin and it was on every news channel? And did anyone see the Courier Mail's coverage of a Korean baby that at age 18 months weighs in at 30kg?
If we are discussion the Townsville Bulletin (one of the greatest newspapers ever! Where else can you read about local outrage because there are plans to put a few walkways along the streets leading up to Castle Hill for the usual 5pm walkers) one can only assume that most news prominence will be given to local North Queensland news, Australian interest pieces and the NRL league. I'm still surprised the Townsville Bulletin hasn't found a way to feature the Cowboys or Jonathan Thurston in every single article- they're at least mentioned in 75% of news pieces but I'm sure they will find a way to bring up the Cowboys 'stolen premiership of 2013' in an article about asylum seekers before the end of the year.
News Values is simply a supply and demand of information; the majority of the Western World would prefer to see a Celebrity with a wardrobe malfunction or hear that Nicole Kidman is pregnant for the sixth year straight than be bothered by serious international problems, such as Russia re-enacting Hitler's Nazi Germany.
The most positive thing I can say about the media is that we, as an international community can still band together to make fun of Korean dictator and all-around jerk, Kim Jong Un. Keep up the good work Media!
A meme to end all memes
For more on Kim Jong Un, follow this website!
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