ACJ3013 PRINCIPLES OF JOURNALISM WEEK03 TASKS

NAME : MOHAMMAD HANAFI BIN ABDUL LATIP STUDENT ID NO.:

1210463
KBE : 1

Week 3 Tasks
A. Read and understand the journal’s article here: What is News (Harcup & O’Neill, 2016).

B. Answer all these questions based on the article. Write your answers in the box.

C. Upload your answer sheets in GOALS.

No. QUESTIONS ANSWERS

1. What is the significance of Understanding news values in journalism is crucial as they guide journalists in determining what
understanding news values in stories to cover and how to present them to the audience. Harcup & O’Neill (2016) identified several
the field of journalism? news values such as timeliness, prominence, proximity, conflict, human interest, and relevance. By
understanding these values, journalists can prioritize information, engage their audience, and maintain
credibility. It helps in shaping the editorial decisions, ensuring that news stories resonate with the
target audience and fulfill the purpose of journalism, which is to inform, educate, and sometimes
entertain.
2. How did Harcup and O’Neill’s Harcup and O’Neill’s study built upon Galtung and Ruge’s work on news values by updating and
study build upon Galtung and expanding the list of news values. While Galtung and Ruge identified 12 news values in their seminal
Ruge’s work on news values? work, Harcup and O’Neill (2016) refined and categorized them into broader themes such as timeliness,
prominence, proximity, impact, conflict, human interest, and novelty. Additionally, they provided a
more contemporary understanding of news values in the context of digital journalism and changing
media landscapes, offering insights into how news values manifest in modern news production and
consumption.
3. What are some of the key news Some of the key news values identified in Harcup and O’Neill's study include:
values identified in Harcup and
O’ Neill’s study? Timeliness: The more recent an event, the more newsworthy it is perceived to be.
Prominence: Events involving well-known individuals or institutions are considered newsworthy.

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4. How do news values shape the
content that is presented to
news audiences?
5. How have news values
potentially changed in the
digital age and with the rise of
social media?
6. Why is it important to
recognize the limitations of
any taxonomy of news values?
7. How can an understanding of
WEEK03 TASKS
Proximity: News about events that happen close to the audience's location is prioritized.
Conflict: Stories involving conflict or controversy tend to attract attention.
Human interest: Stories that evoke emotions or empathy in the audience, often focusing on personal
experiences or human drama.
Relevance: News that is directly relevant to the audience's interests, concerns, or values.
Novelty: Unusual or unexpected events that deviate from the norm are considered newsworthy.
Consequence: Events that have significant consequences or implications for society or individuals are
prioritized.
Continuity: Stories that provide updates or follow-ups on previously reported events.
Rarity: Rare or unusual events are often deemed newsworthy due to their uniqueness.
News values shape the content presented to news audiences by influencing editorial decisions on what
stories to cover, how to frame them, and how much prominence to give them. Journalists prioritize
stories that align with these values, ensuring that the news content resonates with the audience and
maintains their interest. For example, a breaking news story that is both timely and has elements of
conflict or human interest is likely to receive significant coverage, while stories lacking in these values
may be relegated to lesser prominence or omitted altogether. By adhering to news values, journalists
aim to create engaging, relevant, and impactful content that meets the needs and expectations of their
audience while also upholding journalistic standards and principles.
Overall, the digital age and the rise of social media have both amplified existing news values and
introduced new considerations for journalists and news organizations, shaping the way news is
produced, consumed, and valued by audiences.
Overall, recognizing the limitations of any taxonomy of news values promotes critical thinking,
reflexivity, and adaptability in journalism practice, ultimately contributing to more informed,
responsible, and ethical news reporting.
an understanding of news values provides PR professionals and others with valuable insights into the
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news values inform public
relations professionals and
others?
8. What factors did Galtung and
Ruge consider in their 1965
study on news values?
9. How did Harcup and O’Neill’s
study aim to make the process
of news selection more
transparent?
WEEK03 TASKS
media landscape, enabling them to communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships with
media stakeholders, and achieve their communication objectives more efficiently.
Frequency: Events that occur frequently are less likely to be considered newsworthy compared to
those that are rare or unexpected.
Threshold: Events must surpass a certain threshold of significance to be deemed newsworthy. This
threshold can vary depending on factors such as cultural norms, audience expectations, and editorial
judgment.
Unambiguity: Events that are clear and easily understood are more likely to be considered newsworthy
compared to those that are complex or ambiguous.
Negativity: Negative events such as conflicts, disasters, or scandals tend to attract more attention from
journalists and audiences compared to positive or neutral events.
Unexpectedness: Events that deviate from the norm or are unexpected in nature are more likely to be
considered newsworthy.
Continuity: Stories that provide updates or follow-ups on previously reported events are more likely to
be covered by the news media.
Composition: News stories must be structured in a way that is suitable for the medium and audience,
with attention to factors such as headline, lead, and visual elements.
Personalization: Stories that focus on individual human experiences or personal anecdotes are more
likely to be considered newsworthy compared to abstract or impersonal stories.
Harcup and O’Neill's study aimed to make the process of news selection more transparent by
providing a comprehensive analysis of news values and their impact on news production. They
identified and categorized various news values, such as timeliness, prominence, proximity, conflict,
human interest, and relevance, and examined how these values influence editorial decisions in
selecting and framing news stories.
By articulating the underlying criteria used by journalists to determine newsworthiness, Harcup and
O’Neill sought to demystify the news selection process and enhance transparency in journalism
practice. Their study provided journalists, media professionals, and the general public with insights
into the factors that shape news coverage, enabling greater understanding and scrutiny of media
content.
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10. As a journalism student, how
do you personally define
"news," and what criteria do
you use to determine its
newsworthiness?
WEEK03 TASKS
Furthermore, by acknowledging the limitations and complexities of news values, Harcup and O’Neill's
study encouraged critical reflection and discussion within the journalism community about the role of
values, biases, and institutional factors in shaping the news agenda. This transparency contributes to a
more accountable and responsible media environment, where news producers and consumers alike can
better understand and evaluate the information they encounter.
In conclusion, the definition of "news" and the criteria used to determine its newsworthiness are
fundamental concepts in journalism. News is information that is timely, relevant, significant, and of
interest to the audience, serving the purpose of informing, educating, and engaging the public. To
assess the newsworthiness of a story, journalists consider criteria such as timeliness, prominence,
proximity, impact, conflict, human interest, relevance, and novelty. By applying these criteria,
journalists strive to produce ethical, accurate, and impactful news content that serves the public
interest and contributes to a more informed and engaged society. As journalism students,
understanding these principles is essential for navigating the complex and evolving media landscape
and fulfilling our role as responsible and trusted storytellers.