NEWS is….

a timely factual report of

events, ideas or situations
interesting or significant to
people.

Note: If it interests many people, it’s

news, even if it doesn’t interest you.
• News must be factual.
•News is based on actual
occurrences, situations, thoughts
and ideas.
•Yet not all facts are news.
 REQUIREMENTS OF A NEWS
• It should be new to the readers. It should be
like a hot cake coming straight from the oven.

• It must be related to human activity.

• It should be interesting to the readers.

• It should impart some sort of information to

the readers.
 2 Kinds of News:

•HARD NEWS
•SOFT NEWS
 HARD NEWS
• It is timely, controversial, and has a
wide impact
• Starts with summary lead
 SOFT NEWS
• It is a human-interest story
• It starts with a dramatic word, phrase
or a sentence.
• The lead is more literary.
ELEMENTS OF A
NEWS
1. Timeliness or Immediacy
• News has a shelf life. It spoils if kept
too long.

• Ask yourself: Did this story happen

recently enough that people will still
be interested in it?
2. Conflict
• This could be physical and mental
struggles of persons.

– Physical conflicts- sports events, crime

news/ violence, war, domestic disputes
– Mental conflicts – competitions such as
quiz bee, oratorical contests, etc.
3. Proximity or Nearness
• News value increases when the event
takes place nearer to the reader.
Proximity can be geographical
nearness or interest or impact
nearness

• Ask yourself: Is this story near or dear

to my readers?
4. Accuracy

• Contents should be accurately

reported. It must be anchored
on facts.
5. Significance

• The news must be important

or significant to the readers.

• Example news items: upcoming big

events, results of screening
6. Prominence and Names
• Inclusion of popular names or prominent
personalities may add interest to the
news.
• People like to read about people they
know.

• Ask yourself: Is this story about someone

many people know, or could it include
quotes from people that are well known?
7. Drama
• People like to read stories about
dramatic situations.
• This adds vitality and color to a news
story.

• Ask yourself: Does this story contain

details that would excite or energize
the audience?
8. Oddity or Unusualness
• News must contain unusual situations
so to intrigue the readers.
• When persons are curious about the
topic, they would read it.

• Example: a 40-year old student has just

graduated
9. Romance and Adventure
• Stories about love, including
adventure may ignite the taste of the
reading public.

• * Showbiz news
10. Progress
• People like to read stories about new or
changing technology or other
developments

• Example: newly constructed building

newly donated laboratory
equipment
11. Numbers
• Figures or statistics convinces the readers.

• Alumni association donated 1 computer

set vs. PTA donated 57 computer sets in
the school.