A news outlet is a source of information on current events. It is typically written by professional journalists who have a degree in journalism and follow journalistic ethics. The goal is to inform the public of important and timely events.
Different news outlets have their own protocol for selecting which stories to cover, but there are some basic news values that most share. These include:
Proximity – Similar to Gatlung and Ruge’s “Relevance,” news outlets are more interested in events that impact their local communities. For example, an earthquake in California is more relevant to residents of the state than an earthquake in Calcutta.
Sensationalism – A good story has the potential to excite the reader or make them feel scared, angry, or upset. Stories with a higher level of sensationalism are more likely to be featured on the front page.
Elite People – Famous individuals like politicians, celebrities, and athletes are often considered more newsworthy than non-public figures. Their actions are also more likely to be reported on when they are controversial or dramatic.
Continuity – Certain events, like war or political upheaval, require ongoing coverage. This is because they are constantly changing and evolving.
Simplification – Stories that are easy to understand and explain are often more newsworthy than complex stories. Also, stories that are time-sensitive tend to have more news value than those that happen on a predictable schedule.
Reuters is a great example of a reliable news outlet that is known for being fast, accurate, and neutral. They’re behind a lot of the news you see, feeding news, data, and images to other newsrooms, websites, broadcasters, and trading platforms around the world.