News Values

 News Values: Blog task

Read Media Factsheet 76: News Values and complete the following questions/tasks. 
Our Media Factsheet archive is available here - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access.

1) What example news story does the Factsheet use to illustrate Galtung and Ruge's News Values? Why is it an appropriate example of a news story likely to gain prominent coverage?

2) What is gatekeeping?

Gatekeeping is the process by which editors and journalists filter information before it reaches the public, deciding which stories are published and which are left out.
3) What are the six ways bias can be created in news?

Selection and omission – Choosing which stories or details to include or leave out.

Placement – Deciding where a story appears, e.g., front page vs. back page.

Headline – Framing the story through attention-grabbing or biased headlines.

Photos, captions, and camera angles – Using imagery to influence perception.

Names and titles – The way people are referred to can create bias, e.g., “terrorist” vs. “freedom fighter.”

Choice of words – Language can subtly influence audience opinions.

4) How have online sources such as Twitter, bloggers or Wikileaks changed the way news is selected and published?

Platforms like Twitter, blogs, and Wikileaks prioritise transparency and freedom of speech. They allow audiences to access information that may have been censored or heavily mediated by traditional news outlets. This has changed how journalists select and report stories, as online content often breaks first and can influence mainstream coverage.

5) In your opinion, how has the digital age changed Galtung and Ruge’s news values? 

The internet and social media have shifted news values by giving audiences the power to share their own perspectives and evidence that newspapers might not cover. There are fewer restrictions on what can be published, meaning news spreads instantly and widely. Stories that might not have been considered “newsworthy” in traditional media can now gain attention online, changing the landscape of what counts as important or timely.

6) How would you update these news values for the digital age? Choose TWO of Galtung and Ruge's news values and say how they have been affected by the growth of digital technology.

Immediacy – Speed is more critical than ever because news breaks instantly on social media. Traditional outlets now focus more on analysis or commentary since audiences may already know the basic facts.

Personalisation/relevance (meaningfulness) – News can now be tailored to specific audiences through algorithms and social media feeds, so relevance is measured not just by geography or cultural ties, but also by online engagement and interest.

E.g. Immediacy is more important than ever due to news breaking on social media or elsewhere online. However, this in turn changes the approach of other news sources such as newspapers as the news will probably already be broken so different angles might be required. Newspapers now contain more comment or opinion rather than the breaking story.