HISTORY OF NEWS

AGENDA

•What?• Identify bias

in the news• Learn about

the history of news, types of news and the 6 key questions for a news article

Why?Become a more media literate consumer of news. Learn foundational news information so you can apply it in your newspaper project (coming soon).

THE HISTORY OF NEWS

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I've just been handed a urgent and horrifying news story, and I need all of you, to stop what you're doing and listen... Cannonball!

ORIGINS

•1st century – Romans post news sheets in town square (for free!)•16th century – Venice provides regular news sheets for a “gazetta” coin – hence the name “Gazette”•1665 – First English newspaper (Oxford Gazette) published under rule of the crown.

18TH CENTURY

•1798 – Alien and Sedition Acts: restrictions about criticizing government, president, cabinet. Convicts fined and jailed. Newspapers are aimed at elite, focus on business/politics (6 cents each)

18TH CENTURY

1833 – Benjamin Day creates New York Sun (1 cent). Highlights crime, violence, murders, fires, trials, executions.

•1844 – Samuel F.B. Morse invents telegraph – speeds distribution of info.

18TH CENTURY CONTINUED

•1848 – Associated Press formed – creates inverted pyramid•1865-1900 – Yellow journalism = sensational writing. Expose slums, poverty, racism, etc.• Joseph Pulitzer• William Randolph Hearst• Edward Scripps – focused on

the “plain 95%” rather than the elite 5%”

INVERTED PYRAMID

1. Headline: short,

attenion-grabbing,

informative, interesting,

clear, large bold letters

2. Sub-headline:

Start to answer 5

Ws and H; explains

headline directly under

3. Lead: One sentence that summarizes

5Ws and H; opening sentence of article

4. Details: logically relays information in neutral, natural way

Who?What?When?Where?Why?How?

IDENTIFY THE PARTS OF THE INVERTED PYRAMID FOR THE FOLLOWING NEWS STORY.

ALSO LOOK FOR THE 5 WS (WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY) AND H (HOW).

READY?GO!

AUTISTIC BOY SCOUT SAVES TEACHER’S LIFE: A LOCAL 10-YEAR-OLD BOY USES HEIMLICH TO STOP TEACHER FROM CHOKING.

KYLE FORBES, 10, IS NO ORDINARY KID – MOST EVERYONE WILL AGREE UPON THAT – BUT NOW HE'S BEING HONORED BY HIS SCHOOL AND HIS SCOUT PACK FOR SPRINGING INTO ACTION TUESDAY TO SAVE HIS TEACHER'S LIFE.

FOR HYDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER SHERI LOWE, EVERY DAY TEACHING ART CLASS NOW IS A GIFT.

"HE SAVED MY LIFE," SAID LOWE.

1900-PRESENTThree major changes1. Objectivity – New York Times:

dedicated to accurate information

2. Social responsibility: Codes and ethics

3. Jazz journalism : bold headlines, pictures, stunts (sensational writing), reflects roaring 20s.

Currently: Specialized

THE BUSINESS OF NEWS

I'm gonna shoot you with a BB gun when you're not looking... in the back of the head.

ADVERTISING

First thing produced on the page

61% of newspaper

2 Types of ads• 1. Display ads for stores, products, services

2. Classified ads for job openings,

personal ads, real estate

Not again!

I like long walks on the beach…

“NEWSHOLE” •The space available in a newspaper for actual news – after all advertisements have been placed•Refers to news content:• Writing (stories, captions)• Photos • Graphics (tables, data,

political cartoons)

“NEWSHOLE” - CONTENT: WRITING, PHOTOS, GRAPHICS•News: world, national, state, local•Editorials: editors of newspapers take a position on a current topic (laws, politicians, education, etc.)•Opinion pieces: letters to editor•Syndicated columnists: Appear in newspapers regularly

TYPES OF NEWS

•Hard News (NEED to know)• Exhibits objectivity – just

facts, no opinions• Examples: world, national,

state, local• Crime and disaster: assures

people that THEIR lives aren’t bad

• Investigative reporting: looks deeply into a situation, giving facts not previously known

TYPES OF NEWS CONTINUED

•Soft News – WANT to know• Examples: sports, food,

travel, science, special interest

TYPES OF NEWS CONTINUED

•Other types or overlapping types:• Newsmaker: celebrities,

politicians, athletes (make news when they talk, marry, divorce, date, get DUIs, etc.)• “Katy Perry Keeps Locks of Hair”

• Pseudo-news: fake news, non-critical, staged for shock value• “Kim and Kayne Having Alien Baby!”

TYPES OF NEWS CONTINUED

•Other types or overlapping types:• Human Interest: Stories about

non-newsmakers, often moving, dramatic or heroic• “Teacher in Nevada Saves Student from Gunshot: Gives His Life”

• Sensationalism: Blown out of proportion, exaggerated• “Democrats Using ‘Obamacare’ to Destroy Government, Country Doomed”

MATCH IT UP

With your partner, match each headline with the appropriate news type.

LOOKING AHEAD

Tomorrow, we’ll work more closely with the pyramid and with the 5Ws and H so you can get some practice in before YOU start writing.