The Elements
This news element refers to how close an event is to the audience geographically or emotionally.
What is proximity?
A news story written to inform readers about recent events with minimal opinion.
What is a hard news story?
“Study Finds That Drinking Coffee May Improve Your Memory”
What is a headline?
(Reasoning: It’s factual and straightforward, not sensationalized.)
This is false information spread unintentionally.
What is misinformation?
This American cable network is known for its 24-hour news coverage and was founded by Ted Turner.
What is CNN?
When a story involves a well-known person like Taylor Swift or a major political leader, it becomes more newsworthy because of this element.
What is prominence?
A story that focuses more on storytelling and human interest rather than immediate news.
What is a feature story?
“Experts Say You’re Doing Your Morning Routine All Wrong"
What is clickbait?
(Reasoning: Uses exaggerated phrasing and creates curiosity without giving details.)
This is deliberately false information created to deceive people.
What is disinformation?
This U.S. public broadcasting organization produces programs like Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
What is National Public Radio?
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A small fire breaks out in a restaurant kitchen in your town, forcing the building to close for two weeks and leaving 30 employees temporarily without work. Which element of news most strongly explains why this story might be important to local readers?
A story that explores a topic in great depth and often requires months of research.
What is investigative journalism?
“New Research Suggests Social Media Use Linked to Sleep Patterns in Teens”
What is a headline?
(Reasoning: Informative, neutral language, cites research.)
This happens when a reporter or news outlet unfairly favors one side.
What is bias?
This British public service broadcaster is one of the largest news organizations in the world.
What is BBC?
This element of news refers to unusual, surprising, or unexpected events that stand out from everyday life.
What is novelty (or oddity)?
This kind of article expresses the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board.
What is an editorial?
“10 Things Doctors Won’t Tell You About Your Diet”
Answer: What is clickbait?
(Reasoning: Creates mystery and fear to attract clicks; vague.)
This term refers to sensational or exaggerated headlines meant to attract clicks online.
What is clickbait?
This international news network is headquartered in Doha, Qatar.
What is Al Jazeera Media Network?
Stories involving tension, disagreement, or opposing viewpoints are often newsworthy because of this element.
What is conflict?
A short opinion piece usually written by someone outside the newspaper staff.
What is an op-ed?
“City Council Approves Plan to Expand Bike Lanes After Public Feedback”
What is a headline?
(Reasoning: Clear, factual reporting, no sensational language.)
This process involves verifying images, sources, and claims online to determine if they are real.
What is verification?
This American cable news network launched in 1996 and often presents a conservative perspective.
What is Fox News?