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WHAT MAKES NEWS?

News values taught in every journalism school…

• New / timely• Discovery• Human interest• Superlative: first, biggest, best• Proximity / local angle• Disaster / threat• Conflict• Unusual• Prominence / celebrity

If a story has several of these elements, it’s news.If a story has ONE of these elements in abundance, it’s news.If a story has SEVERAL of these elements in abundance, it’s front-page news.

These first five seem the most likely to emerge from kinesiology research.

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EXAMPLE - NEW / TIMELY

The pool is new and just opened. That’s news.

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EXAMPLE - UNUSUAL and DISCOVERY

Flashing lights and music in a ‘rat casino’ (unusual) make rats more prone to gambling (discovery). That’s news.

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EXAMPLE - HUMAN INTEREST and DISCOVERY

We’ve all encountered snobby sales staff in our everyday lives (human interest). They may make us spend more money (discovery). That’s news.

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EXAMPLE - SUPERLATIVES

At the time, it was the tallest in the world. That’s news.

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EXAMPLE - DISASTER / THREAT

Potential danger to the campus community. That’s news.

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EXAMPLE - CONFLICT

One side against the other. That’s news.

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EXAMPLE - PROXIMITY / LOCAL ANGLE

A body found in Surrey is not news for The Ubyssey. But when it’s found on the president’s lawn, that’s news.

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EXAMPLE - PROMINENCE / CELEBRITY

Tennis tournament? Not news. Two all-time greats playing? News.

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RECENT EXAMPLES FROM KINESIOLOGY

• New / timely (research was just published)• Discovery• Human interest (we all know a smoker)• Conflict (man versus habit)• Local angle (researcher from Saskatoon, where there was a clinic)

Finding: Running with a group helps people quit smoking.

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RECENT EXAMPLES FROM KINESIOLOGY

• New / timely (research was just published)• Discovery• Human interest (we all have a smartphone and want to be healthy)

Finding: iPhone step counter can underestimate your activity.

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RECENT EXAMPLES FROM KINESIOLOGY

• New / timely (research was just published)• Discovery• Human interest (we all want healthy seniors in our lives)• Local angle (groups worked out at Vancouver YMCA)

Finding: Seniors stick with fitness programs within own age group.

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CONTACTS FOR POTENTIALLY NEWSWORTHY ITEMS

Michelle GradyCommunications SpecialistSchool of Kinesiology604-822-0950michelle.grady@ubc.ca

Erik RolfsenMedia Relations SpecialistUBC Media Relations604-822-2644604-209-3048erik.rolfsen@ubc.ca