There is a continuing debate on what is considered “newsworthy.” Some elements of “newsworthiness” often cited are:
timeliness
is it unusual?
conflict or controversy
impact or effect
local connection
human interest
update to previous story
informative
relevance to current events/holidays,
is it breaking news?, etc.
Despite the debate, there is merit in rating events/programs/information on its newsworthiness based on newsroom’s analysis of media coverage.
The Media Alert Rating Scale (MARS) was developed below by Joseph Lopez to gauge newsworthiness of events/information. The scale was based on the aforementioned newsworthy elements. In addition, MARS also takes into account the following: media reach, penetration, frequency, target audience, size of audience and time-related ratings and share and immediacy of delivery of information.
MARS attempts to rate events/information based on possible newsroom discussions of what to cover by a particular media group or media format. MARS cannot of course be 100% accurate due to factors such as: competing and groundbreaking news, the personnel/technical resources of the newsroom, and internal newsroom politics, to mention a few.
It is possible that a news event/information will have a range of rating, e.g. from 5 –7 if the news or information appeals to local media as well as PBS.
Online news is not included below because online reporting can be at any stage and online salience is normally an offshoot of social trending, traditional media reporting, and viral surge. Having stated this, there is no doubt that traditional media is still pervasive, convenient and it's practical pass-around form trumps online as of 2010.
Media Alert Traditional Media Applicability
Rating Scale
1 Needs more development/time to be newsworthy
This can be anything
2 Academic/Technical Journals
Example: Research shows connection between honest governance and program development success ( with good stories – this can rise up in the MARS scale)
3 Community Cable TV/ Radio
Example: Local High School basketball games
4 Local Magazines
Example: Family adopts an earthe quake orphan from Haiti
5 Local Morning (e.g. Fox) and Noon News/ Local Newspapers/ State Newswires
Example: Weather about to change dramatically
6 Local Early Evening/Late Night News/ Regional Newswires
Example: Local mayor initiates new meal plan in public schools
7 PBS/ NPR/ Monthly National Magazines/ National Newswires (AP, Reuters, etc.) / Niche Cable Programming, e.g. Discovery Channel)
Example: Jupiter can be seen from the sky
8 National TV talk shows (Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN’s American Morning) / TV Newsmagazines shows (e.g. 60 Minutes, Nightline)/ National Newspapers (inside pages)/ National radio talk shows
Example: Growing influence of Social Media
9 National Primetime Evening News/ National Newspaper (Front Cover)
Example: 2010 November Elections
10 Blanket coverage, Local, National and International Media
Example: Chile mine rescue
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