What skills do you need to develop a strong news judgment?

News judgment is the ability to identify and prioritize the most relevant, timely, and impactful stories for your audience. It is a crucial skill for any journalist, whether you work in print, broadcast, online, or multimedia. But how do you develop a strong news judgment? Here are some tips and practices that can help you hone your sense of what makes a good story.

Key takeaways from this article

Embrace adaptability:

Being flexible with your story perspectives ensures you stay relevant. As new information comes in, adjust your angle to keep your audience informed and engaged with the latest developments.
Active listening:

Hone in on your interviewee's responses. If they skirt around a question, circle back to it. This persistence can uncover deeper insights and leads to more substantive stories for your audience.

This summary is powered by AI and these experts

1 Read and watch widely

One of the best ways to improve your news judgment is to expose yourself to a variety of sources and perspectives. Read and watch local, national, and international news outlets, as well as niche publications and alternative media. Pay attention to how they select, frame, and present their stories. What angles do they emphasize? What sources do they use? What tone do they adopt? How do they balance objectivity and opinion? How do they cater to their target audience? By comparing and contrasting different approaches, you can learn to evaluate the quality and relevance of news stories.

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Christine Bowley

Assistant News Director at 6ABC
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Flexibility! As you learn more or something that is different, allow your treatment of a story (or something that you deem "not a story") to change.

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Steve Safran
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- Learn how to listen and respond. If the interview subject doesn't answer the question, ask it again. - Understand what real debate looks like. It's not "equal sides." - Confirm the story. We once deliberately held a story that everyone else was running because the source seemed unreliable. Turns out, we were right. - Study history and geography. Whether you're still a college student or a professional, you have to know the context and location of a story. - Ask lots of questions! Newsies love to pass along knowledge and can help your career.

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Eetika Kapoor

Multimedia Business Journalist | Author: My Dear Sensei, an anthology on teachers | Ex Brand Strategy Paytm | TOI, Business Insider | I write about journalism, creativity & books here
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Not just what you relate or understand, reading across wide variety of sources and viewpoints is key. Another thing is to keep a close watch on Reddit, Twitter, LinkedIn to see what the world is currently talking about. Sometimes, one tweet can lead to a good investigative piece.

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Laurie Wiegler

Freelance Science, General News & Features Reporter
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Fist, strike the article in this question. Second, one is born with strong news judgment. When I was a very little girl my teacher rated me highly in “sharing the news”. One can hone such skill, by reading good newspapers and outlets, networking in the industry, reading books, giving interviews, pursuing related hobbies such as book clubs and soliciting feedback from a trusted friend or colleague.

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Victoria Holmes

Associate Producer @ The Dispatch | Podcast Production, Research, Writer
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Stay updated on digital tools and platforms relevant to journalism. This includes understanding social media, online analytics, and digital storytelling techniques to effectively reach and engage audiences.

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2 Analyze the news values

News values are the criteria that journalists use to determine the newsworthiness of a story. They include factors such as timeliness, proximity, significance, human interest, conflict, controversy, and novelty. While these values are not fixed or universal, they can help you assess the potential impact and appeal of a story. For each story idea, ask yourself: How recent is it? How close is it to your audience? How important is it for them? How does it affect or involve people? How does it challenge or provoke? How does it surprise or intrigue? The more news values a story has, the more likely it is to attract attention and interest.

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Chikomo Patsika

Veteran Communicator
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I use this simple method which l have coined the CRETA. C = Critical thinking R= Research E = Ethical decisions T = Time management A = Awareness of current affairs

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3 Seek feedback and collaboration

News judgment is not a solitary skill. It is often shaped and refined by feedback and collaboration from your colleagues, editors, sources, and audience. Seek constructive criticism and advice from your peers and mentors. Listen to their opinions and perspectives, but also be ready to defend your own choices and arguments. Collaborate with other journalists and media professionals on joint projects and cross-platform coverage. Engage with your audience through social media, surveys, comments, and analytics. Learn from their preferences, questions, and feedback. By being open and responsive, you can improve your news judgment and build trust and credibility.

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Victoria Holmes

Associate Producer @ The Dispatch | Podcast Production, Research, Writer
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Establish connections with experts in various fields. This can help you access specialized knowledge and ensure accuracy when reporting on complex topics.

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4 Keep learning and adapting

News judgment is not a static skill. It is constantly evolving and changing with the media landscape, the audience, and the world. To keep up with the trends and developments, you need to keep learning and adapting. Follow the latest news and events, but also look for the underlying issues and implications. Stay updated on the innovations and challenges in the media industry, but also reflect on the ethical and professional standards. Experiment with new formats, platforms, and tools, but also evaluate their effectiveness and suitability. By being curious and flexible, you can develop a strong news judgment that serves your audience and your career.

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5 Practice and review

News judgment is a skill that requires practice and review. The more you exercise your news judgment, the more confident and competent you will become. Practice by pitching, writing, and editing stories on a regular basis. Review your work and compare it with other examples. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, and set goals for improvement. Seek opportunities to work on different topics, genres, and media. Challenge yourself to find and tell stories that matter and make a difference. By practicing and reviewing, you can sharpen your news judgment and enhance your skills.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Victoria Holmes

Associate Producer @ The Dispatch | Podcast Production, Research, Writer
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Stay informed about legal and ethical guidelines in journalism. This includes understanding the boundaries of privacy, defamation laws, and other legal considerations to ensure responsible reporting.

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Amanda Sturgill

Storytelling; Analytics; Measurement; Multimedia Content Strategy | Teaching all of the above
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Journalists must develop a healthy sense of skepticism. When I was in school, the joke was "if your mother tells you she loves you, check it out." There are many more ways that newsmakers can be deceptive today including with information, with logic, with data and with images. The best journalists constantly question the provenance of facts before they share them. This can happen directly with sources or within newsrooms, as we hold each other accountable.

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What skills do you need to develop a strong news judgment?

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1 Read and watch widely

2 Analyze the news values

3 Seek feedback and collaboration

4 Keep learning and adapting

5 Practice and review

6 Here’s what else to consider

Journalism

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