The News Manual is a resource that defines news and links to other sources of opinion. Some of these opinions are rational, others are cynical, and some are funny. Regardless, this resource is useful. Here are some tips to make news stand out:

Exclusivity

While we are all familiar with the rise of monopolies and the power of the press, it is not always clear how these developments have affected news publishers. Throughout history, news publishers have been forced to adapt to changes in technology and business practices. From the telegraph to the radio and TV, to the internet, news publishers have been shaped by the evolution of the news industry. While they have been able to survive these changes, the future is less certain.

Shareability

In the digital age, audiences are increasingly selecting news stories, influencing the choice of stories for publication. News is distributed through social media platforms, audience recommendations and “shares.” This study focused on newspaper stories, but its findings have broader implications for news distribution. Newspapers’ stories can be shared through social media to increase their reach, but journalists must balance their agenda with the demands of their audience. The Shareability of News Study examines how news is shared online and by whom.

Reliability

People encounter an enormous amount of information every day. This information includes news, opinion, and media brands. While most media have varying levels of reliability, they usually have a few common characteristics. In this study, we look at how people assess these media brands. Participants were not likely to assess the news by reading its website or description. Most often, participants relied on intuitive assessment and familiarity with the brand name. Here are some tips to evaluate news.

Timeliness

The timeliness of news is often measured by its accuracy and relevance, rather than its content. In the early days of the newspaper, space-holding filler was often printed, supplemented by news updates. Telegraph editors equated a “mailer” – an unpublished feature story – with a low timeliness value. Timeliness is also measured in the professional argot that newspapers developed for a story that was sent before it was published. Release copy, advance copy, and other types of news were terms that reflected the largely manufactured nature of timeliness. Release copy included obituaries, presidential addresses, and other types of stories that would be published later.

Relevance

The relevance of news is often a matter of trade-offs. It is a function of the time of day, but at any given time, we will tend to prefer what is current and relevant, regardless of who wrote it or when it was written. In this study, we found that the users of news content tended to use various pronouns and used different linguistic strategies to construct their own sense of relevance. The most relevant news was perceived as relevant by people who identify with larger collectivities.

Accuracy

There are many factors that may contribute to the inaccuracy of news reporting, including time pressure, financial incentives, and false information from political candidates. However, rebalancing newsroom priorities may enhance media accuracy, public responsiveness, and government accountability. Let’s examine some examples of inaccuracy in news reporting. First, let’s look at the accuracy of news from the perspective of a conservative. In the United States, most people get their news from television. Compared to newspapers, television news is more accurate than newspapers.

Contextualization

Transnational TV channels face a double challenge when it comes to contextualizing news. The audience’s grasp of distant contexts is limited, and journalists are ill-equipped to interpret events. This leads to a double misinterpretation of news, one for the audience and one for journalists. This article explores the role of context in contextualization. It explains why it is important to contextualize news. Let’s look at some examples.