AN OUTLINE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF NEWS STORIES

NEWS VALUES

1. In what paper was the story published?

2. What are the policy and the character of the paper?

3. How widely does the paper circulate outside of the place in which it is published?

4. Does the paper appeal to a particular class of readers?

5. Is the piece of news presented from the point of view of this class?

6. What, for the average reader, is the source of interest in the news contained in the story?

7. How much would the news interest the average reader? Why?

8. Do you think that the news was worth more or less space than was given to it? Why?

9. What more significant phases might have been played up or developed?

SOURCES OF NEWS

1. How did the news originate?

2. Where was the first record of it probably made? By whom?

3. What records and what persons may have been consulted in securing the news?

4. What reference books or material may have been used in getting or in verifying the details of the story?

5. What other possible sources might have been consulted?

METHODS OF NEWS GATHERING

1. What evidence does the story give of the methods by which the news was obtained?

2. Is there any evidence that the reporter or correspondent failed to get any of the important details of the piece of news?

PURPOSE

1. Does the story seem to be fair and unbiased?

2. Is there evidence that any important facts were suppressed or that the story was colored to conform to the policy of the paper?

3. Is the handling of the news constructive or destructive in its effect?

4. What, if any, is the constructive purpose of the writer?

5. Is the story so treated as to tempt the reader to imitate anti-social acts?

TYPE OF STORY

1. Is the primary purpose of the story to inform or to entertain?

2. Is the story largely narrative and descriptive? Is it largely explanatory? Is it largely direct or indirect quotation?

3. If the story is narrative in form, is the order chronological?

4. Is the narrative clear or confused?

5. Does the narrative move slowly or briskly? Why?

6. Are accounts of the event by participants or eye-witnesses used? If so, are these accounts in direct or indirect quotation form?

7. Are remarks and conversation of participants and eye-witnesses given?

8. Is the description detailed or suggestive? Is it effective? Why?

9. Is there a striving for effect in the description?

10. If the story is that of a speech, report, etc., is the material arranged in logical order?

11. Is much or little made of the personal, or human interest, element in the story of the speech or the interview?

STRUCTURE OF THE STORY

1. Has the story a summary lead or an unconventional beginning?

2. Does the lead contain the essential facts concisely presented?

3. Is the most striking detail played up as the feature in the first group of words of the opening sentence of the lead?

4. What other element in the news might have been featured in the lead?

5. Is the lead proportionate in length to the whole story?

6. How are the details arranged in the body of the story?

7. Is there any evidence that the story was cut down in making up the paper?

8. Are the paragraphs closely connected?

9. Is there unnecessary repetition in the story?

10. Could the arrangement of the details be improved? How?

LITERARY STYLE OF THE STORY

Paragraphs

1. What is the average length of the paragraphs?

2. Are any of the paragraphs too long or too short?

3. Is each paragraph a unit?

4. Are the details well arranged and closely connected in the paragraphs?

5. Does the first group of words at the beginning of each paragraph attract the reader as his eye glances down the story?

6. Could any of the paragraph beginnings be made more effective? How?

Sentences

1. What is the average length of the sentences?

2. Are any of the sentences too long or too short?

3. Is the construction of each sentence evident in rapid reading?

4. Is each sentence a unified expression of a closely related group of ideas?

5. Are the parts of the sentences combined in firm, closely knit construction?

6. Do the sentence beginnings attract the reader by the importance and the interest of the ideas expressed in the first group of words?

7. Do any of the sentences trail off loosely into a succession of phrases and clauses?

8. Is there variety in sentence length and sentence construction?

Words

1. Is the style concise or wordy?

2. Is the diction original or hackneyed?

3. Is the style marked by many adjectives or by superlatives?

4. Are the verbs specific and forcible?

5. Is the diction too learned for the comprehension of the average rapid reader?

6. Are words used idiomatically and accurately?

7. Are slang and colloquial expressions found in the story? What is the effect of them?

8. Is the diction is keeping with the tone of the story?

Qualities of Style

1. Can the details of the story be easily comprehended in rapid reading; that is, is the style comparatively simple?

2. Upon what does the general clearness of the story depend?

3. Is the movement slow or rapid? Why?

4. Is there any humor or pathos in the story? How is the humorous or the pathetic effect secured?

5. Has the news possibilities for humorous or pathetic treatment that are not developed?

6. Is the story in good taste?

TYPOGRAPHICAL STYLE

1. What are the peculiarities of abbreviation, capitalization, hyphenation, and use of numerical figures?

2. Is the typographical style consistent throughout the story?

3. Are any details of the story given prominence by typographical devices? If so, why?