Newsworthy or Sensational?

February 11, 2025

Image: Magnus Martinsen - Pexels

There are a lot of sensational happenings in our communities and world, but sensational doesn't equal newsworthy. Writers and publishers consider several factors before choosing a newsworthy topic.

IMPACT - Perhaps the most important consideration is impact. What impact will a given story have on its intended audience? News of a llama being hired as head chef at a New York restaurant is certainly fascinating, but will that have much impact on the residents of a small West Coast town?

RELEVANCE - The story should satisfactorily answer why something is important to the intended audience. A llama head chef being hired at a New York restaurant does not directly impact residents of a small West Coast town unless that llama is a well-known former local everyone is hoping succeeds. This leads to the next consideration, human interest.

HUMAN INTEREST - Yes, a llama can be the focus of a human interest story because the focus doesn't have to be on a human. If the story connects with humans on a personal level that is a newsworthy story. Newsworthy stories often evoke strong emotion or interest. They may inspire compassion and lead to a sense of relatability. Most people want others to succeed after all, even if they're llamas.

These are only three considerations writers and publishers make when pondering what is newsworthy. There are many more but hopefully, this will help you get a good start.