Page 181 - Communication Cultural and Media Studies The Key Concepts

NOISE

beliefs and attitudes. Rather, the concept relates to the corporations
that produce industrialised news. Within these environments, news
values work to unify varying ideological stances amongst journalists
and gatekeepers under the notion of objectivity. Understanding the
implications of these procedures demonstrates hownews is a creative
product, rather than a mere reflection of reality.
Professionals generally justify the selection of stories not by reference
to news values, but first by reference to the story itself – it has to be
inherently newsworthy – and second to the demands of the audience –
the story has to serve the public interest or satisfy their curiosity.
It is the notion of what makes a story newsworthy that has gained
most critical attention (see for example Galtang and Ruge, 1973;
Cohen and Young, 1973; Hartley, 1982). While the studies that have
been undertaken point to some recurring themes within news
practices, these should not be taken as definitive. As with all forms of
research, each project is informed by differing approaches, assumptions
and methods. That said, the following categories may be helpful, as
long as it is recognised that news values are about news stories and not
the events themselves.
. News values prioritise stories about events that are recent, sudden,
unambiguous, predictable, relevant and close (to the relevant
culture/class/location).
. Priority is given to stories about the economy, government politics,
industry and business, foreign affairs and domestic affairs – either of
conflict or human interest – disasters and sport.
. Priority is given to elite nations (the US, the UK, Europe, etc.) and
elite people (celebrities).
. News values often involve appeals to dominant ideologies and
discourses. What is cultural and/or historical will be represented as
natural and consensual.
. News stories need to appeal to readers/viewers so they must be
commonsensical, entertaining and dramatic (like fiction), and visual.

See also: Bias, Gatekeeper, Infotainment, Objectivity

Further reading: Hartley (1982); Watson (1998)

NOISE

A concept associated with traditional communication theory. Noise
refers to the interference that is experienced during the transfer of

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