We think we have a good story to tell, how do we know if it’s newsworthy?

Take The MediaBank News Values Test.

If your goal is to get your story on the front page of the paper then you need to think like a newspaper editor. The first thing you’ll hear from any editor, when you try to pitch your story, is “who cares?” If you can prove your story touches a lot of people – and will be something the readers of her paper care about – then you’ve passed the editor’s first test. There are several other things newsroom editors look for when deciding where to assign their reporters.

 

At The MediaBank we put all our clients’ stories through our News Values Test and ask:

1. Does our story impact a lot of people?
2. Is it local?
3. Is it part of social trend (i.e. climate change)
4. Does it include a human interest angle?
5. Does it include someone of high profile?
6. Is it unusual or bizarre?
7. Do we have something visual to show?
8. Do we have good spokesperson?

The more of these questions we can answer with a “yes” the more newsworthy our story.

MORE: The MediaBank includes staff who have managed print, radio and television newsrooms ; won awards for their journalism and been active in the Canadian Association of Journalists. We know news.