Factors Affecting News Treatment: REP

Table of Contents

Introduction

Theories Behind News Trends

2.1. Agenda-Setting Theory

2.2 Gatekeeping Theory

2.3 Community Structure Theory

Core News Values 

3.1 Timeliness

3.2 Proximity & Relevance

3.3 Impact & Consequences

3.4 Prominence

3.5 Conflict

3.6 Oddity / Novelty

3.7 Human Interest

3.8 Currency / Trending Topics

Technological and Digital Influences

4.1 Rise of Social Media

4.2 Digital Algorithms & AI

4.3 Citizen Journalism

Economic & Organizational Factors

5.1. Ownership Structure

5.2. Advertising Revenue

5.3. Profit Motive and Commercialization

5.4. Budget and Resource Constraints

5.5 Editorial Hierarchy

5.6. Editorial Policy

5.7. Newsroom Routines and Deadlines

5.8. Organizational Culture and Professional Norms

Cultural, Political & Social Drivers

6.1 Political Climate & Press Freedom

6.2 Cultural Norms & Social Movements

6.3 News Avoidance & Audience Psychology

Ethics, Misinformation & Fake News

7.1 Ethical Journalism Standards

7.2 Fake News Dynamics

Case Studies & Current Trends (2020s)

Conclusion

References

INTRODUCTION 

News trends aren’t random, they’re shaped by a huge mix of what’s happening, who chooses what to cover, and how audiences receive and share it. Trends in news define public conversation, influence perceptions, and even steer political or social action.

News treatment refers to the way journalists select, frame, present, and prioritize news stories for the audience. It is not only about reporting facts but also about how those facts are shaped through editorial decisions, storytelling techniques, and media practices. In modern journalism, news treatment is influenced by a wide range of factors including professional norms, organizational pressures, technological developments, and social contexts.

Various communication theories help explain how media organizations decide what becomes news and how it is presented. At the same time, core news values such as timeliness, relevance, impact, conflict, and proximity play a crucial role in determining which events are considered newsworthy. The rapid growth of technology and digital media has further transformed news production, distribution, and consumption, making journalism faster, more interactive, and sometimes more competitive.

In addition, economic and organizational factors—such as media ownership, advertising revenue, newsroom policies, and competition—strongly influence editorial choices. News treatment is also shaped by broader cultural, political, and social drivers, including public opinion, government policies, societal values, and ideological perspectives.

However, the digital age has also created challenges related to ethics, misinformation, and fake news, raising concerns about accuracy, credibility, and responsible journalism. Examining case studies and current trends in media practices helps us understand how these factors operate in real-world situations.

Therefore, analyzing the factors affecting news treatment provides important insights into how news is constructed, why certain stories are highlighted, and how media influence public understanding of events.

This research breaks down those factors with examples.

THEORIES BEHIND NEWS TRENDS 

2.1 Agenda-Setting Theory

First described in 1972 by Maxwell McCombs & Donald Shaw, agenda-setting posits that the media doesn’t tell you what to think, but what to think about - the more coverage an issue gets, the more important audiences perceive it to be. 

This theory explains why some issues (e.g., climate change or caste politics) occupy global news cycles while others barely register.

Agenda setting occurs through a cognitive process known as “accessibility”. Media provides information which is the most relevant food for thought, portraits the major issues of the society and reflects people minds

These are the levels of agenda setting theory:

First Level:

The first level is usually used by the researchers to study media uses and its objectives or the influences that media creates on people and the most proximal thought that people will have on the exposure to the information given by media houses.

Second level:

At the second level, the media focuses on how people should think about the nature of the issues. Thus, sensationalization of news reports may happen to bring in the interest of the audience. In fact, the media wants to grab attention and implant thoughts in people's minds about some serious issues. That’s why the media turn certain issues viral.Agenda setting theory is used in political ads, campaigns, business news, PR (public relation) etc. For e.g.: News Comes from various sources, editors choose what should appear and what should not. That's why they are called gatekeepers.

Priming 

In simple words, the media gives the utmost importance to a certain event such that it gives people the impression that that particular news is the most important one. This is done on a daily basis. The selected news report is carried on as a heading or covered regularly for months. For example, terms such as headlines, special news features, discussions, and expert opinions are used. The media primes news by repeating the news and giving it more importance like, for example, the Nuclear Deal.

Framing 

Framing is a process of selective control. It has two meanings.The way in which news content is typically shaped and contextualized within the same frame of reference.The audience adopts the frames of reference and to see the world in a similar way. This is how people attach importance to a piece of news and perceive its context within which an issue is viewed.

Framing deals with how people attach importance to certain news. For example, in the case of an attack, defeat, win and loss, the media frames the news in such a way that people perceive it from a different angle.

We can take the Kargil War between India and Pakistan as an example. In both the countries, the news reports were framed in such a way they show their own country in a positive light and the other in the negative. So depending on which media people have access to, their perception will differ.

Factors affecting Agenda setting

Upon conceptualising the mass media theory in 1968, Maxwell MaxCombs and Donald Shaw concluded that there are three main types of agenda-setting that media outlets can use to determine the saliency of an issue. These three types include:

Public agenda-setting: This occurs when the public decides or influences how important a particular story is. This means that media outlets reactively respond to their audience to provide news coverage on that issue.

Media agenda-setting: This involves the media determining the importance of news stories and deciding which ones to include in their broadcasts or prints.

Policy agenda-setting: This occurs when public policymakers or their announcements determine an agenda for news outlets to report on. Public policymakers usually make decisions or announcements based on the influence of the news and the public.

Criticisms of agenda-setting theory:

Critical analyses of the agenda-setting theory focus on its inability to establish direct causality (whether media drives public opinion or merely reflects it), the challenges posed by fragmented, modern social media, and its limited applicability to audiences with established biases. The theory also struggles to account for individual audience interpretation and the role of gatekeepers. 

• Causality Dilemma: A major criticism is that research often fails to prove that the media sets the public agenda, rather than the public agenda driving media coverage. 

• Impact of New Media: The rise of internet and social media, which allows audiences to curate their own news, reduces the capacity of traditional, centralized media to set a uniform agenda. 

• Confirmation Bias: The theory struggles to explain situations where audiences already hold firm, pre-existing opinions and only use media to confirm their views rather than to be informed. 

• Neglect of Individual Interpretation: Critics argue the theory oversimplifies, treating the audience as passive receivers rather than active participants who interpret messages based on their own experiences. 

• Gatekeeper Influence: The theory places immense power on media editors ("gatekeepers"), but does not fully account for how they might be influenced by external, powerful, or elite interests. 

• Methodological Limitations: Some argue the theory relies heavily on assumptions rather than direct, measurable, and objective evidence of audience impact. 

One of the shortcomings of this theory is that the media is not able to address the presence or absence of the effects of the content of television  and radio programmes on the audience.The media relies heavily on surveys based on assumption and not on the actual response of the audience.

2.2 Gatekeeping Theory

Gatekeeping is about who decides which stories see the light of day - editors, reporters, platforms, owners, and even algorithms restrict or amplify what becomes news. 

In the digital era, gatekeeping doesn’t just happen in newsrooms - social platforms now function as gatekeepers too.

Gatekeeping is the process of selecting, and then filtering, items of media that can be consumed within the time or space that an individual happens to have. This means gatekeeping falls into the role of surveillance and monitoring data. These gatekeeping decisions are made every day to sort out the relevant items that audiences will see.

The gatekeeping theory of mass communication is a method which allows us to keep our sanity. By consuming content that is most relevant to us each day, we can ignore the billions of additional data points that are calling for our attention.

The Concept of Gatekeeping:

The gatekeeper decides what information should move past them (through the information “gate”) to the group or individuals beyond, and what information should not. Gatekeepers are at a high level, data decision makers who control information flow to an entire social system. Based on personal preference, professional experience, social influences, or bias they allow certain information to pass through their audience.

 Gatekeeping also sets a specific standard for information value. In a world where “fake news” often competes with “real news,” gatekeeping can be programmed to tell the differences between the two types of content so that only the preferred data points are consumed by each individual. Gatekeeping may also hold influence on policies and procedures, playing the role of a watchdog within society or simply playing into the audience’s confirmation bias. Humans are also their own gatekeepers at the point of consumption, creating a secondary filter for information. 

Even the attitudes toward content changes based on a personal perspective. People tend to support one side or the other in any media-related debate. The same news item coming from CNN, MSNBC, or Fox News can be presented in different ways and trigger audiences' preconceived notions about the agenda of that news organization. That favoritism can make a subject seem more or less important based on how the data points are consumed and presented.

Factors affecting gatekeeping theory 

Gatekeeping theory, which explains how information is filtered and selected for public consumption, is influenced by five primary factors: individual (journalist’s personal values/experience), routine (deadlines, work habits), organizational (media policies, ownership), extra-media (advertisers, government), and social/ideological factors. These factors dictate which news passes through the "gates". 

Key factors affecting the gatekeeping process include: 

• Individual Level (The Reporter): Subjective decisions, personal attitudes, and values of the individual reporter or editor directly shape what is considered newsworthy. 

• Media Routine (Procedural Factors): Deadlines, the inverted pyramid writing style, and daily editing procedures limit the time and space available for stories. 

• Organizational Level (The Institution): Media houses have their own policies, agendas, economic constraints, and profit motives that dictate what information is approved. 

•Extra-Media Level (External Pressures): Influences outside the media organization, such as advertisers (sponsors), government regulations, interest groups, and public relations, heavily influence content. 

• Social and Ideological Levels: Societal norms, cultural values, and dominant ideologies determine the boundaries of what is acceptable to report. 

• Technological Factors (Digital Era): Algorithms, social media platforms, and the ability for anyone to publish have transformed gatekeeping into "gatewatching," reducing the power of traditional, centralized, and individual gatekeepers.

Criticism of Gatekeeping Theory 

Descriptive Only

Gatekeeping theory is not without its weaknesses. The most important of these is probably the fact that it is purely descriptive, which means that it is not as strong in its predictive power.Its value is in its ability to explain what is happening now (how news stories are selected and filtered), but it has little to say about how the process of gatekeeping will change and when.

2.Too General

Another objection focuses on the idea that the concept of gatekeeping is too general:

“Gatekeepers and gatekeeping might be anything, under the appropriate circumstances, weakening the ability to decompose gatekeeping analytically as a process or to focus on the gatekeeping itself as the main topic” Gatekeeping is a broad concept that needs to integrate insights from different fields when it deals with challenging questions.

3. Out of Date

Gatekeeping theory also needs an update. It is often challenging for scholars to describe and analyze new gatekeeping phenomena using traditional methods.

This isn’t so much a criticism of gatekeeping theory in general but a criticism of gatekeeping theory in its present form.With traditional media, gatekeeping typically describes a one-way relationship. But in the context of new media, the influence of the “gated” must also be considered

2.3 Community Structure Theory

This sociological framework suggests local demographic and social conditions shape news coverage - regions with high unemployment or crime often get those issues in focus more.

So where news is produced and for whom matters big time.

Community structure theory is a mass communication framework that examines the relationship between community characteristics (demographics) and media content, often focusing on how city-level or national demographics shape news coverage. It is considered a "bottom-up" approach to media analysis, in contrast to traditional "top-down" agenda-setting theories. 

Key details about Community Structure Theory:

Conceptual Focus: Identified by researchers like J.C. Pollock as the "conceptual inverse" of agenda-setting, it argues that community demographics "shape" the news, rather than just national news leaders dictating local coverage.

"Structure" Defined: This refers to aggregate measures of community, such as:

Privilege: Indicators like education, income, and health access.

Vulnerability: Indicators such as poverty rates, unemployment, and crime rates.

Stakeholder: Indicators like political partisanship, age, or generation.

Media Vector Tool: Developed by Pollock et al., this tool measures both the content direction and the editorial prominence of news, allowing researchers to evaluate how community characteristics affect both the tone and placement of stories.

"Guard Dog" Challenge: The theory often challenges the "guard dog" hypothesis, which suggests the media only protects elite interests. Instead, community structure studies have found that local media can reflect the interests of vulnerable populations.

Applications: It has been used to study media coverage of issues such as HIV/AIDS, child labor, immigration reform, and human trafficking, often finding that higher levels of vulnerability in a community lead to more coverage of these issues. 

This theory bridges sociology, political science, and mass communication, providing a systematic way to analyze how localized environments shape media messages.

Factors affecting community structure Theory 

In journalism and mass communication, Community Structure Theory (CST) proposes that the demographic and social characteristics of a community—such as its size, levels of poverty, or ethnic makeup—directly shape how the media covers news and what issues it prioritizes. Unlike agenda-setting theory, which suggests news media tell the public what to think about, CST is a "bottom-up" approach where the community's "structure" acts as a driver for media content. 

Key factors affecting community structure and its resulting journalistic output include:

1. Demographic Indicators

Vulnerability Indicators: High rates of unemployment, poverty, or crime are often linked to more favorable or "government-responsibility" framed coverage of social issues like healthcare or immigration reform.

 Privilege ("Buffer") Indicators: High levels of education, income, and professional status "buffer" a community from economic uncertainty. These communities often see media coverage that emphasizes government responsibility for maintaining health and infrastructure.

Stakeholder Indicators: Characteristics like political partisanship, age/generation, and dominant belief systems within the community heavily influence news framing. 

2. Community Pluralism and Size

Homogeneous vs. Pluralistic Communities: Larger, pluralistic communities (highly diverse) tend to frame issues like environmental pollution through a scientific or technical lens. In contrast, smaller, homogeneous communities often favor consensus and may avoid critical reporting that could cause local conflict.

 Community Interconnectivity: In digital journalism, the way smaller sub-communities are linked within a network affects "opinion expression." Highly interconnected communities are more prone to a "global spiral of silence," where minority opinions are suppressed. 

3. Structural Constraints on Journalists

 Embeddedness: Local journalists often live in the communities they cover, creating a "good neighbor" vs. "watchdog" tension. This embeddedness can lead to self-censorship to avoid harming local social cohesion.

Resource Limitations: Newsrooms in smaller or economically strained communities face staff shortages and tight deadlines, which frequently redirect investigative efforts toward routine, service-oriented news. 

4. External Pressures

Economic Leverage: Local businesses often use advertising revenue as a tool to influence coverage.

 Political Parallelism: The degree to which media outlets are linked to political parties or local government structures can restrict their autonomy to report on sensitive local issues. [

5. Media Role Models

The Guard Dog Metaphor: This perspective suggests the media doesn't act for the community as a whole, but serves as a sentry for groups with enough power and influence to control their own security systems.

Criticism of community structure theory:

Criticism of community structure theory in media focuses on its limited focus on macro-demographics (e.g., poverty, population density) at the expense of individual agency, psychological factors, and the rapid, fluid nature of online social networks. Critics argue it overlooks how specific media content creators and cultural nuances shape narratives, treating media merely as a reflection of community demographics rather than an active, independent agent of social change. 

Key Criticisms of Community Structure Theory: 

Macro-Level Bias & Neglect of Agency: The theory primarily analyzes aggregate, city-level demographics (income, unemployment, education). This top-down approach often ignores the individual psychological factors, motivations, and agency of both journalists and audience members. 

Neglect of Cultural and Social Dynamics: A purely structural approach is often seen as inadequate for explaining the formation of "online communities," which are heavily driven by shared, often ephemeral, cultural values and social interactions rather than just geographical or census-based demographics. 

Conceptual Ambiguity in "Community": The definition of "community" is often vague in literature, confounding the theory's application across different formats (e.g., local newspapers vs. global digital platforms). 

"Mirror" Perspective: The theory is often criticized for assuming media merely reflects the surrounding community structure, ignoring the media's power to actively shape, manipulate, or create reality, independent of the local population's demographics. 

Inapplicability to Dynamic Online Networks: The rapid evolution of social media, where communities are defined by fluid, shifting networks of interest, challenges the static nature of community structural analysis.

Alternative Viewpoints:While community structure theory provides a strong, empirical, macro-level analysis, it is often complemented or challenged by critical media theories, which focus on power dynamics, media ownership, and ideological, rather than demographic, drivers of media content. 

Community structure theory is a mass communication framework that examines the relationship between community characteristics (demographics) and media content, often focusing on how city-level or national demographics shape news coverage. It is considered a "bottom-up" approach to media analysis, in contrast to traditional "top-down" agenda-setting theories. 

3. CORE NEWS VALUES

These are classic determinants of why certain events turn into news, a blend of academic and practical “newsworthiness” measures.

News values help journalists decide which events deserve coverage and which stories will attract audience attention. They are a blend of academic theory and practical newsroom judgement about what makes something “newsworthy.”

In modern journalism, these values have become even more significant because digital media and social platforms create a constant demand for fresh, engaging, and relevant content.

3.1 Timeliness

News is freshest when it’s new. Digital platforms make this extra important because audiences expect immediate updates. Immediacy is key to what counts as news.

Digital platforms and 24-hour news cycles have made timeliness even more important because audiences expect instant updates and real-time reporting.

Immediacy is key to what counts as news today. Journalists often prioritize breaking stories and live updates to maintain audience attention.

Example: COVID-19 updates in 2020 were trending simply because they evolved daily. Every new statistic, lockdown rule, or vaccine development became breaking news.

3.2 Proximity & Relevance

Stories that hit close - geographically, culturally or emotionally - are more likely to trend. Audiences are naturally more interested in events that directly affect their lives, communities, or identity.

Proximity can be:

Geographical: events happening nearby.

Cultural: stories connected to shared traditions, language, or identity.

Emotional relevance: topics people feel personally connected to.

Example: Local policy changes in Delhi get more traction locally than global foreign policy because they directly affect residents’ daily lives.

3.3 Impact & Consequences

The more people affected, the more newsworthy. Economic reforms, natural disasters, or policy shifts often dominate media coverage. 

This includes:

Economic reforms

Natural disasters

Public health crises

Government policies

The magnitude of impact determines how prominently the story will be covered.

Example: A nationwide economic reform will receive more coverage than a minor local regulation because it influences millions of people.

3.4 Prominence

Celebrities & leaders always grab coverage. Public figures = audience attention = trends. 

Events involving well-known people or institutions are more likely to receive attention.

 Celebrities, politicians, business leaders, and public figures attract media coverage because audiences already recognize them.

The logic is simple: public figures generate public interest.

Example: A statement by a famous actor or politician often trends quickly on social media and news platforms.

3.5 Conflict

Disputes, wars, protests - conflict is drama, and drama sells. 

Conflict creates drama, tension, and debate-elements that naturally attract audiences. Stories involving disagreements, protests, political rivalries, or wars often receive significant media attention.

Conflict also allows media outlets to present multiple perspectives, which can generate discussion and engagement.

Example: Global protests like the Black Lives Matter movement (2020–2021) became huge news because they combined conflict, activism, and social change.

3.6 Oddity / Novelty

Unusual or unexpected events capture public curiosity. When something happens that breaks normal patterns or seems surprising, it becomes newsworthy.

This principle is often summarized by the famous journalistic phrase:

"Man bites dog is news, but dog bites man is not."

Uncommon stories tend to spread quickly because they trigger curiosity and conversation.

3.7 Human Interest

Stories that catch hearts trend easily - survival stories, personal struggles, inspiration. 

Human interest stories appeal to emotion rather than hard facts. These stories often highlight personal experiences, struggles, achievements, or acts of kindness.

They connect audiences to the human side of news, making complex issues easier to understand.

Examples include:

Survival stories

Inspirational achievements

Personal journeys

Acts of bravery or kindness

These stories trend easily because they resonate emotionally with readers.

3.8 Currency

Issues stay in the news because they’re part of ongoing debate even without new “events” - like climate change coverage. 

Some issues remain in the news because they are part of ongoing public discussion, even when there is no major new event.

These topics stay relevant because they are connected to long-term societal debates.

Examples include:

Climate change

Gender equality

Education reforms

Artificial intelligence ethics

Media coverage continues because audiences remain interested in developments and perspectives related to these topics.

4. TECHNOLOGICAL AND DIGITAL INFLUENCES

The rapid development of digital technology has significantly transformed the process of news production and presentation. Modern newsrooms use advanced technologies and digital platforms to collect information, edit content, and distribute news to a wider audience. These technological developments influence how news is selected, framed, and presented. 

4.1 Speed of Communication and Instant Publishing

Digital technologies enable journalists to publish news immediately through online platforms. Unlike traditional newspapers that publish once a day, digital news portals provide continuous updates. This speed influences the treatment of news, as reporters often publish breaking news quickly and update the story with additional details later.

4.2 Influence of Social Media Platforms

Social media has become a major source of information and public opinion. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube play an important role in shaping news priorities. Trending topics, viral posts, and public discussions often influence journalists to focus on certain issues that are gaining public attention.

4.3 Use of Multimedia and Interactive Content

Modern digital technologies allow news organizations to present information in multiple formats such as videos, photographs, infographics, podcasts, and live streams. This multimedia approach enhances audience engagement and improves the clarity of information. As a result, news stories are designed to be more visually appealing and interactive.

4.4 Algorithm-Based Distribution of News

Digital platforms use algorithms to determine which news stories appear in users’ feeds. Stories that receive more clicks, shares, and comments are more likely to be promoted by these algorithms. Consequently, news organizations often design headlines and presentation styles to increase audience engagement and visibility.

4.5 Audience Analytics and Data Monitoring

News organizations now rely on digital analytics tools to understand audience behavior. These tools provide data on page views, reading time, comments, and shares. Such information helps editors identify audience interests and adjust the focus, length, and style of news stories accordingly.

4.6 Citizen Journalism

The widespread use of smartphones and internet access has enabled ordinary citizens to capture and share news events instantly. Photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts shared by the public often become important sources of information for journalists. This phenomenon, known as citizen journalism, influences how news stories are reported and verified.

4.7 Mobile Journalism (MoJo)

Mobile journalism refers to the use of smartphones and portable digital devices for news reporting. Journalists can record videos, conduct interviews, edit content, and publish news directly from the field using mobile technology. This increases efficiency and allows faster coverage of events.

4.8 Increased Digital Competition

The growth of numerous online news platforms has intensified competition among media organizations. To attract readers and viewers, news outlets often focus on breaking news alerts, engaging headlines, and frequent updates. This competition influences the style and emphasis of news presentation.

5.ECONOMIC & ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS

Economic and organizational factors play an important role in shaping news treatment. Financial aspects such as ownership, advertising revenue, and profit motives, along with newsroom structures like editorial hierarchy and policies, influence how news is selected, framed, and presented. These factors also affect the priority, tone, and depth of news coverage.

Economic Factors

5.1. Ownership Structure

Ownership of media organizations can influence news treatment because owners may protect their business or political interests. For example, Reliance Industries owns Network18 Media & Investments, which runs CNN-News18, and such corporate ownership often raises debates about its influence on economic reporting.

5.2. Advertising Revenue

Since advertising is a major source of income, media organizations may avoid publishing stories that could harm their advertisers. For instance, companies like Hindustan Unilever and Coca-Cola spend heavily on advertising, which can indirectly pressure media outlets to maintain favorable coverage.

5.3. Profit Motive and Commercialization

As profit-driven businesses, media organizations often prioritize stories that attract higher viewership and revenue. Channels like Republic TV and Aaj Tak frequently highlight sensational debates to increase ratings and advertising income.

5.4. Budget and Resource Constraints

Limited financial resources can restrict in-depth reporting, leading media outlets to rely on news agencies instead of sending reporters to the field. For example, many newspapers depend on reports from Press Trust of India.

Organizational Factors

5.5 Editorial Hierarchy

Newsrooms have a hierarchical structure where senior editors decide the final treatment of stories, including headlines and placement. In organizations like NDTV and India Today, reporters gather information but editors determine how prominently the news will appear.

5.6. Editorial Policy

Editorial policies guide how news is selected and framed according to an organization’s values and audience. For example, The Hindu focuses on analytical reporting, while The Times of India often presents news in a more popular and accessible style.

5.7. Newsroom Routines and Deadlines

Strict deadlines in newsrooms can affect the depth and verification of news reporting. During the Mumbai Terror Attacks, channels had to deliver continuous updates, creating intense newsroom pressure.

5.8. Organizational Culture and Professional Norms

The culture of a newsroom influences whether journalists focus on investigative or quick reporting. For instance, investigative coverage of the Bofors Scandal showed how some media houses supported investigative journalism.

6. CULTURAL, POLITICAL & SOCIAL DRIVERS 

6.1 Political Drivers

This is about who is in charge and how the newsroom interacts with them.

• Ideology: Every news house has a "slant” and different political affiliations. This dictates if a story is treated as a success or a failure.

• Pressure Groups: Political parties or activists often pressure editors to highlight their agenda or kill a story that makes them look bad.

• Legal Fears: Laws like Defamation laws or Contempt of Court act as a massive brake. Journalists often self-censor to avoid a long, expensive legal battle.

6.2 Cultural Drivers 

These are the unwritten rules about what a society finds important or "normal."

• Proximity: A local festival gets a 2-page spread, while a massive event in a different culture might only get a small paragraph.

• Taboos: Editors often "soften" stories about religion, sex, or death to avoid offending the public. They don't want to "hurt sentiments."

• Archetypes: Newsrooms love a "Hero vs. Villain" story. They often turn complex news into a simple "Good guy vs. Bad guy" narrative because it's easier for humans to digest.

6.3 Social Drivers

These are the pressures coming from the changing habits of the audience.

• What the Public is Interested In: There is a constant tug-of-war. Should one report on the budget or celebrity gossip?

• Social Media Trends: If a topic is trending on X  or Instagram, newsrooms feel forced to cover it, even if it’s not traditional "news."

• Advertiser Influence: Since newspapers need ads to survive, they are often socially pressured not to write anything too negative about the big companies that pay their bills.

Prepared by:  

Rhea Sara Vinu 

Ayushi Soni

Nibedita

Chunit

Dechan

Srija

Mansi

Riya CIC

Kusum

Riya Singh