How can you reflect on your news judgment to improve?

1 What is news judgment?

News judgment is the ability to identify and prioritize the most relevant, important, and interesting stories for your audience, based on your editorial standards and values. It involves considering factors such as timeliness, significance, proximity, conflict, human interest, and novelty. News judgment is not a fixed or objective skill, but rather a dynamic and subjective one, influenced by your personal and professional background, your media outlet, your sources, and your audience.

2 Why is news judgment important?

News judgment is important because it shapes how you inform, educate, and engage your audience. It affects how you select, frame, and verify your stories, as well as how you use your resources, time, and platform. News judgment also reflects your credibility, ethics, and responsibility as a journalist, as you have to balance competing interests, values, and perspectives. News judgment can have a significant impact on public opinion, policy, and action, as well as on your own career and reputation.

3 How can you assess your news judgment?

One way to assess your news judgment is to compare your choices and outcomes with those of other journalists and media outlets, both within and outside your niche, market, and region. You can use tools such as Google Trends, social media analytics, and audience feedback to measure the popularity, reach, and engagement of your stories, as well as the reactions and responses they generate. You can also seek feedback from your colleagues, editors, mentors, and peers, who can offer different perspectives and insights on your news judgment.

4 How can you improve your news judgment?

Another way to improve your news judgment is to learn from your successes and failures, as well as from the best practices and examples of others. You can review your past stories and identify what worked well and what did not, and why. You can also study the news judgment of other journalists and media outlets that you admire or disagree with, and analyze their criteria, methods, and effects. You can also expose yourself to diverse sources of information, viewpoints, and experiences, that can challenge and enrich your news judgment.

5 How can you apply your news judgment?

A final way to apply your news judgment is to use it as a guide and a tool, not as a rule or a limit. You can use your news judgment to help you plan, research, and produce your stories, but you should also be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, new information, and emerging opportunities. You should also be transparent and accountable for your news judgment, and explain to your audience how and why you made your decisions. You should also be open and responsive to feedback, criticism, and suggestions, that can help you improve your news judgment.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?