How does news judgment differ between hard and soft news?

1 Hard news vs soft news

Hard news is the term used to describe stories that are timely, factual, and significant. They often deal with topics such as politics, crime, war, economy, health, and disasters. Hard news stories are expected to follow the inverted pyramid structure, which means presenting the most important information first, followed by less essential details. Hard news stories are also subject to strict standards of accuracy, balance, and objectivity. Soft news, on the other hand, is the term used to describe stories that are less urgent, more subjective, and more entertaining. They often deal with topics such as lifestyle, culture, sports, celebrities, and human interest. Soft news stories are more flexible in their structure, tone, and style. They can use anecdotes, opinions, humor, and emotions to engage the audience.

2 Factors affecting news judgment

News judgment is not a fixed or universal concept. It can vary depending on several factors, such as the medium, the audience, the source, the context, and the values of the journalist or the outlet. For example, a newspaper may have different news judgment than a TV station, because they have different formats, deadlines, and resources. A local news outlet may have different news judgment than a national or international one, because they have different audiences, markets, and interests. A reputable news source may have different news judgment than a dubious or biased one, because they have different standards, ethics, and agendas. A breaking news situation may have different news judgment than a slow news day, because they have different levels of urgency, competition, and uncertainty. A public service journalist may have different news judgment than a commercial or partisan one, because they have different goals, values, and responsibilities.

3 News judgment for hard news

News judgment for hard news is often based on the criteria of timeliness, impact, proximity, prominence, and conflict. Timeliness means how recent or current the story is. Impact means how much the story affects or interests the audience. Proximity means how close or relevant the story is to the audience's location or identity. Prominence means how well-known or influential the people or organizations involved in the story are. Conflict means how much the story involves controversy, disagreement, or opposition. These criteria help journalists and editors to determine which hard news stories are worth covering, how much space or time to allocate to them, and how to rank them in order of importance.

4 News judgment for soft news

News judgment for soft news is often based on the criteria of novelty, curiosity, human interest, and emotion. Novelty means how unusual or surprising the story is. Curiosity means how much the story arouses the audience's interest or questions. Human interest means how much the story relates to the audience's personal or social experiences. Emotion means how much the story evokes the audience's feelings or reactions. These criteria help journalists and editors to determine which soft news stories are worth covering, how to present them in a compelling or entertaining way, and how to balance them with hard news stories.

5 News judgment challenges

News judgment is not an easy or simple task. It involves many challenges, such as the abundance of information, the diversity of sources, the speed of changes, the pressure of deadlines, the influence of biases, and the expectation of audiences. Journalists and editors have to constantly monitor, verify, update, and prioritize the news, while also considering the ethical, legal, and professional implications of their decisions. They also have to adapt to the changing media landscape, the evolving audience preferences, and the emerging social issues. News judgment is not a static or formulaic process. It is a dynamic and creative one, that requires constant learning, reflection, and feedback.

6 Here’s what else to consider

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