“Remember that just because something is interesting to you does not mean that it is interesting to everybody. Picture the members of your audience, and try to figure out what will interest them. If your story tells them something new that will affect their lives, chances are that you have a good news story” (Kershner 54).

My biggest problem in news writing has always been that my view of what’s important is different from the rest of the world. I struggle with my inverted pyramid again because I don’t always think of what’s important. Still, it’s important to get in the head of your audience. I’m working on it. Reading news has been helpful in determining what people want and need to hear. Also being a news editor has forced me to focus on the most important information. Whether I’m editing newbie articles or just deciding where each of my stories should be placed, I must constantly evaluate the newsworthiness of articles.

Through my experiences as editor, I also really connect with Kershner’s advice on making annual activities news worthy:

“What is the news in something that happens every year? However, you can find out what is new and different about the fair this year. Will there be any changes in the things that most affect the readers.”

I recently assigned a story about the Garbage Bag Gala and Mission imPROMible. Both of these events happen every year at SHU (M.I. happens twice a year) so I make sure to tell the reporter to look for something new happening this year. Turns out Mission imPROMible was supporting a new cause this year. That focus allowed the article to be unique.

via Kershner 13.