News & Property Blog

This week I have been giving some thought to what actually makes a news story. Sometimes I read things and wonder just how it was decided that this is "news" while something else which doesn't get a look in is deemed not to be worthy. Naively I suppose I always thought the strength of the story and its relevance to the readership were the only criteria for what gets published. Recent experience has toughened me up somewhat. It appears that there is a whole load of bias, subjectivity and commercial considerations when deciding what is a news story.

With newspapers bemoaning the rise of social media (and the subsequent damage to their advertising revenues) you would think the thing that would continue to draw people to their product would be strong, community-focused news. If the printed media is concerned about the rise and rise of social media surely getting behind news in our island is the way to go? Apparently not.