Associated Press Guide to News Values

The Associated Press Guide to News Values outlines the key factors that determine the importance and newsworthiness of a story. These include timeliness (recent events are more relevant), proximity (local stories matter more locally), impact (how many people are affected), prominence (stories about well-known individuals or institutions), conflict (controversy or disagreement), human interest (stories that evoke emotion), and novelty (unusual or unexpected events). These principles help journalists decide which stories to cover and how to present them, ensuring that news reports are relevant, engaging, and reflect what audiences care about.