Meediaväärtused

Meediaväärtused, also known as media values, refer to the principles or criteria that journalists and media organizations use to decide which stories are newsworthy and therefore worthy of publication or broadcast. These values help shape the news agenda and influence what information the public receives.

Common media values include timeliness, which prioritizes recent events; proximity, favoring stories that are geographically or culturally close to the audience; prominence, focusing on well-known individuals or institutions; conflict, highlighting disagreements or struggles; human interest, appealing to the audience's emotions; and impact, selecting stories that affect a large number of people. Novelty or unusualness also plays a role, as surprising or bizarre events often capture attention.

The selection of stories based on these values can lead to a particular portrayal of reality, potentially overemphasizing certain types of events or people while neglecting others. Understanding media values is crucial for media consumers to critically evaluate the news they encounter and to recognize the inherent choices made in the news production process. Different media outlets may also prioritize different values, leading to variations in their news coverage.