Relevance in journalism is a concept that refers to the audience’s level of interest in a story. The role of a journalist is to select stories that will matter to people. The journalist usually works on the assumption that truth matters to people, which is what separates a news station from magazines. The journalist has a responsibility to inform citizens about what is happening but must be selective about which events are the most important. The journalist must have a strong ability to write stories in ways that grab the audience’s attention. According to the Nieman Report, http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/102547/Journalists-Must-Make-the-Significant-Interesting-and-Relevant.aspx journalists have a responsibility to make their stories relevant. Reporters also face this dilemma “With news organizations convinced that ever-shortening attention spans require ever-shorter stories, it is difficult for a reporter to get the space and time necessary to tell a story right....” that we must fight against the remote (changing the channel). That is why it is important for journalists to make a connection with the audience, so that the audience feels appreciated and will form a loyalty with the news station that reports what they want to hear. This article also agrees that journalists must be relevant. http://allafrica.com/stories/201105230214.html The Parliamentary Assembly has a Code of Ethics that also submits that journalists must be relevant in their stories.
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