A Matter of Opinion: Hard News Vs. Soft News

For this assignment, I was asked to accumulate 5 news articles form various websites and state whether or not they were better suited as soft news or hard news.  If you are not sure what the the difference is between the two, you should have a good indication of what kinds of stories fit into each category by the time you are done reading each post.

Can an online posting cost you your job?

This story definitely fits into the category of hard news.  The article discuses a topic that isn't very typical of soft news: job loss and Canadian laws.  Besides the subject matter, the piece is presented in a way that is not meant to entertain but to inform.  It is mainly focused on bringing all the facts to the table, displaying quotes from various people who are educated on the subject, and in doing so, revealing their opinions.  The genre of the story falls under business, where the article is found on the CBC website. 

Strange Lights over Fort Saskatchewan
In my opinion, this is a soft news story.  It is meant to draw in readers through the wonder that the picture creates in the minds of people who glance at it on the webpage.  The article is very plain and is only a couple of sentences in length.  It is written in first person by the person who saw the lights, so their is really only one opinion presented in this piece.  It is entertaining, and leaves you wondering what natural (or supernatural) phenomenon causes this. 

Brazil-owned firm takes control of XL Foods plant
The Globe and Mail's article on the latest updates of the events surrounding the XL Foods plant is very fast-paced, presenting a large amount of information in a short amount of time.  It is a hard news article, and one that is worthy of being on the front page of a news paper.  It also has a genre that is typical of hard news: business.

Getting passive-aggressive with WiFi names
I consider this news article to be a form of soft news.  The content is designed to amuse the viewer and to create an emotional response.  Its appeal is very broad and most people who read it will enjoy listening to what it has to say.  It is entertaining and is found on the Globe and Mail's website within the category of "lifestyle."

Uma Thurman, American actress and model

Really, Uma? Thurman gives daughter epic seven-part name
Whether or not this article fits into soft news or hard news is something that is debatable.  For those of us who follow celebrity news, this article is sure to fit into the category of hard news.  It is an announcement that has been three months in the making, and deserves a space somewhere on the front page.  Then again, for those of us who are less interested in the lives of celebrities (such as myself), this article is more than likely soft news to us.  It is interesting, yes, but it is more gossip than hard facts and lacks the importance equivalent to something like the closer of a local school.  If I had to choose, I would lump it together with the story on "the world's longest cat, Stewie."  It is soft news.

News Worthy #4: Super-Close, Extra-Solar, Goldilocks Zone, Earth-like Planet Discovered!

Heading: Earth-like planet found circling nearby star

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/10/16/planet-.html

Timing - 4/4
As far as major scientific discoveries go, this one is pretty up-to-date.  Discoveries like this take many years to get to, making little leaps of success every now and then, so despite the fact hat the planet was possibly discovered a little while back, it is still a new story in my book.

Significance - 1/4
Alas, if you are not "into science" (and it is really such a shame if you're not) then this story is of very little concern to you.  Most people will probably just skip over the article after seeing the headlines on a website or in a news paper, but as for me, I couldn't resist the temptation to click the link and read the full document. It appeals to a considerably small group of society.

Proximity - 1/4
This is an extra-solar body, so as far a proximity goes, only the aliens orbiting the star, Alpha Centauri B, really give a "hoot" about the fact that we found them.  Also, it was a team of European astronomers who found the planet, making it international news, too far to matter as much as something that happened in our own back yard.

Prominence - 1/4
This value is low due to the fact that it is not really a human affair, it is only something that a few people have come to discover, quietly, and on their own.  We know nothing about the people, who they are, etc.  The only thing that would possibly raise the prominence was if a celebrity was somehow involved in discovering the earth-like planet and wants it to be named after themselves.

Human Interest - 4/4
Possibly the best trait that makes this story just newsworthy enough to get published is its basis for human interest.  Humans like to learn fun facts about the world around them to amuse both themselves and their friends.  It is typical to see this kind of article displayed at the very end of a newsreel or news broadcast to lighten the mood and to leave off at a positive note.  CBC even categorized the story as being "offbeat" and you can see those very words being used in text of the web address shown above.

Final Newsworthy Mark - 11/20

News Worthy #3: Playgrounds, Constructive or Destructive?

Heading: Risky play is good for kids, even if they break an arm, researchers say
Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/risky-play-is-good-for-kids-even-if-they-break-an-arm-researchers-say/article4615207/

Timing - 1/4
This story isn't very time-specific.  I feel that it would do better after a major playground incident, if it wasn't for it's light-hardheartedness and joking nature.  It still sparks a debate, nonetheless.

Significance - 3/4
I feel that this article has a particular target group: families with young children.  Topics that involve the safety of our kids are also real attention grabbers because what the parents want more than ever is for their kids to be safe and to have a good upbringing.

Proximity - 2/4
There is no location that is specified with this article.  It is making references to Canadian playgrounds in general.

Prominence - 1/4
This story has a very low prominence.  The descriptions of the people mentioned in the article are very vague and they are obvious of no interest to us as readers.

Human Interest - 4/4
The news story is all about human interests.  It is similar to the kinds of things that you would see in the "something interesting for last" section of CTV's evening news broadcast.  It is written in an almost humerus tone as to evoke laughter.  I would view this news story as a "good addition" to a news paper or website, but in traditional journalism media, it is very obscure and should be ranked behind the other stories by overall importance and interest to the public.

Final Newsworthy Mark - 11/20

News Worthy #2: South-East Asian Land Dispute

Heading: Japan monitoring Chinese warships near southern island
Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/japan-monitoring-chinese-warships-near-southern-island/article4615053/

Timing - 3/4
The story comes from the tensions that have erupted between the two countries, China and Japan, over the ownership of the islands that lay in and around the Okinawan island chain, in the past month.  The story was published today, however, the ships were spotted and reported on during last Tuesday, so it is a little off. 

Significance - 3/4
The significance for us Canadians is very little unless you have family or friends that are living in or travelling to that area of the world.  The southern islands of Japan are a popular tourist destination for their tropical-like and mild weather. 

Proximity - 1/4
This story isn't very close to home, so the impact it has on Canadians is perhaps dulled in some way.

Prominence - 3/4
This story does, however, have a large prominence.  When a story concerns entire countries and their relations between each other, it is given an immediate prominence in the news.  Sometimes events like these can change very rapidly, so a continual feed of updates is usually made by the larger news corporations to appeal to those who are at the edge of the seats.

Human Interest - 1/4
This story doesn't really fit into the category of human interest very well.  There is nothing special, cute, different or funny about the topic of nations butting heads over land.

Final Newsworthy Mark - 11/20

News Worthy #1: Cyber Bullying

Heading: What parents can do to stop cyberbullying
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10/12/cyberbullying-strategies-parents-q-a.html

Timing - 4/4
This article is one of the thousands being created on the subject of cyber bullying in Canada that came flooding in in the wake of the teen suicide of the 15-year-old girl from British Columbia.  People feel that it is a perfect time to discuss these kinds of things and to address the issues associated with bullying when a tragedy like this strikes.  People are still sore from learning about it and are willing to read this article even if they feel that they have never been a target of bullying. 

Significance - 4/4
The amount of student-age children, teens, and young adults being infected by, not only cyber bullying, but bullying in general is always at a constant high. 

Proximity - 3/4
It is a national news story; a teen suicide has happened on Canadian soil.  However, the story is more than likely doing better in the western part of Canada (BC, Alberta) because of it's closer proximity. 

Prominence - 1/4
As well known as this girl might have been in her own school or community, she is more or less a complete stranger to the rest of the country. 

Human Interest - 2/4
The topic of teen suicide is always an emotional thing, but it isn't very "off the beaten path" when you compare it to something like a "cute cat video" or an "interesting scientific discoveries" that we are used to seeing in the news fall into this category. 

Final Newsworthy Mark - 14/20

Senior Citizen Disappears, House & All!

Moncton's most talked about resident of last week finally met her tragic end when the entire structure of her 200 year-old home came crashing down on her last midnight.

The scene of this morning in North-Eastern Moncton;
what's left of 84 year-old, Gertrude broomstick's home.

In the early morning, at approximately 12 AM neighbours along the Shediac Road reported hearing load creaking noises coming from the direction of the building that had been assessed and deemed unsafe last Thursday.  The home had belonged to Gertrude Broomsticks, a widow, 84 years of age.  Residents of Shediac Road have been trying for months to convince the elderly woman that she needed to  relocate somewhere else, but she was resistant.  No traces of human remains were found, as of yet.  It is believed that heavy gusts of 90 km/hr wind had a part to play in the destruction of her home.

"Normally in this kind of situation, where the individual is resistant to authority, encouraging is far from enough." say Francisco Lord of the New Brunswick structural assessment comity.  He believes that proper procedures where not executed in trying to get the non-compliant women to move, calling it a disgrace to his line of work.  "There should have been more done in the situation where the home owner's life was in danger.  She shouldn't have had a choice.  This women is (most likely) dead and we could have prevented it." 

Police are now sifting through the massive pile of rubble, a mess of wood and crumbling cement, what is left of the home, in hopes of finding Mrs. Broomsticks.  Upon asking one of the officers if he would like to comment, he said "Well, there isn't much to say.  Things aren't looking too good.  (We've) been searching since one, and so far -nothing." 

Throughout the neighbourhood, there are mixed feelings for the loss of the elderly women.  Stories are shared between residents of Mrs. Broomsticks, the mysterious lady who had no next of kin since the passing of her husband, Reginald, some 30 years ago.  All of the North-East Moncton community seems to be effected in some way. 

"We tried to tell her, really, we did." Says Amelia Petters a 35 year-old mother of two.  She is clearing her lawn of debris this morning with her son.  Both are home today, shaken by the events of last night.  "She made it obvious that she didn't want our help.  When we offered to take her to that new retirement home just on down the street, she threatened to turn us into frogs!  She wasn't all that there."

We spoke with Ms. Broomstick last Saturday, three days after she was told that her house was unstable. "Why's anyone got's to move 'round here.  Ain't none of their business where I live." she said in an interview with the Blackville Talon that evening while sitting around her kitchen table.  "I'll leave on my own time, I will!" 

Police are ruling out any kind of foul play in this case, however, officers say that there is a possibility that she was not in her house at all during the time of the collapse.  They are urging anybody with information that could aid in the search for Gertrude Broomsticks or her body to please come forward. 

We asked Billy, the son of Amelia Petters, what he felt about the disappearance of Ms. Broomsticks, and as his theory stands, "she probably melted."