The news conference: How daily newspaper editors construct the front page

Abstract

Conversational analysis of language used (and recorded) during 64 different news conferences reveals patterns that editors use in arguing over what stories should appear on the front page. Editors' routinely signal front page newsworthiness by elaborating/defending their choices and work hard to defend the newsworthiness of their choices. Traditional news values are part of the strategy that editors use, but editors also find ways to obscure the role their own ideology may play in their own news selections. One strong trend is that stories are more likely to be chosen for the front page — with little argument — if they are part of a recent ongoing story. News themes, in other words, like individuals, have history. © 1992, Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication. All rights reserved.