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What makes a front page story

Should we have published the story about the anti-big-government march on the front page? How about the gay rights march? Front pager?

What about Sen. Kennedy's death? Or, most recently, the death of the Winston-Salem police officer?

Our decisions on each has caused debate and dismay for different reasons.

I have tried to explain what kind of newspaper we want to be and what kind of stories "make" the front page, but I don't think I've asked you how you would define a front page story. So, I'm asking now: What are the criteria you would use to select stories for the front page?

Some questions to start you off:

* Would you focus on local news or national news or some of both? If you select local, how do you define local?

* Would you have a mix of "hard," "important" news stories and lighter, perhaps more interesting, stories or stick with traditional hard news? Or something else entirely?

* Would you pay attention to what other media are focusing on or would you give readers information that is available from other media outlets? Related, how much weight would you give timeliness: If the story breaks at 7 a.m. and you can't get it into newspaper readers hands until 24 hours later, does that matter?

* Would you focus on specific topics, say, politics or business, that are traditional newspaper fare or mix it up?

* Would you leave sports stories and features stories to the sports and features departments or consider them for the front page?

* When does the concept of respecting a person's life or accomplishment outweigh over factors?

Seriously, please weigh in. By my count at least a dozen different people commented on the posts mentioned above. I'd love to hear from you on this one. It would help us.

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Tags: News judgment, Newspaper readers, Front page

Posted by John Robinson on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7:54 pm

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Soccer Mom

October 14, 2009 - 11:18 pm EDT

"We made a judgment based on what we considered the news value of the story." That's key. Folks on staff should've been more tuned in to how this story was one of the most talked about -- in Winston, in Greensboro, etc. -- and the way it touched residents around the region (maybe those are the stories residents value in addition to other must-have news). I don't think anyone is asking for a f-t reporter to be posted in W-S, but someone should've decided "this is a story we should be following" and have someone checking on it for updates. That's where I think the N&R dropped the ball. It also would've been really easy to "localize" it even more by interviewing a couple of local law enforcement officers. (And the "it's been all over TV by now" reasoning - I've always cringed at that. People lead busy lives and not everyone DVRs the local news.) Thanks for inviting the input!

Interested

October 15, 2009 - 8:12 am EDT

Another point to consider concerning TV coverage: not all of us watch it. The only local news I watch is in the a.m. from 6:30 to 6:45. Generally speaking, you get snippets of news. I count on getting more in-depth coverage from print news.

To address some of John's other questions: I do see you as a local paper, generally relegating national stories to the inside of the paper. (Because of Kennedy's lengthy list of sponsored legislation affecting local residents, I could have seen a front-page angle, though I really wasn't surprised, or bothered, when it wasn't. In all honesty, I find it annoying when TV news goes to ridiculous lengths to find that local angle. ( We've all seen the presidential-candidate's-mother's-step father's-cousin's-grade school teacher-visited-local landmark-thirty years-ago type story.)

As far as what type of story to print, I would think that varies. Monday through Friday, I'm all little more pushed for time in the mornings and prefer to see the hard news. Weekends are a little more leisurely and a change of pace is welcomed, leaving room for stories designed to delve a little deeper, whether they be hard news or otherwise.

With regard to what topics to cover, I would definitely like to see it mixed up. I believe the news informs and educates the public. Would we want our children taught only one subject? As far as sports making the front page, tough call. I think only very special occasions would merit such coverage, and even then I'm not certain. (Local - good luck with that one - high school team wins state championship.)

Your question concerning respect for life/accomplishments obviously is difficult (one need only look at this week's postings). Certainly, not everyone can be acknowledged on the front page. But those individuals who give greatly of their time and efforts to better the community are generally recognized. In this particular situation, you had an officer who had given 27 years of his life to protecting/serving others. Few will fall in that category. In addition, I believe most would agree that those who die in the line of duty (police, fire, ems) also deserve recognition from the entire community at large.

John Robinson

October 15, 2009 - 2:56 pm EDT

Thanks. This is helpful.

kraf6652@bellsouth.net

October 15, 2009 - 8:37 am EDT

Mr. Robinson this is your job to know what makes front page news. This is why you are the Editor. I do feel that you should have already come forth and taken ownership of your mistake. As a mother of a 7 yr old, I'm teaching him that it is important when you make a bad decision/mistake that you instantly take ownership and apologize. Because it is respectful to whom you owe the apology and it shows you care about what others think, and in your case the product you are selling.

I will also add being so analytical and questioning your readers as to what makes front page news as a front instead of apologizing to us is wrong and shows weakness. I make mistakes all the time and I respect when someone tells me so, it is called constructive criticism.

Interested

October 15, 2009 - 8:55 am EDT

I believe Mr. Robinson is making an honest attempt to determine what readers would like "their" paper to be, and as such, is demonstrating that he does care about what others think. I see this as something akin to the comment cards many businesses employ when they feel they can improve upon their business model.