News Judgment

News judgment varies from person to person.  This semester I have really come to understand my own news judgment and how it affects my decision making process as a producer.  When I am deciding what stories will be in the newscast I choose a variety.  I want to make sure I not only cover USC and local stories but also national and international.  I think it is important for every newscast to have a balance of different types of stories.

First, I determine what the lead story will be and then I work my way down the newscast.  I think I weigh every story based upon what elements we have and how relevant it will be to our viewers.  I try to incorporate stories relating to USC because that is what our viewers are most interested in hearing about since most are USC students.  

A story is more interesting if it has multiple elements.  If there is sound and video for a story then it is something I would want to incorporate in the newscast.  Although this is my thought process when putting together a newscast, no two news days are the same.  Stories will vary as will the way I put the newscast together.