News Values

"Quizzed.. The chef & nurse" - The Sun
Police are investigating seven suspicious deaths at an old people's home.

Meaningfulness: Treatment ofthe eldery is an important topic to many as a number of people have elderly relatives in homes etc.

Continuity: This is a subject that has been in and out of the news over a long period of time. The article also refers to six other suspicious deaths in July 2004.

Composition: The term 'suspicious deaths' points towards mistreatment and the article features photographs of two people who have 'been arrested on suspicion of administering a poisonous substance'. However to balance this there is also a quote from a glowing report for the home.

"Al Qaeda chief admits plot to blow up Big Ben" - The Daily Mail
A terrorist has confessed to plots to blow up London landmarks.

Frequency: Obviously terrorism has been a big issue in the news for years and the man who is behind this 'masterminded the September 11 atrocities'.

Threshold: Londoners are always alert to the threat of terrorism and this is globally big news.

Negativity: In recent years there have been several news stories of both failed and successful terrorist plots and obviously it's always bad news to know that we're under threat.

"Tsvangirai tries to inspire opposition with his injuries" - The Independent
Zimbabwe's opposition leader speaks of being beaten by Robert Mugabe's police, and tries to inspire other's to join his struggle against the regime.

Frequency: The wider context of this specific story has been in the news for many years as in recent times Mugabe has attracted much criticism for alleged corruption.

Consonance: Due to this representation of Robert Mugabe this story would be likely to fit with the audiences expectations of what he is capable of

Reference to elite persons: Robert Mugabe is a well-known figure worldwide and stories of his actions would therefore be of interest due to his reputation for corruption

"95 Labour MPs say no. But Blair gets his missile" - The Guardian
The story of Parliements vote on sending billions to update nuclear armaments and Blair's Labour rebellion but Tory support

Threshold: This story is important not only in terms of the fact that incredible amounts of money are being spent on WMDs but also because Blair found support from the Tories, not his own party.

Meaningfulness: This lack of support from Labour suggests a weakness in government and that Blair is losing Labour support with this being the biggest Labour rebellion since 1997.

Reference to elite persons: Primeminister Tony Blair always makes big news with his descisions and conflicts within the government.

"COUNCIL TAX TO ROCKET" - Daily Express
Secret plans for rises in council taxes will be revealed next week.

Meaningfulness: This is important to peple across the nation due to everyone having to pay council tax.

Composition: This particular article in the Daily Express uses a number of emotive words such as 'plans to hammer millions of families with bigger council tax bills' and 'rattled ministers' which suggests that the intended meaning and stance of this text is clear.

Reference to elite persons: Gordon Brown is mentioned within the article. Supposedly the next Primeminister.

By Avinash and Alice