Journal Entry #4 - What is Newsworthy?

Hundreds Killed In Somalia's Deadliest Single Attack Ever

Timing - 4/4
This is a news story that is relevant to what is going on in our world today.  There has been many, many attacks over the past year and this is an update on the latest one that has happened in Somalia.  I gave the timing of this news story a 4/4, because it was done up immediately after it happened.

Significance - 4/4
There are 276 people dead due to this attack, and an additional 300 injured.  These two numbers are very significant.  The news article also states that it was "the most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in Somalia."  All of this information grabs the attention of people all over the world, which is why I gave the significance a 4/4.

Proximity - 2/4
The geographical proximity of this story is not close for a Canadian reader, however, that does not mean Canadians cannot relate to it.  Attacks are happening all over the world, including in Canada, so Canadians can try and understand what the people in Somalia are feeling.  I gave it a 2/4, because although it is not geographically close, we Canadians, can relate to it.

Prominence - 3/4
Although there were many people killed, and many people injured in this Attack, very few of these people are known.  Mostly all of these people remain unnamed, which is why I gave it a lower mark.  Even though people all over the world are paying attention to what happened, they do not know of the people who were involved, they only know numbers.

Human Interest - 4/4
I am giving the human interest of this story a 4/4, because there has been many attacks in our world and people are interested in what is happening everywhere.  If there is an attack anywhere, people on the other side of the world are interested in the details.


Canadian and American hostages in Afghanistan rescued from Taliban-linked group

Timing - 4/4
I gave the timing of this story a 4/4 because it has just recently happened and people are still reading and hearing about it.  It remains in the public eye, and like the previous article, it is relevant to today's world.

Significance - 4/4
I gave the significance of this story a 4/4 because the details in it are very significant.  It informs us that a Canadian man, his American wife, and their three young children were rescued from a Taiban-linked group.  The fact that it was a Canadian-American family is very significant, and the fact that it was a Taliban-linked group is also very significant.

Proximity - 3/4
Although this did not happen geographically close to Canada, Canadians were involved.  This gives Canadians a connection with the story.

Prominence - 3/4
This story does have prominence because the people involved are named.  However, few people would have known of these people, which is why I gave it a 3/4.  Even though these people will now be well known around the world, especially in Canada and the U.S.A, they were not heard of all over the world before this.

Human Interest - 4/4
I gave the human interest of this story a 4/4 because it grabs the readers attention fast.  People want to know why they were held hostage, and how it happened.  They want to know all the details.