The 5 Cs of News
Professor Helio Garcia classified five things that journalists find interesting, which he calls the “5C’s of News. He states that nearly all news reports have some element of
1. Conflict: A dispute or struggle between two or more sides—the central element of storytelling, since before David versus Goliath.
2. Contradiction: Juxtaposition of unlike elements, such as: “Man bites dog;” “You might think ... but actually ...;” “The rise and fall of ...”
3. Controversy: A connection with a topic already in the news.
4. Colorful Language: Language that is short, pithy, and vivid.
5. Cast of Characters: Individuals in often-exaggerated roles: The hero, the villain, the expert, the everyman.
Students are encouraged to pay attention to how these 5Cs manifest in the news and to ask themselves: what types or whose kinds of stories are not told because they do not meet the 5Cs?
Nate Walker is the author of this solution article.
Did you find it helpful? Yes No
