What is news value?
News value is the degree to which a story is worth publishing for journalists and their audience. Timeliness, relevance, impact, proximity, and a human angle determine that value. The higher the news value of your press release, the better the odds an editor picks it up.
Written by Timon Hendriks · Last updated on 12 July 2026
How it works in practice
Journalists weigh every story against a few classic criteria: is it new, does it affect many people, is it close to home, is there conflict or surprise, and is there a face to the story? You do not have to score on all of them, but without at least one strong element a story is not news. So read your own release through a newsroom's eyes first.
You can strengthen news value. Tie your story to current events or an upcoming moment, make abstract developments concrete through a customer or employee, and back claims with your own data where you can. What feels like big news to you, such as a renovation or an anniversary, only becomes news to an editor when it says something about a bigger movement.
Example
An accounting firm in Denver wants media attention. Its move to a new office interests no editor at all. The owner does notice many clients struggling with new rules for gig workers, and offers a regional paper a story on what those rules mean for local businesses. That story has real news value: timely, close to home, and relevant to many readers.
Common mistake
Confusing company news with news. A new website, an internal anniversary, or a move matters to you, but rarely to an outlet's audience. Ask what the reader gains from every story you send.
Frequently asked questions
Which factors determine news value?
The main ones are timeliness, impact, proximity, surprise, conflict, and human interest. The more of those elements your story carries, the more interesting it is to a newsroom.
Does my company news have news value?
Test it against the outlet's reader: do they learn something, does it affect them, does it surprise them? If not, look for the bigger trend or the human story behind your news.