Elements of Mass Appeal

The more recent or pressing an event is, the more your readers or audience will engage with the updates and any new information surrounding the event.

For example, Iran Shoots Down U.S. Global Hawk Operating in International Airspace, shows how Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph T. Guastella Jr. held a timely news conference announcing Iran shooting down a U.S. Global Hawk operating in International airspace on June 20, 2019.

Ask yourself:

• How recent is the event?
• Why is it relevant now?

The prominence of a person, organization or issue will also help you determine whether the event will have mass appeal.

For example, DOD's Military Spouse Employment Partnership Reaches Milestone features a story celebrating a military spouse employment partnership program that will broadly appeal to military members and their families.

Ask yourself:

• Does the story involve a prominent person?
• Does this story apply to an important organization or issue in your community?

Knowing who is affected will help you determine the overall significance of your news piece. Present information that's important to the majority of your readers or audience.

For example, Want to Vote? The Federal Voting Assistance Program Can Help provides guidance for voting from anywhere in the world – an issue that affects a wide audience.

Ask yourself:

• Does the news affect a lot of people or just a few?
• Who is going to care?

The location of the story will help you identify a likely audience.

For example, Mark Esper's visit to Pensacola after a mass shooting incident was all the more newsworthy because he came to comfort a grieving community.

Ask yourself:

• Where does an event occur?
• Based on location, is the event in the story relevant to your audience?

Unusual or uncommon angles can elevate your story and expand your overall appeal, especially when the story has jaw-dropping details.

For example, Maybe the Toughest Man Alive tells how retired Navy SEAL David Goggins shed fear and 100 pounds to conquer Hell Week.

Ask yourself:

• Does the story have an angle that’s out of the ordinary?

The overall impact of a story helps to determine its newsworthiness. The audience size, significance of the story and long-term effect are all factors to consider.

Trump Signs Law Establishing U.S. Space Force gives readers the newsworthiness trifecta of impact, excitement and longevity from the creation of a new armed service.

Ask yourself:

• How many people are impacted?
• What is the area of the impact?
• How long will this impact last?

Little else tugs at heartstrings and emotions like a human interest story. These give inspirational and aspirational perspectives that connect to local and global audiences.

Esper Commemorates Battle of the Bulge at Ceremony in Luxembourg shares former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper's moving account of the tenacity of soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge, many of whom were in attendance.

Ask yourself:

• Does the story employ emotion from the audience or make them want to get involved?
• Can the story get an emotional reaction?

Conflict is a human condition, so stories that address conflict (whether or not a resolution is clear) will have mass appeal. Conflict does not always need to be about war.

In Army Anti-Terrorism Technology Helps Pinpoint COVID-19 Cases, we learn more about anti-terrorism technology being repurposed to track the spread of COVID-19.

Ask yourself:

• Does the story involve conflict?