What makes it into the news: A close look at how news sources at 6PR and 720 ABC radio influence news selection

One of the roles of journalists today is to select the newsworthy stories from the endless amount of information which flows into their media organisation\u27s newsroom. So, what is news and how do journalists decide what makes it and what docs not, in the news each day? Past and present research on this topic has thus far attempted to provide a formula, or consistent approach to the news selection process. To date, these newsroom studies have often been based at an international level, with results primarily originating from interviews with journalists themselves. This suggests that there are still many aspects of the news selection process and in particular, with reference to the broadcast media, that need to be further examined. This thesis is based on an observational study of the daily newsroom operations and news selection processes at two local radio stations in Perth, Western Australia. The broadcasters selected tor this research project were: the commercially owned 6PR (882), and the government funded 720 ABC radio. The influence of pre-determined news sources- such as on-line services, overseas correspondents, network reporters and local reporters - on the news selection processes at t:1e respective radio stations, was the central theme explored in this study