News Story Review

This paper reviews two news stories from CNN and The Guardian on the recent case of ball tampering by Australian cricket players and the punishment dealt to them. The paper discusses the news value, unbiased journalism, and credibility of the newspapers. Both news stories address the public sentiment and are impartial in their addressing of the topic.

Running head: NEWS STORY REVIEW
News Story Review
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

1NEWS STORY REVIEW
The news event being addressed for this study is the recent case of ball tampering
conducted by three Australian players and the punishment dealt to them. Both the news
stories revolve around the unethical practices by the Australian players. The themes and
ideas that are relevant to the unit are the news value, unbiased journalism and credibility of
the newspaper1. Two news stories from CNN and The Guardian have been referred to for this
paper. However, both the reports addresses the same issue but from a different news angle.
One addresses the unethical practices conducted by the Australian players and the other is
much concerned about the future of the Australian cricket team. Both news stories address
the public sentiment and are impartial in their addressing of the topic.
The report from CNN addresses the issue that even though the Australian team is
famous for its groundbreaking performance, yet the recent scandal has severely impacted the
integrity of the Australian cricket team and asks whether it is the appropriate time to bring
about more strict changes regarding the punishment for unfair and unethical practices in the
sport2. The report from Guardian addresses the issue from the viewpoint of the Australian
sentiment and states how the ban imposed on the three accused players should be reduced,
according to the statement presented by the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) to the
Cricket Australia3. Both the news stories address the same topic, however they differ in the
perspective through which it would be viewed. One news story is impartial and covers both
1 Ward, Stephen JA. The invention of journalism ethics: The path to objectivity and beyond. Vol. 38. McGill-
Queen's Press-MQUP, (2015).
2 Theguardian.com, ACA Labels Ball Tampering Bans 'Disproportionate' And Calls For Reduction (2018) the
Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/03/aca-labels-ball-tampering-bans-disproportionate-and-
calls-for-reduction
3 Edition.cnn.com, CNN, After A Week Of Bad Headlines, Is It Time For A Reckoning Of Australian
Cricket? (2018) CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/30/sport/australian-cricket-reckoning-intl/index.html

2NEWS STORY REVIEW
public opinion and statements of the Australian cricket administration in its reporting while
the other in its reporting, states the emotional and sentimental turmoil that the Australian
cricket scenario is currently experiencing. Regardless, the CNN news story compiles public
reaction and statements in its report relating to the topic, but The Guardian’s news report is
only based on the ACA’s statements to the CA and their feelings and remarks regarding the
ban.
Both the news stories are based on recent and relevant information, which is unusual
in nature and are based on proven facts. The reporters too have been impartial and unbiased
in their reporting of the event. Cricket is a global sport, which finds its appeal among
individuals from all over the world. The Australian cricket team had always prided itself
being a dominant force in the sport. However, the recent acts committed by 3 renowned
players, involving the Captain and the Vice-Captain came as a shock and disgraceful act to
many. Therefore, the most relevant news value that can be considered for both news stories is
the value of impact4. The news stories are based on a event that had a great impact over the
global base of cricket fans, is negative in nature, based on an unexpected act and is not a
event which occurs frequently. Apart from this, the news story found a great appeal to the
worldwide audience and is easy to grasp as well. Thus, the consideration of all of these
characteristics, imply the presence of the impact value of news story5. Both news stories
somewhat present the same event and thus share the same news value but The Guardian’s
news story has a presence of human interest value as well.
The news article by the CNN compiles its report with the statements made by the
Australian Captain (now former) Steve Smith in the press conference, along with statements
4 Kovach, Bill, and Tom Rosenstiel. The elements of journalism: What newspeople should know and the public
should expect. Three Rivers Press (CA), (2014).
5 Iggers, Jeremy. Good news, bad news: Journalism ethics and the public interest. Routledge, (2018).

3NEWS STORY REVIEW
from the former Australian Prime Minister and a Network Ten cricket commentator. It also
reports the statements made by the former Australian cricket legends and cricket journalists
as well. The report from The Guardian is compiled only on the basis of the statements issued
by the ACA president, who spoke on behalf of the entire ACA. These resources play a
significant role in the journalist’s construction of the story since their reports are inclusive of
remarks from prominent sources of authority and relevance. A good news story is supposed
to include the opinions of individuals who are known to the public and are also in a suitable
position of power, making them more accurate, reliable and significant to the
audience/readers, and both of the news stories follow this rule in their reporting style6.
In recent times, the sources of news have grown in abundance. There is a rising trend
of printing news regarding the information gained from confidential or anonymous sources
and whistleblowers. The social media networks like Facebook and Twitter have become great
sources of news as well. However, the most reliable sources of news are considered to be the
following:-
 Press conferences
 Statements made by celebrities and politicians (or prominent and famous individuals)
 Press releases
 News published by the Associated Press
 Content posted on official and government websites
 Relevant files (can be later used as evidence)
At present, Twitter too can be considered a reliable source since news stories arise
from the tweets posted by the prominent people themselves, and can be checked later on7. All
6 Moore, Roy L., et al. Media Law and Ethics. Routledge, (2017).

4NEWS STORY REVIEW
of these above stated sources are considered believable by the people due to their assurance
of providing accurate information and facts.
Public sphere is a concept that states that the exchange and discussion of opinions
between two people may lead to the formation of a common judgment. A proper news story
is supposed to report the news in a manner that it affects the thought process of the reader and
generates an opinion in his head. The news story reported by CNN is related to public sphere
since it addresses the news in a way that is less in facts but is more based on the opinions of
people regarding the event that occurred. The news from The Guardian addresses the same
issues and affects the psychology of the reader. The reader may either feel outraged and form
an opinion that a more strict punishment should have been imparted, or he may form the
opinion that even though the players were found guilty, they are remorseful for their actions
and a long term ban would ruin their career as well as lives. However, after reading both the
news stories, one forms the judgment that the players were wrong in their actions and have
accepted their mistakes openly, along with receiving their punishment8. Thus, due to these
reasons, it can be said, that news media plays a public sphere role in the reporting of this
issue.
7 Peters, Chris, and Marcel Jeroen Broersma, eds. Rethinking journalism: Trust and participation in a
transformed news landscape. Routledge, (2013).
8 Foreman, Gene. The Ethical Journalist: Making Responsible Decisions in the Digital Age. John Wiley & Sons,
(2015).

5NEWS STORY REVIEW
References
Edition.cnn.com, CNN, After A Week Of Bad Headlines, Is It Time For A Reckoning Of
Australian Cricket? (2018) CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/30/sport/australian-cricket-
reckoning-intl/index.html
Foreman, Gene. The Ethical Journalist: Making Responsible Decisions in the Digital Age.
John Wiley & Sons, (2015).
Iggers, Jeremy. Good news, bad news: Journalism ethics and the public interest. Routledge,
(2018).
Kovach, Bill, and Tom Rosenstiel. The elements of journalism: What newspeople should
know and the public should expect. Three Rivers Press (CA), (2014).
Moore, Roy L., et al. Media Law and Ethics. Routledge, (2017).
Peters, Chris, and Marcel Jeroen Broersma, eds. Rethinking journalism: Trust and
participation in a transformed news landscape. Routledge, (2013).
Theguardian.com, ACA Labels Ball Tampering Bans 'Disproportionate' And Calls For
Reduction (2018) the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/03/aca-labels-
ball-tampering-bans-disproportionate-and-calls-for-reduction
Ward, Stephen JA. The invention of journalism ethics: The path to objectivity and beyond.
Vol. 38. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, (2015).