Why the news assumes you already know the story

Open a news story and it often starts in the middle. A minister has responded. A court has overturned a ruling. Talks have resumed.

If you already know what happened before, this makes sense. If you don't, you have to catch up.

Why does this happen?

Journalists focus on what has just changed. That is their job. But the newest fact is not always what a reader needs first.

A story about peace talks might not explain why two countries are fighting. A report on interest rates might not explain what interest rates actually do.

The story itself is new. The background knowledge needed to understand it usually isn't.

Why is this hard for readers?

People bring different knowledge to a story. Someone who has followed it for months may understand it straight away. Someone reading about it for the first time may not.

Memory can also change over time. Something that made sense yesterday may be hard to recall today.

A story should not become confusing just because the reader missed an earlier part, or cannot remember it now.

Does that mean explaining everything from the start?

No. Most stories only need a little background.

One sentence can explain who someone is. A short paragraph can explain why two countries are in conflict. An organisation's full name can be given before a shorter version is used.

The real question is: what does the reader need to know to understand what is happening right now?

Too much background can distract from the story. Too little leaves gaps.

Is this only an issue for people with dementia?

No. Most people have opened a news story and felt lost because they missed the original report or the subject was new to them.

Good journalism is meant to explain the world. It works best when readers do not need to do homework first.

How The Clear Weekly handles this

Every story should be able to stand on its own.

We introduce the key people, explain what happened before and explain unfamiliar terms before moving on to what is new.

Readers who already know the background can move through it quickly. Readers who don't, can still understand the story.

You shouldn't have to read yesterday's news to understand today's.