Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based News
Part Twenty
The initial nineteen news columns in this series focused on aspects of how news is presented today to the American people – the types of journalism, techniques utilized to deliver the news, and a variety of other details of today's journalism.
The next set of news columns in this series will focus on how Zero-Based News could be implemented by the news media.
"Truth Is A Series Of Facts Put In Context" has been the motto used by me for years.
Zero-Based News is a structured system designed to put that motto into practice.
Zero-Based News is designed to be proactive as much as possible. There will always be a need for reactive activities in the news media, but those activities should be minimized.
The first step is to get a plain piece of white paper. If preferred, the piece of paper could be light yellow or light blue or another color. Whatever hue chosen, it should be blank.
A series of questions needs to be answered by individuals and entities in the news media to form the basis of Zero-Based News.
The first question to answer is:
"Who is the current audience?"
As the answer to that question is contemplated, the following questions for individuals and entities in the news media to answer are:
"Is the current audience the audience you want to serve?"
"What is the audience you want to serve?
"Do you have the capacity – skills and abilities, financial strength, and other aspects – to serve that audience?
With answers to those four questions, the fifth question is:
"Who is the audience?"
The audience should be a specific group or groups of people.
The group or groups could be based on geography, on common interests, on demographics, or other categories.
The group or groups could be based on those who produce the news coverage.
The group or groups could be based on who consumes the news coverage – the readers, the viewers, and/or the listeners.
The group or groups could be based on who funds the news coverage.
It may appear that the answers to these questions are obvious, and they may very well be obvious. But spend some time considering these questions.
The answer to that last question – "Who is the audience?" – is likely going to be the most critical aspect for individuals and entities in the news media to implement Zero-Based News.
From the answer, every other aspect of the news operation will flow.
With that critical question answered, there will be five additional questions for individuals and entities in the news media to answer:
"What news forms the base of information for the audience?"
"What news needs to be reported to the audience?"
"What news is wanted by the audience?"
"What news brings smiles to the audience?"
"When are follow-ups to previous news needed to update the audience?"
In the coming weeks, the news columns in this series will focus on details to answer each of those questions. With those details, Zero-Based News could be implemented by individuals and entities in the news media.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2025 Richard McDonough
