Wikipedia:Notability (news events):
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The following is a proposed Wikipedia policy, guideline, or process.
The proposal may still be in development, under discussion, or in the process of gathering consensus for adoption. Thus references or links to this page should not describe it as "policy". |
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This page in a nutshell:
- A news event is notable if it receives significant, continual coverage in sources with national or global scope.
- Local news stories are rarely notable, and only if their coverage demonstrates prime importance.
- While the names of people whose notability is associated with one event shall redirect to the respective event, local events involving a notable person shall be described in the article on the person.
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Generally, an item is notable if it has coverage in multiple sources independent of the topic itself. With news, however, determining notability can be a little more tricky. News articles by definition are reliable sources. All agree that major, earth-shattering events like the September 11 attacks or Hurricane Katrina are notable. At the same time, all agree that not every crime or fire in every city and town reported on three of its local news stations and in the local paper are notable. As for events whose level of importance is somewhere in between, drawing the line is not always so easy.
[edit] Local events
A news event reported by the media only within the immediate region is generally not notable, and does not justify an article, regardless of the number of reliable sources that can be provided.
In some cases, an event that has received ongoing coverage for a period of time within a region and has been the "talk of the town" (such as a crime spree, a political controversy or scandal, or a public works project) may be notable. Nevertheless, if this involves a particular person, company, organization, or anything else with an existing article, and inclusion of this event in that article would not make it too large, it is preferred to describe the event within that article.
[edit] National/International events
A national or international news event must have some degree of ongoing coverage in order to be notable. It must go beyond trivial. Events that are reported in national or international news for one day only, such as those for the purpose of being an "amusing" story, and are quickly forgotten, are not notable.
- Further information: Wikipedia:Notability (criminal acts)
[edit] Disasters
Natural disasters are only notable if they significantly affect the region which they strike, resulting in heavily-reported death or damage. Not every earthquake, storm, or meteorite landing that destroys just a few houses can be worthy of an article.
[edit] Breakthroughs
Breakthroughs are not notable enough to have their own article unless they are world-changing events (such as a cure or AIDS). It is preferable they are described within another article on a related topic (such as a disease for which they may be a cure).
[edit] Product recalls
Product recalls are generally not notable. An unusually large recall that impacts society at large occurs, it may be described in the article about the product if one exists (such as an automobile model), or if no article on the product exists, but one on the manufacturer does, it may be described in the article on the manufacturer. If no article on the product or its manufacturer exists, it is not likely to be notable.
[edit] Market volatility
In general, periods of heightened market volatility are not notable unless there is a substantial and sustained reaction from notable individuals. For instance, this reaction could be characterized as significant commentary or actions by regulatory authorities, industry leaders or politicians.
[edit] Individual stories
Many stories about the lives of events within the lives of one or a few individuals are told within newspaper columns, magazines, in published books, or on TV news broadcasts or programs. These stories, which include many cover stories, are told not to show the individual's fame but rather to highlight an example of a circumstance or situation that affects many other people. Such stories do not bring notability to the particular event or any of the people within it. But in some cases, if fitting, these stories may be summarized within another article on a broader topic.
[edit] Amusement stories
"Amusement" stories that appear on in type of news (local, national, or international) are not notable. An amusement story is one that is told by a media outlet to draw attention to itself or to be "catchy," but that has little or no impact on the world or on any significant group in the population.
Some examples of amusement stories may be a car crashing into someone's house, or the sighting of an animal in an unsual place.
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