3-D Disney and the Planned Parenthood Hoax: What Makes a Story Good?

Posted on by Kiara Bunting

A good story is most often one that shocks an audience into not only clicking on the headline, but reading through, amazed by the presentation of facts. This is not to say an ongoing story can’t be exciting, if new information arises within a news story it can change the entire dynamic of the story and intrigue old audiences as well as new. Most often stories are considered good because they appear on opposite ends of the spectrum. They are either terrifyingly gruesome or tell a story of someone/something conquering insurmountable odds and provide audiences with an uplifting break from their day-to-day lives. Another way type of story that is good is the very unusual story that is so ridiculous it’s laughable, but still intrigues audiences. Examples of each of these kinds of “good” stories can be found all throughout social media.

 

Here’s an example of one story so ridiculous it jolts audiences into paying attention. It’s quick and doesn’t seem like actual “news,” but it’s a good story because it’s one audiences haven’t heard before. This story likely won’t be ongoing with any further developments (aside from maybe a resolution between the husband and wife) but it’s something that holds the audience’s attention for the necessary amount of time.

Unlike these unusual stories, there is staying power in ongoing plots with constant developments, that attract readers who are invested in the positive resolution they hope is just on the horizon. One example is the Planned Parenthood video hoax, which attracted readers both pro-choice and “pro-life.” News sources unearth new information and opinions on the videos consistently, which provides the opportunity for existing readers to engage and share the information with new readers. The news surprises audiences who believed the video was undistorted and gave new hope to those who support Planned Parenthood and were concerned when the original video was posted. A good story usually pulls audiences back and forth, leaving them a little unsure of where the next headline lies.

Finally, a good story can be about new developments and build engagement founded purely in curiosity. Unlike the ridiculous story previously, these stories carry substance and provide a glimpse into the constant development of things like technology and science. This kind of story reminds audiences that there is constant room for development and excites them, encouraging them to share the story with friends and family to surprise them as well. This article about Disney’s newest development in creativity and technology is a perfect example of this type of story- drawing not just parents interested in the technology for their children, but everyone who was once a child and remembers coloring in their (now dated) coloring books sans a 3-D option.

There’s no definitive aspect of a “good” story that maintains through time and location. However, all good stories intrigue the audiences they target by providing information that impacts their life in some way, in a timely manner.

-Kiara Bunting

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