Public interest (in journalism)
Public interest is whether a story concerns matters society needs to know about; it is the decisive test in most removal requests.
How it is assessed
Importance to society, the person's public role, timeliness, factual basis and proportionate language.
It changes over time
A story in the public interest today may not weigh the same years later; right to be forgotten requests rest on this.
Frequently asked questions
Does fame make every story public interest?
No; private life stories may not serve the public interest even for celebrities.