In the attempt to examine motivations for the interpersonal diffusion of news events, two sets of data were collected. First, 82 college students completed an open-ended survey regarding their reasons for passing on news events; second, another 200 college students were given the list of reasons previously compiled and were asked to rate their motivational importance. Results showed that interpersonal diffusion appears to be a selective, goal-oriented phenomenon; that it results from a variety of divergent need states, including requirements for social status, information, catharsis, and social contact; and that altruistic motivations are central in initiating the interpersonal diffusion process. Five potential sources of invalidity and limitations on the extent that these results can be generalized are presented, and four tables of research results are appended. (CC)