Today’s kind of journalism
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Transcript of Today’s kind of journalism
TODAY’S KIND OF JOURNALISMAdapted from Reporting Processes and Practices: Newswriting for Today’s ReadersEverette E. Dennis & Arnold H. Ismach[1981, Wadsworth Publishing Company, California, USA.]
THE ESSENCE OF JOURNALISM FOR ALL TIMES IS PRODUCING INTERESTING AND COMPELLING STORIES
THAT ESSENCE HAS NOT CHANGED, BUT SOMETHING HAS, AND THAT IS THE READERS, LISTENERS AND VIEWERS
THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT TO NEW DEFINITIONS OF NEWS DUE TO THE CHANGING AUDIENCE
MAJOR STORIES TODAY ARE “LIFE-AND-DEATH” ISSUES, TRENDS AND IDEAS
NEWSPAPER ARE ALSO REGULARLY PRODUCING SPECIAL SECTIONS SUCH AS “STYLE”, “SCENE”, “PEOPLE”, LIFESTYLE”, ETC.
TODAY’S NEWS STORIES ARE FOCUSED ON PEOPLE CONCERNS SUCH AS HOBBIES, THE ARTS, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION, FAMILY LIVING, DIET, FASHION, TRAVEL, ETC.
NEWS STORIES NOW EMBRACE SUBJECTS ONCE CONSIDERED ILLEGITIMATE BY JOURNALISTS
NOT ONLY HAS THERE BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL MOVE TOWARD NEW TOPICS, BUT ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A PARALLEL SHIFT TOWARD NEW WRITING FORMATS AND STYLES
THE INTERPRETIVE STORY, IN WHICH READERS ARE TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED, WHAT IT MEANS, AND WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN NEXT, HAS BECOME COMMON PLACE
THE ROLE OF THE REPORTER TODAY
… must not only be able to cover traditional public affairs news with competence, but must now recognize their personal relevance
… must be able to make complex situations and subjects simple
… must know their audiences well in order to select appropriate topics so readers interests would be compelled
… must become experts on specialized subjects and topics
…. must understand and translate the jargon of bureaucracy, the corporation, the workplace and laboratory into every day language
THE GENERALIST OF YESTERDAY HAS A VALUABLE, BUT MORE LIMITED ROLE, IN TODAY’S NEWSROOM
TODAY’S KIND OF JOURNALISM IS FOCUSED ON CONTENT MORE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE LIVES OF THE AUDIENCE, AND A STYLE OF PRESENTATION THAT IS EASIER TO ABSORB AND COMPREHEND
THE ROLE OF THE NEWSPAPER
To inform readers objectively about what is happening in the community, country and the world
To comment on the news in order to bring these developments into focus
To provide a means whereby persons with goods and services to sell can advertise there wares
HAROLD LASSWELL’S SUGGESTIONS
Surveillance of the environment
Correlation [interpretation] of the parts of society
Transmission of the social heritage from generation to generation [socialization]
A NEW KIND OF JOURNALISM HAS EMERGED TODAY, MAKING NEWS REPORTING MORE THAN A PASSIVE RECORDER OF EVENTS
JOURNALISM IS BRANCHING OUT TO IDENTIFY TRENDS AS THEY DEVELOP, TO INVESTIGATE THE HUMAN CONDITION, TO EXAMINE THINGS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE – IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS, BEDROOMS AND WORKPLACES
TODAY’S KIND OF JOURNALISM HAS BEEN A REVOLUTIONARY SHIFT FROM YESTERDAY’S
THE NEWSPAPER’S ROLE TODAY IS TO PROVIDE “ENOUGH INFORMATION TO ENABLE READERS TO FORM REASONABLE JUDGMENTS, AND TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF CONTEXT”.
TODAY’S REPORTER MUST BE PART RESEARCHER AND PART AUTHORITY ON THE SUBJECT MATTER BEING COVERED
ALMOST ALL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS NOW RECRUIT UNIVERSITY GRADUATES ONLY
MANY REPORTERS ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS IN DIVERSE FIELDS
THE STUDENT-JOURNALIST SHOULD THEREFORE FOCUS ON THESE….
Developing research skills
Polishing writing skills
Recognizing audience needs and interests
Converting knowledge into stories that adapt to needs and interests of a considerable number of people
Gaining knowledge in depth in one or more fields of study such as economics, business, science, the arts, sports, entertainment, fashion, environment, politics, etc.
JIMI KAYODEMAC 203 FOUNDATIONS OF NEWSREPORTING