Lesson 1: What Makes News PDF

S outh Lesson 1: WHAT MAKES NEWS? NEWS - a report about recent happenings in a newspaper, television , radio or internet. A. D.DEFINITION OF...

S outh Lesson 1: WHAT MAKES NEWS? NEWS - a report about recent happenings in a newspaper, television , radio or internet. A. D.DEFINITION OF NEWS - News is something that is not known earlier. News - normally a news story deals with a - news as a development that has person, place or thing. happened in the past 24 hours which was not known outside and which is of New - York herald Tribune said wide interest to the people and that “ News is the inexact measure… of the ebb and which generates curiosity among flow of the tides of human aspiration, the listeners. ignominy (shame) of mankind and the glory of the human race… the best record we have of WHAT IS NEWS AND WHAT MAKES NEWS? the incredible meanness (cruelty) and the - weather reports in the newspapers. significant courage of man.” - It gives the day’s temperature or rainfall. It does not make news. Lyle Spencer of the Syracuse University defined It becomes news when there is a sudden news as change in weather, or when heavy rains lead to “any event, idea, or opinion that is timely, that floods or when continuous absence of rain interests and affects a large number of persons leads to drought. in the community and that is capable of being - So information is different from news. understood by them” - News should give something new to the readers, viewers or listeners. Mitchell Charnley said” tomorrow’s history done up in today’s neat package” It is generally said that if a news report provides answers to six questions, then it is a perfect Gay Touchman said” news presents to the news item. society a mirror of its concerns and interest.” - These six questions include five Ws and one H. The five Ws are When? Where? Melven Mencher said “A break from the normal What ? Why? and Who?.The H is How? flow of events, an interpretation on the expected.” It is said that the letters in the word “NEWS” is derived from the four directions as indicated B. NEWS VALUES AND QUALITIES below: N orth 1. Impact of an event decides its E ast newsworthiness. W est  - When the tsunami waves struck several C. ATTRIBUTES OR ELEMENTS OF parts of the world, thousands of people NEWS were affected. It became major news for the whole world. 1. Timeliness- The synonym is timeliness. It 2. Controversy: People like controversies. means unfolding the event on time. Anything that is connected with conflicts, arguments, charges and counter-charges, fights News is highly perishable; journalist should and tension becomes news. report an event immediately. To provide news around the clock 3. Currency: News is about current events. The wire services cover events as they develop Suppose the Olympic Games held in FRANCE and use the adverb “today” in their dispatch (GOLDEN BOY) Due to time lag in printing, newspaper stories are mostly dated “yesterday” 4. Prominence: If a prominent person is involved in any event, it becomes news. 2. Proximity means the nearness of the event to If an ordinary person’s car breaks down and he the intended readers. has to wait for ten minutes on the roadside till the vehicle is repaired it makes no news. But 3. Prominence refers to both people and place. if the President's car breaks down and his motorcade has to stop for five minutes it People hold position in the government or big becomes news. corporation become news makers 5. Emotion: Stories of human interest make 4. Significance- This attribute of news does not good news items. only refers to the event but also to its For e.g. The police rescue a school boy after-effect on the people. kidnapped by mischief makers after a search of two weeks. The parents meet the boy in an emotionally surcharged atmosphere. D. NEWS CATEGORIES 6. Educational value: 1. Novelty News has also an educational value. In almost 2. Personal impact all newspapers, you can find columns about 3. local news educational and job opportunities. 4. money These guide you about different educational 5. crime and punishment courses, career options available, opportunities 6. sex for higher studies etc. These news items help 7. conflicts you become more knowledgeable 8. religion 9. disasters and tragedies 10. humor 11. human interest  12. the underdog 13. mystery 4. Fairness & Balance 14. health - achieved by ensuring that both sides of a 15. science story are addressed and receive equal 16. entertainment coverage. 17. famous people - Journalists should never take one 18. weather person’s version of events at face value. 19. food and drinks - include a disclaimer in the story 20. group stories 5. Inverted Pyramid - Journalistic writing is most often written in a format called the Inverted Pyramid, E. HALLMARK OF JOURNALISTIC WRITING which arranges the information in descending order of importance, or 1. Simplicity & Brevity newsworthiness - Ensuring that your work encompasses the most important information accurately and honestly. - The longer a sentence is, the more difficult it is to understand. 2. Precision - means that each word should be used as it was intended by its original “dictionary” meaning. - Meanings often evolve over time, but in journalistic writing, we stay true to the book. There should also be no slang or abbreviations. 3. Objectivity & Factual - means the absence of personal opinion. A journalist’s writing should be based on F. QUALITIES OF GOOD WRITING (BRETTE facts, observations, and interviews with ATWOOD) expert sources, or those knowledgeable of the issue. 1. Short Paragraphs - Write in third person (he, she, they), not - easier to read in small mobile first person (I, me, my, our, we), to stay device removed from the story in order to be fully objective.  - look better when typeset into a - Use comma with semicolon when long, skinny column in a dividing complicated materials newspaper 7. Beware of Exclamation Point 2. Develop strong ideas - Use Exclamation Point sparingly - Develop strong leads - Period and question mark will be - Examine the story from all angels sufficient - Revise and rewrite - Do an “AP style” check 8. Use the hyphen symbol correctly. Example 3. Remember K.I.S.S (“Keep it short and - 13-year-old girl simple”) - 30-second commercial - Avoid tangled sentences - One-minute break - Do not show off “big words” (a long, difficult word, or a word that 9. Use figures for number 10 and above unless expresses a serious or important - You are money, age, dates, etc. idea) 10. When quoting a source 4. Use active voice - make sure that the quotation marks are - Uses a subject-verb-object placed outside the other punctuation. Example Active: Joe Smith wrote the book. 11. Writing Tight Sentences Passive: the book was written by Joe - Do not repeat key words in the same Smith sentence Example: 5. Spell Check your work “The University of Hawaii students have been - Everyone makes spelling mistakes attending University events…” - Use computer technology to check your spelling 12. When writing about the current date - do not use the year. It’s obvious. 6. Proper Noun - In reporting, you get the name of the 13. When dealing with money individual or business. - Omit the decimal point when the amount - Many well-known business are is even – commonly misspelled Example: $25 not $25.00 7. Use comma and semicolon correctly - comma is used to separate items in 14. In writing amounts with many zeros series just before “and”. - use the word “million,” “billion,” etc. 15. The use of Said vs. Says - a skilled writer could help set you apart - Use “said,” NOT “says” in interviews and and allow you to establish yourself within quotes the field - Use “says” when referring to a printed - The type of journalism you are interested document or sign in, your writing style and tone will vary. - - Knowledge of grammar and punctuation, 16. Other common mistakes accuracy, and the ability to simplify - “In regard to…” NOT “In regards to…” information in a digestible manner within - “Toward” NOT “Towards” “Often…” NOT your writing is a necessity for all “Often times…” journalists. - “Try to…” NOT “Try and…” 5. Creativity - means being able to come up with interesting and compelling stories, find TRAITS OF A GOOD WRITER (MELINA unique angles to existing topics, present THEODOROU) information in an engaging manner, and capture your audience through your 1. Attention to Details approach to a subject. - ability to notice the details that others may overlook 6. Digital literacy - encompasses the most important - Means that you can utilize digital information accurately and honestly technologies, including social media and online platforms, safely and responsibly. 2. Research skills - allows them to find, analyze and evaluate - excellent research skills entails being sources and information they come able to find and select reliable resources, across online. evaluate the data you have gathered, and render all of this information in a 7. Interpersonal Skills comprehensive and attractive way for - allow journalist to build strong your audience. relationships and form solid connections with everyone you work with. 3. Ethical awareness - indicate that journalists are a good - This means that your work should always communicators who can effectively be fair, accurate, objective and honest, interact with others. as well as clear of any personal biases that may influence your reporting. 8. Persistence - Means to press on to complete the 4. Writing Skills assignment.  - Prepared to face the challenges that you may meet along the way, and find the News reporters determination to keep moving forward - sometimes require the use of copyright material, such as … 9. Confidence - short textual extracts - To trust one’s self - clips from video footage, to report current - something that journalists build gradually events. as you gain more experience in the field, but boldness and self-assurance will be essential as There is an exception to copyright for news you take your first steps, too. reporting - allows reporters to make use of others’ 10. Curiosity work under certain circumstances - Every journalist is must have the natural curiosity for diverse topics. - Throughout your professional journey, REPORTERS MAY USE COPYRIGHT you will be required to report on MATERIALS to provide information to the public numerous stories about a myriad of in relation to the respective events. subjects, and you will need to find the best way to make them compelling to allowed under the following conditions: your audience. 1) The material used is not a photograph 2) The purpose is really for reporting current events NEWS REPORTING 3) The use of the material is fair - a process of gathering and presenting 3) The use of the material is accompanied by 'unknown or less- known matters of sufficient acknowledgement public interest, which may be collectively termed as the NEWS, to the periphery of the public acquaintance. CRITERIA NEEDED FOR USING THE EXCEPTION WHAT IS A NEWSPAPER REPORT? 1. You cannot use photographs protected - a news story that's found in a newspaper. under copyright for reporting current - Its purpose is to provide the readers with events without obtaining the permission information about what's happening in of the respective copyright owner. the society/ world. - The exception applies to use of all - newspaper report will usually focus on a other types of copyright materials, specific event that has just happened. but not photographs - exception is not limited to any NEWS REPORTING (SMITA KHERIA) particular type of event  - extend to a wide array of current - A substantial amount of the events no matter whether they are material can be used provided that related to it is not excessive and only what is - Politics needed to report the current event - popular culture is used. - Sports - excessive amount or the most - natural phenomena, and so on. important parts of the material are used to further commercial 2. The event itself must be current. interest What constitutes a current event ? - is interpreted liberally. It includes 4) The use of material is accompanied by - recent occurrences sufficient acknowledgement. - in the sense of recent in time - An acknowledgement is to identify - are of real interest to the public. It also the creator of the work and the includes title of the material. - past events if they continue to be matters - It is the author who should be of legitimate and continuing public identified and not the owner of the interest. copyright. 3. You can use copyright material for the purpose of reporting current events provided your use of material is fair. 1) Are you really using copyright material to report on current events or are you pursuing another purpose? 2) Has the material that you want to use already been published or disclosed to the public? - There is some legitimate and continuing public interest in making such use. - ask yourself: Is it really necessary to use the previously undisclosed copyright material for the purpose of reporting the current event? 3) What is the amount of copyright material used and what is its importance?  3. sources often have agendas of their own LESSON 2: GATHERING and seek to promote them by gaining INFORMATION media attention. “ A. SOURCES OF NEWS SOURCING The practice of sourcing can also be thought The term ‘news source’ refers to any about as an exchange of power. Person - The journalist-source relationship can be Organization adversarial as well as mutually beneficial. Document, - Conversely, a journalist may receive Object that provides information to journalists. public acclaim for producing a story that - may include the spokesperson for an details a previous source’s dishonesty. international aid group, an academic, or a regular citizen who witnessed an event. - It may also include press releases, court THE NEGOTIATION OF POWER filings, reports published by interest is further implicated by notions of reputation and groups, or datasets produced by authority. government agencies. - Journalists are more likely to receive access to sources and cooperation from SOURCES ARE CRUCIAL TO JOURNALISM them if the journalist (or the organization they work for) is perceived to be 1. Journalists cannot observe everything prestigious, or if they have access to an first-hand. audience of interest to the source. 2. Journalists lack expertise in certain matters, and they must therefore speak with an expert source. POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY 3. Sources are sometimes the center of a story, Scholars have found that individuals who as with the head of a government agency who occupy positions of authority are more likely to is alleged to have engaged in corrupt acts and have their versions of ‘truth’ be more readily should be given a chance to respond to the accepted both by journalists and news allegations. audiences. - Conversely, those who are seen or RELATIONSHIP IS NOT UNIDIRECTIONAL treated as ‘outsiders’ or ‘underdogs’ are typically not taken as seriously. 1. sources often depend on journalists to spread their views. 2. sources gain legitimacy by being GROWING POLARIZATION featured in respected news media. Powerful individuals are simultaneously more likely to have their version of ‘truth’ readily accepted by one group and readily rejected by Beat reporting is a specialized form of another. journalism where a reporter covers a particular - Apparent existence of a hierarchy of subject or "beat" on a consistent and ongoing credibility points to a journalistic bias to basis. be more deferential to institutional - A beat can encompass a wide range of sources like police officers, military topics, such as politics, education, commanders, and other government healthcare, technology, entertainment, officials sports, or any other area of interest. Scholars have also found that journalistic trust The primary goal of beat reporting is to provide in institutional structures can vary considerably in-depth and comprehensive coverage of a across countries. specific area, becoming an expert in that field and keeping the audience informed about the latest developments, trends, and issues within that beat. CONGRUENCE AND AVAILABILITY Sourcing practices aren’t defined solely by 1. Expertise Development: power structures, though. Journalists and their Focusing on a specific beat allows you to sources are human beings, and they are thus develop in-depth knowledge and subject to a range of human biases. expertise in that subject area. Over - One particularly important bias is time…. become a recognized authority in homophily, or the tendency of individuals your field, which can enhance your to associate and bond with people who credibility and reputation as a journalist. are similar to them. In the context of journalist-source relations… 2. Source Building: As you continue to cover a beat… naturally build a network of sources and NEWS AND THE NEWS contacts within that field. These “news” be used colloquially in reference to a relationships can provide valuable particular way of conveying novel information insights and access to information, about recent affairs, and “the news” as some making your reporting more monolithic aggregation of it. comprehensive and accurate. 3. Consistency: Reporting on a beat regularly allows a journalist to maintain a consistent output B. BEAT SYSTEM (TAWQEER of content in your chosen area. This HUSSAIN) consistency can help you build a dedicated readership or viewership.  Journalists often transition to different beats or 4. Career Advancement: expand their coverage areas as their careers Specializing in a beat can open doors to more progress, but starting with a beat provides a senior and prestigious journalism roles. It can solid foundation. lead to opportunities for advancement, such as becoming an editor, senior correspondent, or a subject matter expert. 3 DANGERS OF NEWS BEATS (SUNIL SAXENA) 5. Job Opportunities: Many journalism positions, particularly those in 1. Complacency: investigative or in-depth reporting, prefer A major danger of beat reporting is that a candidates with specific beat experience. reporter may become too complacent. He Expertise can make a journalist more attractive knows where to get his information, and when. candidate for job opportunities. The excitement and challenge of cultivating sources and digging up information dies down 6. Story Ideas: after the first few months. A reporter starts Immersion in a beat often leads to a continuous taking things for granted. flow of story ideas. Will make a journalist to be a better equipped to spot emerging trends, 2. Excessive familiarization: uncover unique angles, and deliver meaningful Another disadvantage of beat reporting is that stories to his audience. the reporter may come too close to a source, and may avoid doing stories that may hurt the 7. Audience Engagement: source. This is one situation that no editor A well-executed beat can lead to a dedicated should allow. They should step in immediately audience interested in their work. This can and change the beat. result in higher audience engagement, which is increasingly important in modern journalism. 3. Source becomes the control: Sometimes, the sources start taking advantage 8. Personal Satisfaction: of their relationship with the reporter. It is for the If journalists have a strong interest or passion reporter to change things. One way to do this is for a particular subject, beat reporting allows to start giving more space to rival sources. them to explore and report on topics that Another way is to start asking difficult questions genuinely interest them. This can lead to – albeit in a friendly manner. This will make the greater personal satisfaction in their journalism sources realise that they cannot take the career. reporter for granted. They will be more alert, and ready to go the extra mile to keep the 9. Versatility: relationship going. While choosing a beat early can be advantageous, it doesn't mean journalists locked into that subject matter forever. HOW TO COVER A BEAT: 3. Business Beat: The business beat includes news updates about 1. Be prepared the business world, companies, industries, and - Research background and talk to the economy. sources - Business journalists report on corporate earnings, stock market trends, and 2. Be alert economic policies. - Know who will benefit from coverage 4. Entertainment Beat: - Note who is for and against it The entertainment beat is the most fun and interesting one, with trending movies and 3. Be persistent upcoming entertainment events. - Insist on clear answers - Entertainment journalists report on - Follow-up slow developments celebrity gossip, movie reviews, and behind-the-scenes stories. 4. Be there - No substitute for personal contact 5. Sports Beat: The Sports Beat exhibits news related to sports 5. Be accurate and athletics. Sports journalists report on - Reflective listen and clarify games, events, and athletes, as well as the business behind sports. 6. Be wary - You are a reporter, not a 6. Science and technology beat: participant The science and technology beat is a section of - Write for readers, not sources the media that covers news about scientific discoveries, research, and technological advancements. Journalists in the science field 6 IMPORTANT TYPES OF BEATS IN report on breakthroughs in medicine, JOURNALISM engineering, and a wide range of other fields. 1. Political Beat: OTHER TYPES OF BEATS IN JOURNALISM The political beat covers news related to 1.General reporting 10. Court/crime politics and government policies. Political 2 Political reporting reporting journalists report on political campaigns, 3 Education reporting 11. War reporting elections, and the activities of politicians. 4 Research reporting 12. Celebratory 5 Environment reporting reporting 2. Crime Beat: 6 Religious reporting This beat is related to crime and criminal justice. 7 Cultural reporting Crime journalists report on crimes committed, 8 Sports Reporting police investigations, and court proceedings. 9 Parliament reporting  details, transitioning into a narrative body, and LESSON 3: WRITING THE ending with a summary. NEWS WHAT ARE THE 4 PARTS OF A NEWS ARTICLE? 1. Headline: It tells what the story is about. 2. Byline: It tells about the writer of the story. 3. Lead: Covers the most important facts. 4. Body: Includes a detailed account of the event/occurrence. PARTS OF THE HOURGLASS 5. Ending: Talks about the solution or 1. The first part covers the broad news something to think about upfront with all the information. - Typically, this could be used to portray a current situation or the NEWS ARTICLE AND THE INVERTED significance of an issue PYRAMID 2. The second part forms a flexible bridge The lead, or main points of the article—the who, which connects the broad news what, when, where, why and how of a background to the focus discussion. story—are placed at the top or beginning of the - This transition is best used to article. portray the research methods and the results. 3. The third part is a narrative, a chronology of events, or the detailed steps of a process or implementation. - This part is best utilized for matching results with any hypotheses and prediction implications or suggesting future recommendations. 1. THE TOP Here you deliver the news in a summary lead, followed by three or four paragraphs that answer the reader’s most pressing questions. In the top you give the basic news, enough to HOURGLASS (KEVIN CIANO) satisfy the time-pressed reader. You report the The hourglass combines the inverted pyramid story in its most concise form. If all that is read and narrative styles, beginning with crucial at the top, the reader is still informed. Because CIRCULAR STRUCTURE (KEBAB its limited to four to six paragraphs, the top of STRUCTURE) the story should contain only the most - is a creative structure that journalists can significant information. use for feature stories. - Delivers the news - In this structure, the story begins with an anecdote about someone affected by an 2. THE TURN issue, trend, or event, then quickly Here you signal the reader that a narrative, transitions to a nut graf. usually chronological, is beginning. Usually, the - The nut graf summarizes the broader turn is a transitional phrase that contains phenomenon or describes the five W's attribution for the narrative that follow: according and H. to police, eyewitnesses described the event this - The story then continues with detailed way, the shooting unfolded this way, law analyses of different aspects of the issue, enforcement sources and neighbors agree. trend, or event. - Acts as a transition - The story ends with a closing anecdote, often about the same person featured in 3. THE NARRATIVE the lead. The story has three elements: a beginning, middle, and end. The bottom allows the writer to tell a chronological narrative complete with detail, dialogue, and background information. - Tells the whole story ADVANTAGES OF THE HOURGLASS 1. Readers get the news high in the story 2. The hourglass is a form that satisfies editors who prefer a traditional approach to news writing as well as impatient readers who tire easily of leisurely approaches to stories that take forever to get to the point. 3. Readers who want a more complete story, who like to see a story unfold as they read it, are happy as well. Circle style is best used when you are 4. The hourglass serves readers' need for writing a feature story. That way you have news and their natural desire for story. time to add character development. 5. The writer gets to use storytelling Start by inviting the reader techniques. It encourages a real ending. in with an indirect lead. Example: 3. The narrative. REXBURG—For many semesters, the Writing - The logic organizing the story. Fiction Center has helped students become often proceeds chronologically; news better writers. The Writing Center is a stories usually are organized by the wonderful place on campus, for both importance of the information. writer and tutor. The Writing Center is the best place for student’s to 4. Transitions. work on campus. - “Road maps” that show the audience where the story is going next. Notice how the lead lacks the information: 5. Quotes. when, where, and why. - Verbatim representations of what people involved in the story say. Quotes ensure Then, the body will give the facts and that stories are about people involved in details necessary to the story. The article will events and issues, not just about the end by referencing the indirect lead. events and issues. 6. The kicker. - The end of the story. The kicker is frequently structured to remind STACK OF BLOCK STRUCTURE audiences that, while our story is ending, - This style takes the form of a lead the people we are writing about must followed by several distinct and separate continue to deal with the event or issue. sections and a strong ending. - The advantage of grouping information into specific sections is that it allows for A BLOCK QUOTE easier explanation and helps readers - A block quote is a longer quotation, remember the major points and typically consisting of four lines or more, explanations. that is set apart from the main text in journalism and writing. BUILDING BLOCKS FOR STORIES - This format not only distinguishes the 1. The lead. quote from the surrounding content but - The top of the story, usually the first also emphasizes its significance, often sentence. The lead focuses on the accompanied by proper attribution to the story’s importance for the audience. source. - Block quotes are commonly used to 2. The nut graf. provide a detailed perspective, lend - A summary, shortly after the lead, giving authority to an argument, or capture a background and context for the story. notable statement from an interviewee or expert.