Transcript Introduction to Journalism

Introduction to
Journalism
Why Journalism is Cool
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First to know the news
On the scene reporting
Writing for an audience
Ability to influence the way people think.
Terms to Know
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journalism = the business of collecting, writing, and
distributing news for the public.
journalist = person gathering, writing, or preparing
news for publication.
reporter = journalist who interviews news sources or
attends news events in order to obtain information and
then writes a news story for publication or broadcast.
editor = supervises preparation of all or part of a
newspaper, news magazine, or newscast. Managing
editor, sports editor, entertainment editor, etc.
Communicating in Today’s World
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Transferring Ideas from Sender to Receiver
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sender (communicator)
receiver
message
*** In addition to the words or actions used to convey
the message, there must also be an understanding that
a message will be sent (otherwise the receiver may not
be on the lookout and miss it)***
The sender must carefully choose words to convey the
meaning he or she intends. Many words are vague in
meaning (cool – is it hot or cold, or where in the
middle?) Make all language as clear as possible.
Two Basic Kinds of Communication
interpersonal communication = communication between
two people who are on equal footing and can provide
feedback to each other. Examples: conversation, letter,
email, telephone call, IM
mass communication = communicator addresses a
purposeful, organized message to a large audience with
whom he or she does not interact on a personal basis.
Examples: PA System, magazine, radio, newspaper,
internet
*** Most mass communication is devised so that even if
the audience is not paying complete attention, they will
still grasp the important parts of the message. (Think
commercials)
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medium = channel or method of communication.
mass media (media) = instruments of mass communication.
Examples: television, radio, books, magazines, internet,
newspaper, recordings, movies, billboards, etc.
Understanding the Purpose and
Value of Mass Communication
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Four Principal Purposes
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Provide Information
 Present Opinions
 Persuade People to take a certain course of
action
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Entertain
Exploring Newscasts
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Newscasts – news summaries occurring at
regularly scheduled intervals. (6:00, 10:00)
press associations –international groups that
cover and provide news stories that are
published worldwide (AP, Reutgers)
commentaries – not an impartial presentation of
news – designed to help listeners think for
themselves.
commentator - expert expressing a personal
opinion
documentary – essentially factual, but often onesided approach to a current event issue. Not live
coverage.
About News
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News has the power to have a huge emotional
impact.
News/information is one of the most desired
commodities in the world.
News is perishable – must be delivered while still
fresh.
Five major news media
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Radio
TV
Magazines
Newspapers
Internet
Inspecting News Magazines
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Think Time, Newsweek, US News and World
Reports, Sports Illustrated, Business Week.
Photojournalism = a story in picture format (a
series of pictures with captions or brief
explanatory paragraphs)
Understanding Newspapers
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Newspapers were the first means of
mass communication back in the early
seventeenth century
School newspapers
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Most school newspapers are in tabloid
format (half the size of a newspaper, five
columns wide)
Six News Audiences
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Mainstream – (20 percent) skips the highbrow stuff, reads the local
paper, watches network and cable news, is interested in sports and
crime, but not in foreign news.
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Basically Broadcast – (17 percent) gets most news from local TV;
rarely watches cable news; enjoys health, community, and crime
news.
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Very Occasional – (18 percent) tunes in only when something big is
happening, tends to be lower income and heavily male.
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Constant – (13 percent) watches, listens to, and reads almost
everything, likes all topics and the clicker.
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Serious News – (12 percent) relies heavily on National Public Radio,
Wall Street Journal, New York Times. Likes news and business
magazines.
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Tabloid – (14 percent) rejects traditional broadcast news. Favors the
National Enquirer, tabloid TV, and tell-all talk shows.
Public Journalism (Civic Journalism)
Evolved as a response to criticisms of the press
including:
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It no longer speaks to its audience’s needs and
interests
It sensationalizes and trivializes news
It throws information at us without telling us what it
means.
It doesn’t turn over decisions about the news – it
gives them the information and lets them form
their own ideas.
It helps to organize community projects.
It goes beyond the objective neutral stance.
It acknowledges that everyone should work
together to improve civic life.
Tips for You
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News is everywhere. Listen to people around you. The
gossip at your lunch table could be a news story!
When your news story presents a problem, be sure to
include choices that may be made by the reader in order
to solve the problem (think the gas crisis)
Don’t interview the extremists, your audience cannot
identify with them. Find those in the middle that can see
both sides of the issue and explain the problems of both.
Don’t preach – stimulate discussion.
Write about faith and values – they are a crucial part of
many people’s lives.
Give the reader something to do: someone to call,
something to attend, something to look for, read, etc.