PRINT JOURNALISM

[Document subtitle]
Topic 1: Introduction to Journalism

Introduction to journalism

In today’s era of communication and technology, people want to be aware and it is

the role of the mass media to spread information about every relevant happening in
the world. Newspapers, radio, television and more recently the internet are various
means of spreading information and journalists have a very significant role to play
in this practice. Politics, economics, art, culture, history, business, sports,
entertainment and many other areas are covered by journalists.

Concept of Journalism

Journalism is the publication of news and views on various aspects of human

activities in news papers and periodicals. In a broader sense, the functions of
journalism are to convey national policies to the public, and to keep the
Government, at Local, State and Central levels, informed of public needs. It also
brings to the notice of the Government public reaction to Government policies and
decisions. In addition. it keeps the public and the Government informed of events
and happenings at home and abroad.

Journalism is the craft of conveying news, descriptive material and comment via a
widening spectrum of media. These include newspapers, magazines, radio and
television, the internet and even, more recently, the cell phone. It is the process of
collection, writing, editing, and publishing news in newspapers and magazines
collectively.

Journalism is the production of news reports and editorials through media such as
newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet.

Nature of journalism
Journalism is the timely reporting of events at the local, provincial, national
and international levels. Reporting involves the gathering of information through
interviewing and research, the results of which are turned into a fair and balanced
story for publication or for television or radio broadcast.

Journalism is not just fact-finding media analysis opinion writing or

commentary although all of those aspects can play a part at times.

Journalism is that part of social activity which is concerned with

the dissemination of news and views about the society.

Modern journalism feeds five areas of mass communication – (1) Newspapers and
Periodicals, (2) Radio, (3) Television, (4) Films, (5) Advertising & Public Relations.

In modern societies, Journalism has become the media of mass

education providing supplementary education to students at all stages and to the
general masses – educated and uneducated.

In modern times, the horizon of journalism has widened and it has transcended the
limits of mere reporting of political and economic news.

Journalism has as its main activity the reporting of events stating who, what,
where, why and how, and explaining the significance and effects of events or
trends.

Journalism exists in a number of media: newspapers, television, radio, magazines

and, most recently, the World Wide Web through the internet.

Types of journalism

Journalism is a discipline of collecting, analyzing, verifying, and presenting news

regarding current events, trends, issues and people. Those who practice journalism
are known as journalists.

Journalism is broadly categorized into media based and content based journalism.
Media based journalism

Depending on the type of medium used, journalism can be divided into:

1. Print journalism
Print journalism includes writing and publishing for newspapers, news
magazines, general interest magazines, trade magazines, hobby magazines,
newsletters, private publications, online news pages and others.

2. Broadcast journalism
includes broadcasting for both radio and television. Radio journalist must
gather facts and present them fairly and accurately, but also must find and
record relevant and interesting sounds to add to their reports, both
interviews with people involved in the story and the background sounds that
help characterize the story. Radio reporters may also write
the introduction to the story read by a radio news anchor, and may also
answers question live from the anchor.

Television journalists rely on visual information to illustrate and characterize

their reporting, including on-camera interviews with people involved in the
story, shots of the scene where the story took place, and graphics usually
produced at the station to help frame the story. Like radio reporters,
television reporters also may write the introductory script that a television
news anchor would read to set up their story. Both radio and television
journalist usually does not have as much “space” to present information in
their reports as print journalists.

3. On-line journalism
The fast and vast growth of the internet and World Wide Web has spawned
the newest medium for journalism, on-line journalism. The speed at which
news can be disseminated on the web, and the profound penetration to
anyone with a computer and web browser, have greatly increased the
quantity and variety of news reports available to the average web user.

The bulk of on-line journalism has been the extension of existing print and
broadcast media into the web via web versions of their primary products.
New reports that were set to be released at expected times now can be
published as soon as they are written and edited, increased the deadline
pressure and fear of being scooped many journalists must deal with.
Media based journalism

Depending on the type of medium used, journalism can be divided into:

1. Print journalism
Print journalism includes writing and publishing for newspapers, news
magazines, general interest magazines, trade magazines, hobby magazines,
newsletters, private publications, online news pages and others.

2. Broadcast journalism
includes broadcasting for both radio and television. Radio journalist must
gather facts and present them fairly and accurately, but also must find and
record relevant and interesting sounds to add to their reports, both
interviews with people involved in the story and the background sounds that
help characterize the story. Radio reporters may also write
the introduction to the story read by a radio news anchor, and may also
answers question live from the anchor.

Television journalists rely on visual information to illustrate and characterize

their reporting, including on-camera interviews with people involved in the
story, shots of the scene where the story took place, and graphics usually
produced at the station to help frame the story. Like radio reporters,
television reporters also may write the introductory script that a television
news anchor would read to set up their story. Both radio and television
journalist usually does not have as much “space” to present information in
their reports as print journalists.

3. On-line journalism
The fast and vast growth of the internet and World Wide Web has spawned
the newest medium for journalism, on-line journalism. The speed at which
news can be disseminated on the web, and the profound penetration to
anyone with a computer and web browser, have greatly increased the
quantity and variety of news reports available to the average web user.

The bulk of on-line journalism has been the extension of existing print and
broadcast media into the web via web versions of their primary products.
New reports that were set to be released at expected times now can be
published as soon as they are written and edited, increased the deadline
pressure and fear of being scooped many journalists must deal with.
Content based journalism

Depending on the type of content that is generated in the media, journalism can be
divided into various types. Each or all of these can be found in all the media
mentioned above.

1. Feature journalism: Newspapers and periodicals often contain features

written by journalists, many of whom specialize in this form of in depth
journalism. Features articles usually are longer than straight news articles,
and are combined with photographs, drawings or other “art”. They may also
be highlighted by typographic effects or colors.

2. Sports journalism: Sports journalism covers many aspects of human

athletic competition, and is an integral part of most journalism products,
including newspapers, magazines, and radio and television news broadcasts.
While some critics don’t consider sports journalism to be true journalism, the
prominence of sports in western culture has justified the attention of
journalists to not just the competitive events of sports, but also to athletes
and to the business of sports.

3. Science journalism: Science journalism is a relatively new branch of

journalism, in which journalists reporting conveys information on science
topics to the public. Science journalists must understand and interpret very
detailed, technical and sometimes jargon-laden information and render it
into interesting reports that are comprehensible to consumers of news
media.
Science Journalism is the key to the real treasure of the scientific knowledge,
by virtue of which scientific knowledge and concepts could be carried to the
common man.

4. Investigative journalism: Investigative journalism, in which journalists

investigative and expose unethical, immoral and illegal behavior by
individual, business and government agencies, can be complicated, time-
consuming and expensive-requiring teams of journalists, months of research,
interviews (sometimes repeated interviews) with numerous people, long-
distance travel, computers to analyze public-record databases, or use of the
company’s legal staff to secure documents under freedom of information
laws.

5. People journalism or celebrity: Celebrity journalism differs from feature

writing in that it focuses on people who are either already famous or are
especially attractive, and in that it often covers celebrities obsessively, to the
point of these journalists behaving unethically in order to provide coverage.
Journalists who follow celebrities constantly to obtain potentially
embarrassing photographs, have come to characterize celebrity journalism.
People involved in journalism

Journalist
A journalist (also called a newspaper man) is a person who practices journalism, the
gathering and dissemination of information about current issues. The activity or
profession of being a journalist includes aggregating, writing, editing, and
presenting of news or news articles for widespread distribution, typically in
periodical print publications and broadcast news media, for the purpose of
informing the audience.

An entry-level reporter often does "general assignment" stories rather than stories
for a specific beat. General assignment stories are given out to reporters by the city
desk or assignment editor.

The following personnel are found in most news organizations that are large.
Smaller organizations need not have all the people mentioned below or one person
does more than one job.

 Associate Editor: Would direct the preparation of a section of the

newspaper or magazine. Preparation of news, featured articles and critical
reviews will be his job. He will also have to plan the layout and assign
reporters and photographers. To be an assistant editor, one must be aware
and have the ability to write, edit and question constructively.

 Sub-editor: Sorting the contents of the material to be printed, rewriting

articles to ensure that they fit into the assigned space, improving the
language and giving appropriate and attractive headlines will be his job as a
sub-editor. Imagination, understanding and sense of news are imperative for
this job.

 Editor: Editor is the key head who ensures consistency and continuity of the
newspaper or magazine. His job as an editor would be to present the
newspaper in an attractive manner and assure that it is highly utilitarian.
Also appointing his juniors, writing the editorial section and leading the team
will be his responsibility.

 Proof Reader: Proof Reader compares proofs with the edited copy. His job
as a proof reader would involve completing the final text accurately. For this
job he must have detailed knowledge of grammar, spelling and punctuation.

 Reporter: As the key operator of a newspaper, magazine, news agency,

radio or television channel, his job will be to report with speed, clarity and
accuracy. The sense to recognize a story and objectivity will be vital in
ensuring that he acts as the primary source of news.
 Correspondent/Special reporter: To be a reporter for a special purpose,
he must have detailed knowledge in a single field like politics, economics,
sports etc. He must have the ability to interpret and explain the news on the
basis of his awareness.

 Writer: As a writer his job would involve choosing subjects and themes,
conducting researches and assembling the material to write.

 Feature writer: Writing detailed stories and commentaries on specific

topics is the job of a feature writer.

 Leader writer: These writers express their ideas and views on news topics
through editorial columns.

 Columnist: As a columnist, he would be writing for a specific segment in

the newspaper or magazine. His column would project his view concerning
any topic that he knows about like fashion, politics or films.

 Critic: In order to be a critic, he will have to be well-read and experienced.

Be it film, drama, literature or art, he must have comprehensive knowledge
in the subject.

 Photojournalist: Photojournalists are visual reporters who click

photographs at events that make news. In order to be a photojournalist, he
must be quick and willing to work in difficult conditions. He should also be
capable of clicking relevant and good news pictures, write appropriate
captions and be aware of the technical aspects of photography.

 Cartoonist: If the person is artistic and humorous, then a career as a

cartoonist will be suitable for him. His job would involve commenting on
public figures and events in a comical or satirical manner through his
sketches.
Qualities and responsibilities of a journalist

The job of a reporter is to gather news and write it for his organization. Sub-editor
makes it fit to print. Reporters go out in the field while sub –editor’s work at the
“News desk” where all the news that comes, is selected, edited, each news story is
given a suitable headline and its place in the newspaper is decided.

Reporters can become senior reporters, correspondents, senior correspondents,

chief reporters, special correspondents and foreign corresponds, sub editors, chief
sub editor, deputy news editor and news editor. But the basic job of a reporter
remains news gathering and filling the reporter or “copy” to the news desk.

To be a good reporter or good sub-editor what one needs is common sense and
command over language. These two requirements in fact summarize the qualities of
newsman should have as other qualities flow from these two and the basic Human
values.

 News sense: It is the basic quality of news man. Every reporter has to have
news sense or nose for news to distinguish news from non-news. He should
be able to compare various news values and decide where to being his story
and should not miss important details.

 Clarity: A reporter should have clarity of mind and expression. A person

who is confused himself cannot tell a story to others. Only clarity of mind is
not enough unless it is accompanied by clarity of expression without clarity
of mind has no meaning.

 Objectivity: Reporter and sub- editor should aim at objectivity while

dealing with a story. They should not allow their personal bias or ideas to
creep in to a story. They should not take side but try covering all the different
viewpoints to achieve balance in the story.

 Accuracy: A reporter should strive for accuracy. He should check and

recheck his fact till he is satisfied that he has them accurate. In this respect
he should not take any chance as accuracy is directly proportional to the
credibility of a reporter and his newspaper.

 Alertness: A reporter should always be a last which dealing with his

subjects. Many major news breaks in the past were possible because of
alertness of reporter. Scoops don’t walk in to newspaper offices- alert
reporters catch them in air and pursue.

 Speed: In today’s world speed matters everywhere. A person who cannot

work fast cannot be a good reporter. While maintaining all other desirable
qualities a reporter should strive to work faster. He should think fast, write
fast and write or type fast for he has to meet deadlines or may have to go to
 another assignment. Calmness: Reporter and sub editors often work in trying
circumstances. They have to remain calm and composed in most exciting and
tragic circumstances. In many situations they have to be calm devoid of
hysterical actions or utterances and apply appropriate mental and physical
effort to write or edit the story.

 Curiosity: Reporters should have an unsuitable curiosity for reporters it is

useful in developing last for facts that may lead to better stories.

 Skepticism: It is another necessary quality which a reporter and sub editor

should cultivate. They should not take anything for granted. They should
have an unwavering posture of doubt until faced with undesirable posture of
doubt until faced with undesirable proof.

Reporters should be more vigilant for many forces constantly try to use them
and though them their paper. Many people try to plant on reporters fall in to
such traps in good faith. They should have enough skepticism to avoid such
plots.

 Punctuality: It is a good habit for reporters it is a must for if they are not
punctual they may miss something for which they made have to depend
on secondary sources. It is always better to be punctual and then wait than
reach late and ask others – a rival may misinformation you or hide some
important information.

 Patience: It is quality which helps a reporter in big a way for many a time
almost daily. He has to test his patience, the voluntary self control or
resistant that helps one to endure waiting, provocation, injustice, suffering or
any of the unpleasant vicissitudes of time and life. Most of the time a reporter
waits for someone or something and patience gives him the willingness to
wait without becoming dissented or anxious.

 Imagination: This basic mental faculty helps reporters in writing better

stories that retain readers interest creative faculty is very useful. Is he can
add sparkle to somebody else copy and make it lively. Besides, imagination
headlines attract the reader and improve the quality of a news paper.

 Farsightedness: An intelligent envisioning of the future helps news men in

general. The quality helps them identify processes and people who will be
important in future. Reporters can watch such processes and cultivate people
who may become important news sources in the future.

 A reporter with foresight can think ahead and prepare for eventualities with a
little for thought sub-editors can plan their work so as to avoid tension and it
results in better functioning of the desk.
 Self Discipline: One can achieve a degree of proficiency in sub editing or
reporting by systematic effort and self control. In this sense self discipline
suggests dedication and firm commitment.

 Integrity: It is a virtue in itself and implies undeviating honesty and strict

adherence to a strong code of ethics. It is more important for a reporter for
they are more exposed to temptations.

 Fearlessness and Frankness: These qualities help reporters in asking

unpleasant questions and taking risks to find out truths. Nobody gives a story
on a platter. The reporter will help to probe, question and exercise his power
of dedication to get a good story.

 Tactfulness: A reporter should be fact full. He should have the ability to

handle sensitive people and situations gracefully without causing heart or
angry feelings. He should considerably of others and should be careful not to
embrace upset or offend them.

 Initiative: A reporter who works in the field should have an outgoing nature
with initiative and drive. These qualities will help him get acquainted with
news sources and get stories from them. A meet retiring or shy person is not
fit for reporting. He may be good at desk. Reporters need a fair amount
assertiveness and aggressiveness to be successful in their career.

 Mobility: A reporter should be mobile. He should enjoy moving around and

should not hesitate traveling distances to get stories when required. He
should go to his news sources as often as possible for such constant contacts
help him get news.

 Diligence: Reporter and sub-editors should be diligent. Their jobs require

painstaking exertion of intense care and effort, alertness and dedication to
the task and very watchfulness. They have to make extremely fine
distinctions while writing or editing copy.