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The basics of defining news, objectivity and standards. Based on "Reporting for the Media," by Bender, Davenport, Drager and Fedler (10th edition).
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What is news?
Thinking about journalism andthe decision-making process
Dog bites man
Man bites dog
Characteristics of news
• Timeliness
Characteristics of news
• Timeliness• Impact
Characteristics of news
• Timeliness• Impact• Prominence
Characteristics of news
• Timeliness• Impact• Prominence• Proximity
Characteristics of news
• Timeliness• Impact• Prominence• Proximity• Singularity
Characteristics of news
• Timeliness• Impact• Prominence• Proximity• Singularity• Conflict or controversy
Types of news
• What is hard news?
Types of news
• What is hard news?– Police and fire reporting
Types of news
• What is hard news?– Police and fire reporting– Government
Types of news
• What is hard news?– Police and fire reporting– Government– Disasters
Types of news
• What is hard news?– Police and fire reporting– Government– Disasters
• What is soft news?
Types of news
• What is hard news?– Police and fire reporting– Government– Disasters
• What is soft news?– Human-interest feature stories
Types of news
• What is hard news?– Police and fire reporting– Government– Disasters
• What is soft news?– Human-interest feature stories– Not necessarily tied to the news cycle
Types of news
• What is hard news?– Police and fire reporting– Government– Disasters
• What is soft news?– Human-interest feature stories– Not necessarily tied to the news cycle– Often aimed at tugging on the emotions
Public (civic) journalism
• Listen to our readers about their concernsto shape coverage
Public (civic) journalism
• Listen to our readers about their concernsto shape coverage
• Movement died out under criticism from traditional journalists
Public (civic) journalism
• Listen to our readers about their concernsto shape coverage
• Movement died out under criticism from traditional journalists
• Reborn as digital tools empower the“former audience”
Objectivity
• Ideally, it means acting as a disinterested observer reporting facts
Objectivity
• Ideally, it means acting as a disinterested observer reporting facts
• Too often it has come to mean a mindless pursuit of “balance”
Objectivity
• Ideally, it means acting as a disinterested observer reporting facts
• Too often it has come to mean a mindless pursuit of “balance”
• We need tough, neutral journalism aimed at seeking out the truth
Special considerations
• Offensive details, especially in photos
Special considerations
• Offensive details, especially in photos• Sensationalism for its own sake
Special considerations
• Offensive details, especially in photos• Sensationalism for its own sake• Rumors — sometimes yes, sometimes no
Special considerations
• Offensive details, especially in photos• Sensationalism for its own sake• Rumors — sometimes yes, sometimes no• Names of rape victims are usually withheld
Special considerations
• Offensive details, especially in photos• Sensationalism for its own sake• Rumors — sometimes yes, sometimes no• Names of rape victims are usually withheld• Names of juvenile offenders withheld
Accuracy
• If a person says his name is “John Smith,” ask him to spell “John” and “Smith”
Accuracy
• If a person says his name is “John Smith,” ask him to spell “John” and “Smith”
• It could be “Jon Smythe”
Accuracy
• If a person says his name is “John Smith,” ask him to spell “John” and “Smith”
• It could be “Jon Smythe”• Keep asking questions until you understand
what’s going on– Passing along information that you don’t quite
understand leads to fuzziness and errors
Credits
• This presentation is a summary of Chapter 5 in “Reporting for the Media,” by John R. Bender, Lucinda D. Davenport, Michael W. Drager and Fred Fedler (10th edition)
