Upload
jason-nix
View
529
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. It’s a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers” (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters). But it’s a history full of roes, too: men and men risking their lives tell stories of war and agedy, risking prisonment to defend ee speech. And as you n see here, reports have come beloved characters p culture, too, turning up movies, comics and TV ows as if guided by an cult hand.
Every culture seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip. In ancient times, news was written on clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters compiled by correspondents and handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages. Them came ink on paper. Voices on airwaves. Newsreels, Web sites, And 24-hour cable news networks. Thus when scholars analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progress—for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses. Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one that’s
constantly evolving, reflecting and shaping its culture. Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, an endless power struggle between Authority (trying to control information) and the People (trying to learn the truth). Which brings to mind the words of A.J. Liefling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to htose who own one.” In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600 years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to hypertext: the media, the message and the politics. Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. It was a century of change, and newspapers changed
dramatically. The typi newspaper of 1800 wa undisciplined mishma legislative proceedinglong-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jourhad become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were becmore entertaining and essential than ever, wmost of the features w expect today: Snappy headlines, Ads, Comic Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” sty writing that made stori tighter and newsier. Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly. Why? Well yourself: Which did yo
How newsrooms work
Inside ReportingTim Harrower
2
Quoted:
2
“I know what time is until you ask me.”St. Augustine, The Confessions
How newsrooms work
3
What is news?What readers wantHow the news comes togetherWho’s who in the newsroomWhat it’s called
Questions to consider
4
What is news?What is a journalist?Who determines what is true and not true?
What is news?
5
News judgment –ability to determine which stories are most interesting and important to readersEditors decide where stories run
and what stories do not run
What is news?
6
A tragedy involving a police officer always leads…Oceana is
responsible for 12,000 local jobs
VP’s chief of staff indicted. Wow…
Promos to other stories
When the president visits your city it’s a big deal. But…
How do we determine news value?
7
RelevanceUsefulnessInterest
8
9
10
What is news?
11
The Metropolitan Daily Lots of pages to fill with range of topicsLocal to global
News depends on the newspaper
Storm warning Print itCounty fair Print itTuition hike Print itVolleyball bill Kill it
Flu shots Print
Maybe
Maybe
Hold it
Hold it
Mexico bus crash
Girl Scout cookiesLottery winner
Eminem sex change
What is news?
12
The Community WeeklyLimited spaceTight regional focus
News depends on the newspaper
Storm warning Kill it
County fair Print it
Tuition hike Kill it
Volleyball bill Kill it
Flu shots Print it
Kill it
Print it
Kill it
Kill it
Mexico bus crash
Girl Scout cookies
Lottery winner
Eminem sex change
What is news?
13
The Communicator (SFCC’s bi-weekly student paper)Space very tight (8-12 pages, including ads)Stories focus on campus events and culture
News depends on the newspaper
Storm warning Kill it
County fair Kill it
Tuition hike Print it
Volleyball bill Kill it
Flu shots Maybe
Kill it
Kill it
Print it
Kill it
Mexico bus crash
Girl Scout cookies
Lottery winner
Eminem sex change
What is news?
14
ImpactImmediacyProximityProminenceNoveltyConflictEmotions
What makes a story interesting?
What readers want
15
Some journalists dismiss “pandering” to readers.
Smart journalists adjustTo tastes.To reading habits.To news appetites.
You might write terrific stories, but they’re worthless if nobody reads them
What readers want
16
We ask them.We watch them.
Focus groupsPhone, mail and Web
surveysMonitoring devices
So how do we know what readers read?
What readers want
17
1. Readers are in a hurry.2. Readers have short attention spans.3. Readers want stories that connect.4. Readers want stories told in a compelling way.5. There’s more than just one type of reader.
Things every reporter needs to remember about readers
5
What readers want
18
Spend 90% of time chasing a story, and 10% writing it.
Not everything a reporter hears makes it into the finished story.
How a story gets written
• Not everything is as it seems.
How the news comes together
19
Reporters and editorsCopy editors and
presentationBusiness staffPhoto and graphics
Major divisions• Editorial
Department• Advertising
department• Production
department• Circulation
department
Inside a typical newsroom
Who’s who in the newsroom
20
At most papers, writers are either:General assignment reporters –
cover wide range of stories.Beat reporters – cover
a specific topic.
Clear lines of authority avoid chaos
Who’s who in the newsroom
21
• Publisher• Ultimate boss; presides
over all departments to ensure profitability.
• Production Manager• Oversees staff and
equipment.
The organization
• Circulation Manager
• Supervises distribution of newspaper.
• Advertising Manager
• Coordinates sales and production of classified and display ads.
22
EditorRuns the newsroom; has final say
in story selection and news philosophy.
Managing EditorRuns day-to-day operation;
resolves staffing issues.
The organization• Photo Editor
• Coordinates photo assignments; chooses images.
• Manages photographers and graphic artists.
Who’s who in the newsroom
Who’s who in the newsroom
23
Online EditorWorks with other editors
and reporters to develop material for Web site.
Manages team of reporters and editors.
The organization• Copy Desk Chief
• Oversees editing and (many times) layout.
• Manages copy editors.
Who’s who in the newsroom
24
Features EditorAssigns and edits stories for
features section.Manages feature writers
and reviewers.
The organization• Sports Editor
• Assigns and edits all stories running in the sports section.
• Manages sports reporters.
Who’s who in the newsroom
25
City EditorAssigns and edits most
local “hard news” stories.
Manages news reporters.
The organization
What it’s called
26
Daily – printed every day.Weekly – printed once a
week.Newsletter – printed
once per month.
Talk the talk Mainstream newspaper (The New York Times, The Spokesman-Review)Alternative press (The Village Voice, The Inlander)Specialty publication (Fur & Feather Magazine)Trade publication (American Candy Industry Monthly)
What it’s called
27
Parts of a story
PhotoBylineDatelineLeadQuoteAttribution
Photo creditLiftout quoteTagline
Headline
lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. It’s a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers” (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters). But it’s a history full of roes, too: men and men risking their lives tell stories of war and agedy, risking prisonment to defend ee speech. And as you n see here, reports have come beloved characters p culture, too, turning up movies, comics and TV ows as if guided by an cult hand.
Every culture seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip. In ancient times, news was written on clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters compiled by correspondents and handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages. Them came ink on paper. Voices on airwaves. Newsreels, Web sites, And 24-hour cable news networks. Thus when scholars analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progress—for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses. Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one that’s
constantly evolving, reflecting and shaping its culture. Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, an endless power struggle between Authority (trying to control information) and the People (trying to learn the truth). Which brings to mind the words of A.J. Liefling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to htose who own one.” In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600 years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to hypertext: the media, the message and the politics. Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. It was a century of change, and newspapers changed
dramatically. The typi newspaper of 1800 wa undisciplined mishma legislative proceedinglong-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jourhad become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were becmore entertaining and essential than ever, wmost of the features w expect today: Snappy headlines, Ads, Comic Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” sty writing that made stori tighter and newsier. Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly. Why? Well yourself: Which did yo
How newsrooms work
Inside ReportingTim Harrower
2