TODAY’S KIND OF JOURNALISMAdapted from Reporting Processes and Practices: Newswriting for Today’s ReadersEverette E. Dennis & Arnold H. Ismach[1981, Wadsworth Publishing Company, California, USA.]

THE ESSENCE OF JOURNALISM FOR ALL TIMES IS PRODUCING INTERESTING AND COMPELLING STORIES

THAT ESSENCE HAS NOT CHANGED, BUT SOMETHING HAS, AND THAT IS THE READERS, LISTENERS AND VIEWERS

THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT TO NEW DEFINITIONS OF NEWS DUE TO THE CHANGING AUDIENCE

MAJOR STORIES TODAY ARE “LIFE-AND-DEATH” ISSUES, TRENDS AND IDEAS

NEWSPAPER ARE ALSO REGULARLY PRODUCING SPECIAL SECTIONS SUCH AS “STYLE”, “SCENE”, “PEOPLE”, LIFESTYLE”, ETC.

TODAY’S NEWS STORIES ARE FOCUSED ON PEOPLE CONCERNS SUCH AS HOBBIES, THE ARTS, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION, FAMILY LIVING, DIET, FASHION, TRAVEL, ETC.

NEWS STORIES NOW EMBRACE SUBJECTS ONCE CONSIDERED ILLEGITIMATE BY JOURNALISTS

NOT ONLY HAS THERE BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL MOVE TOWARD NEW TOPICS, BUT ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A PARALLEL SHIFT TOWARD NEW WRITING FORMATS AND STYLES

THE INTERPRETIVE STORY, IN WHICH READERS ARE TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED, WHAT IT MEANS, AND WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN NEXT, HAS BECOME COMMON PLACE

THE ROLE OF THE REPORTER TODAY

… must not only be able to cover traditional public affairs news with competence, but must now recognize their personal relevance

… must be able to make complex situations and subjects simple

… must know their audiences well in order to select appropriate topics so readers interests would be compelled

… must become experts on specialized subjects and topics

…. must understand and translate the jargon of bureaucracy, the corporation, the workplace and laboratory into every day language

THE GENERALIST OF YESTERDAY HAS A VALUABLE, BUT MORE LIMITED ROLE, IN TODAY’S NEWSROOM

TODAY’S KIND OF JOURNALISM IS FOCUSED ON CONTENT MORE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE LIVES OF THE AUDIENCE, AND A STYLE OF PRESENTATION THAT IS EASIER TO ABSORB AND COMPREHEND

THE ROLE OF THE NEWSPAPER

To inform readers objectively about what is happening in the community, country and the world

To comment on the news in order to bring these developments into focus

To provide a means whereby persons with goods and services to sell can advertise there wares

HAROLD LASSWELL’S SUGGESTIONS

Surveillance of the environment

Correlation [interpretation] of the parts of society

Transmission of the social heritage from generation to generation [socialization]

A NEW KIND OF JOURNALISM HAS EMERGED TODAY, MAKING NEWS REPORTING MORE THAN A PASSIVE RECORDER OF EVENTS

JOURNALISM IS BRANCHING OUT TO IDENTIFY TRENDS AS THEY DEVELOP, TO INVESTIGATE THE HUMAN CONDITION, TO EXAMINE THINGS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE – IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS, BEDROOMS AND WORKPLACES

TODAY’S KIND OF JOURNALISM HAS BEEN A REVOLUTIONARY SHIFT FROM YESTERDAY’S

THE NEWSPAPER’S ROLE TODAY IS TO PROVIDE “ENOUGH INFORMATION TO ENABLE READERS TO FORM REASONABLE JUDGMENTS, AND TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF CONTEXT”.

TODAY’S REPORTER MUST BE PART RESEARCHER AND PART AUTHORITY ON THE SUBJECT MATTER BEING COVERED

ALMOST ALL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS NOW RECRUIT UNIVERSITY GRADUATES ONLY

MANY REPORTERS ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS IN DIVERSE FIELDS

THE STUDENT-JOURNALIST SHOULD THEREFORE FOCUS ON THESE….

Developing research skills

Polishing writing skills

Recognizing audience needs and interests

Converting knowledge into stories that adapt to needs and interests of a considerable number of people

Gaining knowledge in depth in one or more fields of study such as economics, business, science, the arts, sports, entertainment, fashion, environment, politics, etc.

JIMI KAYODEMAC 203 FOUNDATIONS OF NEWSREPORTING