LECTURE 1 SUMMARY

In this course you will explore, and familiarise yourselves with, the mechanics and core functions of journalism. 1. you will learn to write in journalistic style: accurately, strongly, effectively - and in such a way that anyone who reads your story will understand you perfectly, first time. 2. you will learn how to develop news sense. 3. you will learn different styles of writing to suit different readers. 4. you will learn how to research for information. 5. you will learn about good reporting vs bad reporting. To write efficiently: means you convey your message (whats in your mind) so effectively that your reader will not have to waste any time sorting out ambiguities, have to re-read a passage, be left up in the air with unanswered questions. To write economically: means you deliver a message which is as brief, concise as it needs to be to inform the reader without leaving out key elements. To write impressively: means you choose explicit words, use strong structure, accurate grammar, well thought-out phrases to make your message memorable and significant.

Attributes of a journalist: 1. Curiosity: youve got to be alert for whats different, whats changed, whats new, whats weird. 2. A perceptive mind - one which understands, which is insightful. 3. Alertiveness with senses on overdirve

4. Capacity to ask questions. 5. Ability to think fast, work fast, love pressure. 6. Love of accuracy, clarity: a journalist wants to get it right, get it first and let the people know ASAP. 7. Voracious readers 8. A healthy cynicism 9. Persistence and tenacity. 10. A passionate interest in just about everything to do with people 11. An enthusiasm to engagement with all kinds of people. All these attributes lead to the most important thing: A journalists almost instinctive feel for a good story better known as news sense.

What is journalism: 1. Journalism is best understood as being a public good 2. Journalism at its best is societys watchdog and guardian of public welfare. 3. Journalism is the voice for the powerless. 4. Journalism is - first and foremost a service which contributes information. 5. Journalism is about the gathering and distribution of news, opinions and comments. 6. Journalism is not commentary it must not think for the reader. 7. Journalism is not static it changes because society changes. 8. Journalism (print) is delivered in a variety of ways newspapers, magazines, specialist publications, government

media, public relations and so on. Because the readership varies so does the style of writing.

Why is the News important? The news keeps people informed of everything which has an impact on their lives today so they can make right decisions. Journalism surfaced about the same time as democracy with the belief that a nation was for the people, of the people and by the people. And this is also why journalism is all about the people the readers. People need information, comments from relevant sources, government rulings and so on which will help them make up their own minds about issues and policies.

Print Media The term media refers to various means of communication channels through which something - usually information - is conveyed. Television, radio, the internet and the newspaper are different types of media which convey news, education, data, advertising and entertainment. All printed periodicals especially newspapers general public magazines, special interest media, trade journals are regarded as print media. Print media is about communicating information, ideas, issues and so on to the reader the public - via the written word as opposed to

non-print media which communicates to the public via electrical mediums such as radio, TV, movies and the Internet.

How do print media influence readers? Here are some theories: 1. The Magic Bullet. This is also known as the hypodermic needle theory. It implies that the media have a direct, immediate and powerful effect on audiences. 2. Limited Effects. Because the more modern view of people is that they are quite capable of making up their own minds and cannot be manipulated or lied to its believed that the media can only have a limited effect. 3. The Two-Step Flow Theory: This is based on the notion that the people the media actually influence are societys opinion leaders and that these, in turn, influence the people. 4. The Spiral of Silence: Minority groups are reluctant to voice their views so its not clear how the media influences these groups because they wont speak up. 5. Agenda-Setting: No broadcaster or newspaper can possibly deliver THE WHOLE news meaning all the news there is out there. Editors, producers, journalists can only deliver a selection of news that which they deem the most important for people to know. Therefore, readers and viewers can only listen to, and focus on, news items as chosen by the keyplayers in the news. 6. Third-Person Effect: Individuals believe they personally cannot be manipulated and influenced in the same way as everyone else can or that individuals can grasp and therefore evaluate complex issues better than others.

Why knowing the news is important A news story is about information which is useful, relevant, interesting and important the reader needs the news to know whats going on near and far; who key players are whose decisions will directly influence laws, taxes, employment, education, health, national defence. 1. The news is about what has happened or is happening or will happen. It reveals things and places them in context. 2. The news will also tell you why something is happening and why it matters that it is happening. The news opens your mind and helps your understanding. 3. The news will become increasingly important to readers the more the news story relates to them, its immediacy (breaking news is always hot) and how easy it is to read. A Brief History 1. It was the Chinese, during the Tang Dynasty around the 8th century AD, who first introduced written newspaper sheets to communities. These newspapers were symbols carved into wooden blocks. 2. The printing press was invented Johann Gutenberg in 1447. 3. In England the first regularly printed newspaper was the Weekly Newes in 1622. 4. The first real newspaper was the London Gazette of 1666. 5. In America, the Boston Newsletter, hit the pavement in 1704. 6. Daniel Defoe, prolific writer has become known as The Father of Journalism. 7. The news then as now would focus on political events, crime, business, entertainment, society and sports.

8. The press (journalism/print media) first became regarded as a power which provided counterbalances and checks on politicians and people in power in the mid 19th century when the English writer Edmund Burke first came up with the phrase The Fourth Estate. He coined the phrase, its reported, when he described the British press as being as powerful and important a branch of government as the aristocracy (First Estate), the clergy (Second Estate) and the people (Third Estate). 9. In Australia the newspaper industry was launched by transported convict George Howe. 10. The first newspaper The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser first saw the light of day in March 1803 as a weekly edition with four pages of official material mainly about shipping news, auction results, crime reports and agricultural notices. There were also some poems, literature and religious advice. 11. Another early newspaper was The Australian (nothing to do with todays Australian newspaper) first published in 1824. 12. In 1840 the Sydney Morning Herald first saw the light of day. It is the oldest surviving newspaper in Australia. 13. In 1879 The Daily Telegraph was launched. 14. By 1886 there were at least 48 daily papers circulating throughout the nation.

New Era In the 1960s newspapers attracted 51 per cent of advertising but by the end of the century this had fallen to 21 per cent.

Decline has been explained by: 1. More people admitting they rely more on television news coverage. 2. More advertisers flogging their products and services on the net. 3. The global recession, which started in late 2008, sending many businesses bust and forcing many other businesses to pull curb their advertising.

Horses for Courses News is shaped for different audiences. There is the popular newspaper or tabloid and the quality newspaper or broadsheet. Tabloids are considered: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. easier to read, and therefore understand biased, entertaining focus on personality trivia light news bright, many pictures stunts, gimmicks, competitions

Broadsheets are considered: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. more intellectual less sensationalist educative and opinion-forming heavy or abstract subdued advertising long articles, few pictures

Magazines and Features 1. Magazines are different to newspapers in that they are not about hard news. 2. Magazine stories are about profiles, true life narratives, inspirational stories, how-to stories and so on. 3. Magazine stories inform in a lighter, more informal, more entertaining way than newspapers. However, a good magazine article should have the same elements as a good news story to attract the readers attention. For this reason, magazine articles need to be thoroughly researched and backed by genuine comments and/or expertise. A good magazine article should contain at least one of the following: 1. Novelty or rarity 2. Magnitude the awesome who or what; the extreme of an experience, event 3. Impact/relevance a story about issues or events which directly impacts on the reader. This can also include stories which provide practical help 4. Suspense and tension this is the story with a hook compelling the reader to find out how the problem/mystery is resolved 5. Conflict this is the most common element which attracts attention. Its usually a story about the good and bad 6. Humour this is probably the most difficult story to write well

Newspaper features Vs Magazine stories These days newspapers offer a wealth of feature stories and the style, format, concept of these newspaper features are very similar

to magazine features. But there are noticeable differences. For instance: 1. Newspaper features are shorter and more closely related to current events than magazine feature writing. This is one of the reasons why magazines have a much longer shelf life than newspapers. Magazine stories can be timeless 2. Newspaper features aim to please a broad audience in terms of age, interests and backgrounds. This approach is what has been referred to as shot gun writing. But magazines are directed to a specific audience with specific needs. Magazines serve a niche audience. This approach has been referred to as rifle writing. 3. Newspaper features are usually more detached and objective while magazine features are more personal, with more freedom for the author to display opinions, tone and style. 4. Newspaper features are usually written by full time journalists while magazine features are mostly written by freelance journalists, mainly to ensure the magazines contents are varied. 5. Newspaper features need to meet daily or weekly deadlines while magazine features are usually published monthly, quarterly or more. This is another reason why magazines offer more complexity, analysis, originality, depth, sources and accuracy. 6. Newspaper features deliver the WHAT, WHERE, WHO, WHEN and HOW while magazines are more concerned with the WHY of events/issues 7. Newspaper feature journalists must remain objective while magazine feature writers are required to inject more of a personal and creative flair into their articles. Magazine feature

writers will also invariably end an article with a conclusion while newspaper feature journalists will still lead with the main point in other words, the conclusion will invariably be the introductory sentence 8. In both newspaper feature writing and magazine feature writing there is a lot of interviewing involved. However in newspaper features direct quotes are used to add credibility to a story not to provide lengthy explanations. 9. Newspaper feature journalists are apt at many styles which at all times need to be clear and factual never personal or creative. Magazine feature writers are usually specialists in a certain field and will have a specific, individual style. Its vital journalists target their readers because they know that its not a matter of what meaning is placed into someones mindits more a matter of what already exists in the readers mind - in the form of experiences and potential responses - which they can draw on to make sense of what they read.

The ultimate success in communication lies in a journalists ability to anticipate how readers will interpret an article. If a journalist does not understand the mindset of his/her readers he/she cannot deliver a message which is designed for them.