JOURNALISTIC SKILLS

or

1. How to report 2. How to write 3. How to dodge PR calls 4. How to pin down slippery sources 5. How to meet deadlines and still have a life 6. After the fact: How to soothe bruised egos

George Orwell
Worked as a dishwasher in Paris Lived as a tramp in London

6 rules for writers -- Orwell

In his essay Politics and the English Language (1946), Orwell wrote about the importance of precise and clear language: Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never use the passive where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward

Broke the Watergate Scandal

Chitra Subramaniam Broke the Bofors scandal

Pauline Kael Regularly skewered films

In the arts, the critic is the only independent source of information. The rest is advertising. -- Pauline Kael

P. Sainath Informed the world about rampant farmer suicide

I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world.

Henry Luce
The less you know the more you believe.

-- Bono

What is news?

News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet or word-of-mouth to a third-party or mass audience.

What is newsworthiness?
The degree to which a subject has relevance to the public or a special audience to warrant press attention or coverage. Key words: Relevance Usefulness Interest

Elements in a potential story (News Values)

Impact Conflict Novelty Prominence Proximity Timeliness

Purpose of news

The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society.

From www.Journalism.org

Myriad roles -- helping define community, creating common language and common knowledge, identifying a community's goals, heroes and villains, and pushing people beyond complacency. Also involves other requirements, such as being entertaining, serving as watchdog and offering voice to the voiceless.

Principles of Journalism
1. JOURNALISM'S FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO THE TRUTH 2. ITS FIRST LOYALTY IS TO CITIZENS 3. ITS ESSENCE IS A DISCIPLINE OF VERIFICATION 4. ITS PRACTITIONERS MUST MAINTAIN AN INDEPENDENCE FROM THOSE THEY COVER 5. IT MUST SERVE AS AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR OF POWER

Principles of Journalism
6. IT MUST PROVIDE A FORUM FOR PUBLIC CRITICISM AND COMPROMISE 7. IT MUST STRIVE TO MAKE THE SIGNIFICANT INTERESTING AND RELEVANT 8. IT MUST KEEP THE NEWS COMPREHENSIVE AND PROPORTIONAL 9. ITS PRACTITIONERS MUST BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THEIR PERSONAL CONSCIENCE

Types of news (based on beat)

General Political Business Regional Entertainment Niche (health, science, technology) Crime Sensational

Types of news (based on impact)

Hyperlocal City and state National news International news

News formats

Print Television Online