Writing for the Mass Media

Chapter 6

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Four tools of journalism

Text Images Audio Video

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Reporting with images

All journalists should understand the basics of good picture taking Journalists should carry a camera and be familiar with its technical aspects Journalists should understand the software for editing photographs and should be very familiar with the process of preparing and uploading photos to the web Most importantly, journalists must integrate photography into their thinking about every story they cover
Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Basic concepts
Drama Action Expression Unusualness

Photojournalists must train themselves to see what other people do not see and to take photos of what they see

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Three types of shots

Long range, or establishing

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Three types of shots

Midrange

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Three types of shots

Close-up

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Rule of thirds
Interest and action should occur at the intersection of the lines

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Writing cutlines
Use the present tense to describe what is in the picture Always double check identifications in a cutline Be as specific as possible in cutlines Try to avoid cutline clichs

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Photojournalism ethics
Considerations
Grief Death and gore Embarrassment of individuals Possible negative stereotyping of groups Juveniles Criminality Sexuality

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Reporting with graphics

Bar charts good for showing a single set of data and for comparing data

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Reporting with graphics

Line charts use only to show change over time

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Reporting with graphics

Pie charts use only for showing the parts of a whole

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Reporting with graphics

Most graphics will contain these elements

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Essential math for journalists

Mean or average Median Percentage Percentage of change Ratio

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.