1. If a balancing statement is not included in an article, a journalist may be charged with defamation. The statement from a source should be included, even if it may be suspected to be untrue.
2. One principle of journalism is that both sides of a story are told. If a balancing statement cannot be found, the journalist should state in the article that they attempted to get a balancing statement.
3. Obviously the journalist must be careful not to be physically injured at the scene. They must also be careful not to place blame unless completely sure and able to prove it. The story should be written asap.
4. There are four modes of reporting:
- straight traditional (inverted pyramid)
- narrative (real characters act)
- p.o.v. (visible point)
- radical clarity (no assumptions)
Points of Interest:
- 'transitonal devices' or 'word bridges' glue words together.
- Quotations should be used sparingly.
- Stories must be written accurately and in the right chronological order.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Chapter 5 Week 5
1. I read the front page of newspapers because it's the first thing i see in the paper. If i am interested in any of the frontpage stories i will continue reading through the paper. The main puropse of me reading newspapers is usually because of uni requirements or if i need to fill in some time while im waiting for something eg. at a cafe.
2. I spend more time watching TV because i can watch TV and do other things at the same time such as cooking dinner etc. If i had the paper delivered i would definately read it more, because i have to go to the shop to get my paper i tend to forget to buy it.
3. The main aim of news values is to gain reader attention to news stories. If a trick introduction is going to get more attention to a story than using the main news values in the introduction then i would use the trick introduction.
4. When trying to write a story that i can't get right I start from scratch, a few fresh starts usually get me a better story. I could also try writing from a different angle.
5. If an editor tried to change my story in a way that wasn't correct i would talk to the editor about the piece and see if a compormise could be reached.
Points of Interest:
- I found it interesting to think about the reasons why I watch television news more than reading newspapers. When newspapers are so readily available to me why do I choose to watch the television? I prefer to watch television news because I can get all the information I need from one thing, including visuals. I also like the idea that I can get all the news I want while engaging in other activities such as puzzles or cooking dinner. In a world where time is so precious, television allows its audience to multi-task.
- Writers must try to avoid false advertising.
- Introductions should be kept "short and simple". Introductions should be kept “short and simple”. The most important part of a news story is the introduction. The purpose of the introduction is to capture the reader, to make them want to keep on reading. The introduction must be clear and concise so that the audience knows exactly what the main theme of the article is about. The introduction should also be kept short and simple. If the introduction is too complicated then the reader might think it is a waste of time to read, especially if they have to re-read every par in the article in order to make sense of it. The first par of the article should be no more than 25 words and include the main topic of the story. But importantly ensure your first par draws in the reader.
2. I spend more time watching TV because i can watch TV and do other things at the same time such as cooking dinner etc. If i had the paper delivered i would definately read it more, because i have to go to the shop to get my paper i tend to forget to buy it.
3. The main aim of news values is to gain reader attention to news stories. If a trick introduction is going to get more attention to a story than using the main news values in the introduction then i would use the trick introduction.
4. When trying to write a story that i can't get right I start from scratch, a few fresh starts usually get me a better story. I could also try writing from a different angle.
5. If an editor tried to change my story in a way that wasn't correct i would talk to the editor about the piece and see if a compormise could be reached.
Points of Interest:
- I found it interesting to think about the reasons why I watch television news more than reading newspapers. When newspapers are so readily available to me why do I choose to watch the television? I prefer to watch television news because I can get all the information I need from one thing, including visuals. I also like the idea that I can get all the news I want while engaging in other activities such as puzzles or cooking dinner. In a world where time is so precious, television allows its audience to multi-task.
- Writers must try to avoid false advertising.
- Introductions should be kept "short and simple". Introductions should be kept “short and simple”. The most important part of a news story is the introduction. The purpose of the introduction is to capture the reader, to make them want to keep on reading. The introduction must be clear and concise so that the audience knows exactly what the main theme of the article is about. The introduction should also be kept short and simple. If the introduction is too complicated then the reader might think it is a waste of time to read, especially if they have to re-read every par in the article in order to make sense of it. The first par of the article should be no more than 25 words and include the main topic of the story. But importantly ensure your first par draws in the reader.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Chapter 4 Week 4
1. The reports on this tragedy dominated the front pages of newspapers for months. Journalists used the impact of the event as the main news value, also using the poluarity of Thialand and other regions as holiday destinations for Australians.
2. Conflict, proximity and human interest are news values that would have been important when considering the angle of this story when writing a report. These values bring alot of attention to the story. Readers are often more interested in a story of conflict than a story of peace.
3. b. Prominence relates to a person who is highly recognisable on any scale. Prince Charles is known on an international level therefore writing a story based on his opinion is going to be better than a story written about an Australian mayor who is only nationally known.
4. News is any information that is out of the usual.
5. Kipling's 'Six Strong Serving Men' are very important when writng a news sotry. In most cases some of the 'Serving Men' are more important than others depending on the angle of the sotry.
Points of Interest:
- Kipling's 'Six Strong Serving Men' are: who-what-when-where-how-why. These Six strong serving men are important to consider when writing a news story, or any story really. In all circumstances where i have had to write a news story i always plan my story around who-what-when-where-how and why to make sure i cover all aspects of the story.
- Each 'Serving Man' should be addressed in a story.
- News is 'anything you find out today that you didn't know before' Turner Catledge. To me this quote means that news is kind of undefinable, apart from the fact that it is some kind of information you didnt know before, new information or knowledge. The quote says that news isn't what someone says should be news.
2. Conflict, proximity and human interest are news values that would have been important when considering the angle of this story when writing a report. These values bring alot of attention to the story. Readers are often more interested in a story of conflict than a story of peace.
3. b. Prominence relates to a person who is highly recognisable on any scale. Prince Charles is known on an international level therefore writing a story based on his opinion is going to be better than a story written about an Australian mayor who is only nationally known.
4. News is any information that is out of the usual.
5. Kipling's 'Six Strong Serving Men' are very important when writng a news sotry. In most cases some of the 'Serving Men' are more important than others depending on the angle of the sotry.
Points of Interest:
- Kipling's 'Six Strong Serving Men' are: who-what-when-where-how-why. These Six strong serving men are important to consider when writing a news story, or any story really. In all circumstances where i have had to write a news story i always plan my story around who-what-when-where-how and why to make sure i cover all aspects of the story.
- Each 'Serving Man' should be addressed in a story.
- News is 'anything you find out today that you didn't know before' Turner Catledge. To me this quote means that news is kind of undefinable, apart from the fact that it is some kind of information you didnt know before, new information or knowledge. The quote says that news isn't what someone says should be news.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Chapter 2 Week 3
1. I think the most important media function is to inform. Informing the public of current affairs and news is a very important part of journalism because the public demand to know what is happening in their world.
2. When profits and ratings are involved in determining what is reported on, the material chosen to report on is done so in a bias manner due to the person deciding 'what's newsworthy' being swayed by making money and increasing theiraudience.
3. The presence of bias in regards to what is newsworthy is a big problem in the media. Newsworthyness should reflect public interest, not the interest of the one gaining profit.
4. Investigative journalism involves gathering information. Australian newspapers are not very commited to investigative journalism as it is alot more time consuming than other forms of journalism. The large amount of time required for this reporting means increased cost to the newspapers which editors are not usually willing to pay. Legal issues such as defamation action also play an important role in the decision to abandon investigative journalism.
5. I think in all aspects of the media, journalists should stay loyal to their readers. This kind of problem brings in thoughts of the influence of the fourth estate in the media today. Advertisers can be replaced, whereas the newspaper's readers once lost are lost forever.
Points of Interest:
- The success of a media outlet is measured by its audience. As i learnt in the text book this week, all media forms strive to achieve mass audiences because their success depends upon it. Media forms get their funding from advertisers etc who are wanting publicity through the certain medium, therefore the media outlet needs to attract large audiences in order to keep their funding coming. This means that a media outlet with a large audience is more successful than that with a smaller audience because advertisers are going to support those who reach alot of people rather than a small amount of people.
- The media's entertainment sections are there purely for enjoyment and to add a little lighthearted edge to the 'hard' stories reported on. Although many people deny reading and caring about the entertainment sections of the newspaper, it is one of the most popular sections featured in all papers. The public interest of celebrities etc is so massive that hundreds of magazines make success of writing only about that. Many people find the entertainment sections a leisurely activity. I think it is iimportant to have a mix of hard news, soft news and entertainment within newspapers, the world would be a very depressed place if all we ever read about was war and natural disasters.
- Australian laws in regard to journalism and reporting are alot stricter than in America. For example, in Australia a journalist can be charged with defamation if they don't follow strict rules when writing about people or places. It is just as important for the laws of journalism to be applied to protec t the public as it is to apply the AJA Code of Ethics to protect journalists and the public. The laws may be stricter, but they keep the balance between writer and reader.
2. When profits and ratings are involved in determining what is reported on, the material chosen to report on is done so in a bias manner due to the person deciding 'what's newsworthy' being swayed by making money and increasing theiraudience.
3. The presence of bias in regards to what is newsworthy is a big problem in the media. Newsworthyness should reflect public interest, not the interest of the one gaining profit.
4. Investigative journalism involves gathering information. Australian newspapers are not very commited to investigative journalism as it is alot more time consuming than other forms of journalism. The large amount of time required for this reporting means increased cost to the newspapers which editors are not usually willing to pay. Legal issues such as defamation action also play an important role in the decision to abandon investigative journalism.
5. I think in all aspects of the media, journalists should stay loyal to their readers. This kind of problem brings in thoughts of the influence of the fourth estate in the media today. Advertisers can be replaced, whereas the newspaper's readers once lost are lost forever.
Points of Interest:
- The success of a media outlet is measured by its audience. As i learnt in the text book this week, all media forms strive to achieve mass audiences because their success depends upon it. Media forms get their funding from advertisers etc who are wanting publicity through the certain medium, therefore the media outlet needs to attract large audiences in order to keep their funding coming. This means that a media outlet with a large audience is more successful than that with a smaller audience because advertisers are going to support those who reach alot of people rather than a small amount of people.
- The media's entertainment sections are there purely for enjoyment and to add a little lighthearted edge to the 'hard' stories reported on. Although many people deny reading and caring about the entertainment sections of the newspaper, it is one of the most popular sections featured in all papers. The public interest of celebrities etc is so massive that hundreds of magazines make success of writing only about that. Many people find the entertainment sections a leisurely activity. I think it is iimportant to have a mix of hard news, soft news and entertainment within newspapers, the world would be a very depressed place if all we ever read about was war and natural disasters.
- Australian laws in regard to journalism and reporting are alot stricter than in America. For example, in Australia a journalist can be charged with defamation if they don't follow strict rules when writing about people or places. It is just as important for the laws of journalism to be applied to protec t the public as it is to apply the AJA Code of Ethics to protect journalists and the public. The laws may be stricter, but they keep the balance between writer and reader.
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