WHAT IS NEWS?

A break from the normal flow of events, an interruption in the expected. Melvin Mencher,
News Reporting and Writing
A material which is most likely to be looked to and accepted as the image of reality. Raymond
and Alice Bauer, America, Mass Society and Mass Media
Tomorrows history done up in todays neat package. Mitchell Charnley
The inexact measure of the ebb and flow of the tides of human aspirations, the ignominy of
mankind, the glory of the human race, the best record we have of the incredible meanness and
the magnificent courage of man. - Stanley Walker
Is any event, idea or opinion that is timely, that interests and affects a large number of persons
in the community, and that is capable of being understood by them.
Characteristics of News
According to Spencers definition
Timeliness
Proximity
Prominence
Significance
Oddity
Classification of News Sources
Traditional sources
Executive offices;
Senate and the House of
Representatives;
Constitutional bodies
Local governments
Financial institutions
Non-traditional sources
Cause-oriented groups
Youth groups
Labor groups
Campuses and universities
3 Methods of News Gathering
The actual coverage of an event
Interview with a prominent personality
Writing from documents
Types of News Stories
Action story something visual, moving and concrete. It is based on actual coverage or
presented as if the writer is an eyewitness to the event.
Idea story also called Substance story; a type of story which is abstract and static. It is culled
from reports and documents.
News Categories
According to News Machine: Guide to Advanced Techniques in Journalism by the Thompson Foundation
Novelty
Personal Impact
Local News
Money stories about income, wages, new taxes, inflation, lotteries.
Crime and punishment
Sex
Conflicts stories about wars and revolutions, coup d etats and violent demonstrations.
Inner conflicts mans inhumanity to man, the struggle between good and evil, the gap
between the rich and the poor.
Human interest stories about human emotions: kindness, cruelty, success.
Religion
Disasters and tragedies
Humor
The underdog
Mystery
Health
Science
Entertainment
Famous people
Weather
Food and drinks
Group stories
NEWSWRITING: THEORIES AND TECHNIQUES
Journalism
It is a form of writing, characterized by direct presentation of facts or description of events
without an attempt at interpretation, and designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine.
It is the art of telling a story in as concise and simple manner as possible.
Vigorous writing is concise.
- William Stunk Jr., Elements of Style
Objective Journalism
The type of reporting events that confines itself to facts and answers the questions what, when,
where, who, why and how.
Interpretative Journalism
The type of reporting wherein the journalist attempts to explain the significance of an event by
expounding on the question why and how.
Fourth Estate
The media or the public press is referred to as the fourth branch or estate with the role of
fiscalizing the three other branches (the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary).
Adversarial Journalism
The media or the public press is referred to as the fourth branch or estate with the role of
fiscalizing the three other branches (the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary).
The primary function of the media is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
Joseph Pulitzer
Developmental Journalism
A form of reporting that aims at promoting the social, economic and political development of a
country.
Derided by critics as Subservience Journalism or Mouthpiece Writing because journalists write
in support of government efforts to improve the quality of life of the people.
Also called Sunshine Journalism

Yellow Journalism
A type of journalism that sensationalizes stories about crimes and violence. It gained its name
from a popular cartoon in the U.S in the late 19
th
century entitled The Yellow Kid.
Also called Cheese-cake Journalism
Journalists three-fold role
He reports or describes an event
He explains and interprets it
He forecasts its likely consequences
Key parts of Communication Process
SOURCE - refers to the giver of the message.
MESSAGE
CHANNEL the medium through which the message is transmitted.
AUDIENCE the recipient of the message.
The Beat System