Gathering information is a basic human activity we use

information to learn, to help us solve problems, to aid our decision

making processes and to understand each other more clearly.
Questioning is the key to gaining more information and without it
interpersonal communications can fail. Questioning is
fundamental to successful communication - we all ask and are
asked questions when engaged in conversation.
We find questions and answers fascinating and entertaining politicians,
reporters, celebrities and entrepreneurs are often successful based on their
questioning skills asking the right questions at the right time and also
answering (or not) appropriately.
Although questions are usually verbal in nature, they can also be non-verbal. Raising of the
eyebrows could, for example, be asking, Are you sure? facial expressions can ask all sorts of subtle
questions at different times and in different contexts.
This means you often have to ask hard questions and risk upsetting people who do not want to co-operate.
It may be painful but in the end you will gain their respect. So always be polite, however rude people may
be. The rule is simple: be polite but persistent.

1. News Sense:
News sense is the basic quality of newsmen. Every reporter has to have news sense or nose for
news to distinguish news from non-news.
He should be able to compare various news values and decide where to begin his story and should
not miss important details.
News sense is essential for a sub-editor also. He is the first reader of a reporters copy and if the
reporter has made a mistake he has to correct it. A bad copy may have the most important element
of the story buried in the fourth paragraph. It will be left to the sub-editors nose for news to bring that
to the first paragraph.

2. Clarity:
A reporter should have clarity of mind and expression. A person who is confused himself cannot tell
a story to others.
Only clarity of mind is not enough unless it is accompanied by clarity of expression. Without clarity of
expression clarity of mind has no meaning.
Sub-editor is the judge of clarity of the copy a good subeditor will never allow a copy escape him
unless the meaning is crystal clear. He has every right to make life miserable for a reporter who is
not clear and does not write in simple language.

3. Objectivity:
Reporter and sub-editor should aim at objectivity while dealing with a story. They should not allow
their personal bias or ideas to creep into a story. They should not take sides but try to cover all the
different viewpoints to achieve balance in the story.

4. Accuracy:
A reporter should strive for accuracy. He should check and re-check his facts till he is satisfied that
he has them accurate. In this respect he should not take any chance as accuracy is directly
proportional to the credibility of a reporter and his newspaper.
The role of a sub-editor is to check for accuracy. It is particularly important when background is
involved. In the case of dates and names the reporter may rely on his memory but the sub-editor
must check them from reference material available in the newspaper office.
When there is a doubt he should leave it outthis is the golden rule of journalism. It is better not to
say a thing than to say it wrong.

5. Alertness:
A reporter should always be alert while dealing with his subjects. Many major news breaks in the
past were possible because of alertness of reporters. Scoops dont walk into newspaper offices
alert reporters catch them in air and pursue.
A sub-editor has to be alert while working on news-desk. Lack of alertness of a sub-editor can be
seen by readers in the morning for he will be leaving or introducing mistakes for everybody to see.

6. Speed:
In todays world speed matters everywhere. A person who cannot work fast cannot be a good
reporter. While maintaining all other desirable qualities a reporter should strive to work faster. He
should think fast, decide fast and write or type fast for he has to meet deadlines or may have to go to
another assignment.

A sub-editor also has to work with speed. He cannot sit with a copy for long. He has to do swiftly
whatever is required of him for a lot more copy is waiting for him. A slow sub-editor is a curse at the
news desk and is treated with contempt. Some people are misfits in the profession.

7. Calmness:
Reporters and sub-editors often work in trying circumstances. They have to remain calm and
composed in most exciting and tragic circumstances.
In many situations they have to be calm devoid of hysterical actions or utterances and apply
appropriate mental and physical effort to write or edit the story.
Reporters and sub-editors are human beings. They have emotions but they have to stifle them in the
face of disturbing influencesthey have to develop resistance to excitability. Being in the field,
reporters face many such occasions when they have to control their emotions.
Sub-editors should develop a temperament to work under pressure of deadlines. They should not
lose their cool if they are behind the clock for calm mind can work faster.

8. Curiosity:
Reporters and sub-editors should have an unsatiable curiosity. For reporters it is useful in
developing lust for facts that may lead to better stories.
This characteristic will keep on improving a sub-editor for with every passing day a curious subeditor
will have a better background to do his job the next day. Reporters and sub-editors should read as
much as possible to constantly improve their awareness level.

9. Scepticism:
It is another necessary quality which a reporter and a subeditor should cultivate. They should not
take anything for granted. They should have an unwavering posture of doubt until faced with
undeniable proof.
Reporters should be more vigilant for many forces constantly try to use them, and through them their
paper.
Many people try to plant on reporters a wrong story for their own ends. Many a time reporters fall
into such traps in good faith. They should have enough scepticism to avoid such plots.
Sub-editors should also be careful for some clever politicians, public relations men and product
advertisers keep on trying to take them for a ride.

They should not allow anything to go in news columns that should actually go as advertisement.
They should not fail to check even reporters, copy for such foul play.

10. Punctuality:
It is a good habit. For reporters it is a must for if they are not punctual they may miss something for
which they may have to depend on secondary sources. It is always better to be punctual and then
wait than reach late and ask othersa rival may misinform you or hide some important information.
At the desk too punctuality pays. If a sub-editor is punctual he will be treated with respect by his coworkers.
If he is late he will irritate them and spoil the working atmosphere. Besides he may have to face the
problem of backlog of copy which he will have to clear under the pressure of deadline.

11. Patience:
It is a quality which helps a reporter in a big way for many a time almost daily he has to test his
patience, the voluntary self- control or restraint that helps one to endure waiting, provocation,
injustice, suffering or any of the unpleasant vicissitudes of time and life.
Most of the time a reporter waits for someone or something and patience gives him the willingness
for wait without becoming disgruntled or anxious.
Many a time he has to tolerate other peoples shortcomings and has to remain unperturbed by
someone elses slowness or other quirks.
Patience also helps sub-editors as they work long hours in trying conditions. They have to put up
with many annoying situations everyday vis-a-vis reporters, proof readers or typesetters.

12. Imagination:
This basic mental faculty helps reporters in writing better stories that retain the readers interest.
For a sub-editor this creative faculty is very useful as he can add sparkle to somebody elses copy
and make it lively. Besides, imaginative headlines attract the reader and improve the quality of a
newspaper.

13. Farsightedness:
An intelligent envisioning of the future helps newsmen in general. The quality helps them in
identifying processes and people who will be important in future.
Reporters can watch such processes and cultivate people who may become important news sources
in the future.

It helps reporters and sub-editors in determining the importance of an event. A reporter with foresight
can think ahead and prepare for eventualities.
With a little forethought sub-editors can plan their work so as to avoid tension and it results in better
functioning of the desk.

14. Self-discipline:
One can achieve a degree of proficiency in sub-editing or reporting by systematic effort and selfcontrol. In this sense self- discipline suggests dedication and firm commitment. It helps in journalism
as in any other field.

15. Integrity:
It is a virtue in itself and implies undeviating honesty and strict adherence to a stern code of ethics.
This human quality is important for journalists. It is more important for reporters for they are more
exposed to temptation as compared to sub-editors.

16. Fearlessness and Frankness:

These qualities help reporters in asking unpleasant questions and taking risks to find out truth.
Nobody gives a story on a platter.
The reporter will have to probe, question, authenticate and exercise his power of deduction to get a
good story.

17. Tactfulness:
A reporter should be tactful. He should have the ability to handle sensitive people and situations
gracefully without causing hurt or angry feelings. He should be considerate of others and should be
careful not to embarrass, upset or offend them.
A reporter should have flexible and sociable personality and should have a nature that relishes
variety of experiences.
He should have an understanding of human behaviour and emotions. This will help him in
developing contacts that are so essential for news gathering.

18. Initiative:
A reporter who works in the field should have an outgoing nature with initiative and drive. These
qualities will help him get acquainted with news sources and get stories from them. A meek, retiring
or shy person is not fit for reporting.
He may be good at his desk. Reporters need a fair amount of assertiveness and aggressiveness to
be successful in their career.-

19. Mobility:
A reporter should be mobile. He should enjoy moving around and should not hesitate travelling
distances to get stories when required.
He should go to his news sources as often as possible for such constant contacts help him get
news. A mobile reporter is seldom caught napping when a major story breaks.

20. Diligence:
Reporters and sub-editors should be diligent. Their jobs require painstaking exertion of intense care
and effort, alertness and dedication to the task and wary watchfulness.
They have to make extremely fine distinctions while writing or editing copy a sub-editor should insist
on perfection and should lose his job for he can make or impair the newspaper.
These qualities are basically qualities of good and efficient human beings. Good and efficient human
being makes good and efficient sub-editors and reporters.
All other things being equal reporters need additional qualities to deal effectively with all sorts of
people they meet in the field. Sub-editors should have better command over language as they
improve what reporters write.

The first quality is honesty. Why is honesty?

Because the journalists or correspondents are
people who reflect the truth of things happen
around us on the papers or medias. Everydays,
there are millions of people read the news on
newspapers so It will be really dangerous if the
jounalist write the wrong news to cause
misunderstanding. For example, in politics, if
someone makes use of the jounalists to cause
conflict between this party to another. There will be
hundreds or even millions of people die. \nThe
second quality is hardworking. As you know, the
period we are living is the age of informations. The

level of the public are constantly being enhanced.

The Jounalists are necessary to learn, to widen
their knowledge at every fields in order to creat
deep cultural articles. \nThe final quality is
kindness. Uncle said that each jounalist is each
soldier and their weapon is the pen. That is
absolutely right. On the daily newspaper, there are
a lot of news of homeless people need help,
patients of cancer need blood or tissue, many
other poor people need support from rich, kind
people. Why we know that news to support them?
thanks to kind jounalists. They use their pens to
expose the evil of the society, to strugge against
social inequality, protect for the weak, poor
classes. In some cases, they would have a lot of
money if they sold hot scandal news about hot
superstar. But they choose another way. Working in
silent to help the others.\nWe have enough reasons
to believe the jounalists. However, we should
choose the famous newspaper to read, and reading
in a selective way. We not only read but also hear
and see. In the age of variety of information
sources, we need to be clear and intelligent to
reliaze which the truth is.

To have documents about the wars in Iraq, the

writers go to the center of the war, so it is very
dangerous. In conclusion, the journalist need to be
well trained themselves to get a good promotion,
and to use their pens effectively.

They are willing to go to the remote or dangerous

areas .Even many journalists spend many sleepless
nights so that they can have the most update
information to reflect the life of the people or hot
and serious problems that the society is paying
attention to .For example . the East Sea problem
China has placed the illegal oil rig into Vietnam is
being paid attention to .To have such accurate
news , many journalists are bravery to reach near
the Chinas oil rig .Morever , thanks to many
journalists ,many poor and disadvantaged children
have free heart operation , many children have an
opportunity to go to school and many bridges are
built in the rural or mountainous areas
.\nSecondly , in terms of the politics , on behalf of

the government , party ,the public ,the journalists

must have a strong political stance . According to
uncle Hos speech Journalism staff are also the
revolutionary fighters . The pen , paper is their
sharpest weapon .By extension ,Vietnamese
journalist is also a politician , a soldier on the field
of ideology ,culture of the party .Therefore ,if their
political stance isnt strong ,it will be hard for them
to complete propagation ,policy protection ,the
party guidelines ,policies and laws of the states
,the struggle against hostile attitudes , the wrong
in the context of ongoing enemy peaceful
evolution with many ways , increasingly
sophisticated tricks \nThirdly , The journalists are
fully aware of the moral standards of journalism
.They dare speak up the truth , condemn the wrong
actions , encourage and protect the good ,the
beautiful ,get rid of the evils .In general , they
always primarily think and act for the people and
the countrys sake .\nFourly . They must have the
profound knowledge about journalism .They always
update the information ,apply the science
technology in their work ,especially a foreign
language that they are not short of is English which
helps them to have the fastest information
.\nHowever ,what makes the people distrust them
is that the journalists are greedy for money , their

morality and behaviors are deteriorated . They did

the wrong actions by working with immoral and
deteriorated people or they blackmail the
entrepreneurs ,write the untrue articles to run
down them .As the result , They are put into the
prison .Morever, To submit their articles on time ,
they launch the unreliable news but very
sensational to attract the readers attraction ,which
makes people distrust in the journalists
information \n In short ,there are many qualities
which create a good journalist .in my opinion , we
should believe them because the distrustful
journalists will be sacked sooner or later by the
society

n general, a successful journalist should be first able to use careful judgement when
organising and reporting information. Determination and persistence are required when
journalists ought to defend the freedom of the press and ordinary citizens' right to know the
truth, despite being under different forms of pressure. In addition, they should be sensitive
to and interested in current affairs at all levels. In acting as successful communicators and
information senders, journalists should also have a good command of language skills and a
real knowledge of different cultures, countries, races and social groups.
As shown above, people have reasons to suspect the creditability of a journalist. Either as a
medium that deliberately affects the public interest or as a form of entertainment that does
not attach much importance to seriousness, journalism has failed to maintain objectivity
and live up to ideals of journalistic responsibility. Without showing respect to freedom of
express and conveying messages accurately and promptly to the public, one cannot
beacclaimed as a qualified journalist.

Paul Radin, a leading anthropologist of the early twentieth century, characterized the journalist as a
man of action rather than a thinker.40 - See more at:
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For more than a century, journalists have relied on two basic tools observation and
interviewing.53 Reporters are trained to look first to the scene of action and then to the statements of
interested parties. Observation and interviewing are highly useful tools, which is why they been in
use for so long. They are also tools that require judgment and experience if they are to be used
properly.54 Nevertheless, like all such tools, observation and interviewing have limits. They fail, says
journalist Robert Niles, to provide us instruction on how to test the accuracy of information we
receive.55 Even when they yield reliable information, observation and interviewing enable journalists
to capture only those aspects of developments that are observable and that available parties are
able and willing to talk about.56
Invented by American journalists in the nineteenth century,57 the interview is likely the handiest
reporting tool ever devised. Interviewing relieves the journalist of having to undertake more
demanding forms of investigation, and the interviewees words can be treated as fact insofar as the
words were actually said.58 Yet, the interview is not foolproof. Who is interviewed, what is asked, and
even the time and place of the interview can affect the answers. Responses are subject to mistakes
of memory or even a sources determination to mislead a reporter, as was the case in frontpage New York Times stories that stemmed from White House officials hoodwinking of reporter
Judith Miller during the lead up to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
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The second knowledge skill an understanding of the communication process has been nearly
overlooked by journalism practitioners. Studies indicate that most journalists are largely unaware of
how their reporting tools and story constructions affect story content and audience response. 75 It
would be as if teachers had only a vague idea of the instructional techniques that help students
learn. Admittedly, journalists dont have the face-to-face interactions with their readers and listeners
that teachers have with their students. News audiences are out of sight and therefore harder to
comprehend. Nevertheless, unless journalists develop a better understanding of their audience
an area in which mass communication research provides guidance they will miss opportunities to
inform it, as studies of attribution and framing bias have shown. 76 - See more at:
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Truth is the holy grail of journalism. In the late 1990s, two dozen of the nations top reporters,
calling themselves the Committee of Concerned Journalists, held a series of public forums to
address what its members saw as declining news standards. Over a period of two years, the
committee met with three thousand reporters and citizens to exchange ideas about the purpose of
journalism.3 The resulting Statement of Shared Principles identified truth as journalisms standard:

[J]ournalistic truth is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and
verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, valid for
now, subject to further investigation. Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources
and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. Even in a world of
expanding voices, accuracy is the foundation upon which everything else is built context,
interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The truth, over time, emerges from this
forum.4
The committee members were careful to say that journalistic truth is not truth in the ordinary sense
of the word, much less in the way philosophers understand it. Journalistic truth is a sorting out
process that occurs over time through interaction among the public, newsmakers, and
journalists.5 Committee members Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel said that journalists get at the
truth in a complex world by first stripping information of any misinformation, disinformation, or selfpromoting bias and then letting the community react. The search for truth becomes a
conversation.6
There is no reason to question reporters determination to deliver

what journalist Carl Bernstein calls the best obtainable version of truth. 7 And its easy to find
examples of accurate reporting. Yet, reporters fall far short of delivering truth. Studies show, for
example, that economic coverage typically lags behind major shifts in the macro-economic cycle.
Existing story lines can linger in the news months after the economic conditions that gave rise to
them have changed.8 Nor is economic reporting the exception. Studies have found that social
conditions are often misreported.9 As for forecasting predicting how events will unfold
journalists judgments, as one study concluded, are repeatedly, wildly wrong. 10
If news is truth, there appear to be at least two versions of it, one for print journalists and one for
television journalists.11 A Washington State University study found that local TV and newspaper
reporters portray U.S. Senate campaigns differently so differently, in fact, that voters could
reasonably conclude they are witnessing different contests. The priorities of newspapers and local
television news seldom overlapped, is how the research team described its findings. 12

When journalists speak of truth in news, they often have a narrow conception in mind, one that boils
down to the accuracy of specific facts.13 Did Senator Smith actually say the words attributed to her?
Did last years trade deficit actually top $400 billion? Some news organizations retain fact checkers
to verify such claims. But fact checkers dont address the fundamental question: Is the story itself
true? A story can be accurate in its particulars what was said, when and where it happened, who
witnessed it, and so on and yet falter as a whole. Even if the facts check out, however, the story
would not be true for that reason alone.14 Early coverage of the Afghan war, for example, was often
accurate in its particulars but off the mark in its assessments of Afghan society and the likely course
of the war.15
Even the facts can be elusive. A 2005 study of fourteen local newspapers funded by the Knight
Foundation found that three-fifths of their stories contained an error. Some errors were minor, as in
the misspelling of a name. Others were more significant, as in the case of a misleading headline or
faulty claim. None of the newspapers had a low error rate. Neither stature of the paper nor market
size, the study concluded, [was] closely associated with accuracy. 16
If not truth, what is the essential characteristic of news? The Washington Posts David Broder came
close to describing it when he said: My experience suggests that we often have a hard time finding
our way through the maze of facts visible and concealed in any story. We often misjudge
character, mistake plot lines. And even when the facts seem most evident to our senses, we go
astray by our misunderstanding and misjudgment of the context in which they belong. 17
- See more at: http://journalistsresource.org/skills/research/knowledge-basedreporting#sthash.QMT5QFUQ.dpuf

In their influential book, The Elements of Journalism, Kovach and Rosenstiel say that journalists
discipline of verification is what allows them to hone in on the truth. The discipline of verification,
they write, is what separates journalism from entertainment, propaganda, fiction, or art.
Entertainment and its cousin infotainment focus on what is most diverting. Propaganda
selects facts and invents them to serve the real purpose: persuasion and manipulation. Fiction
invents scenarios to get at a more personal impression of what it calls truth. Journalism alone is
focused on getting what happened down right.18 - See more at:
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