Block 1
Block 1
Block 1
Reporting Techniques
Indira Gandhi National Open University
School of Journalism and New Media Studies
MJM-021
Reporting Techniques
Indira Gandhi National Open University
School of Journalism and New Media Studies
BLOCK 1
NEWS CONCEPTS 7
BLOCK 2
REPORTING TECHNIQUES 63
BLOCK 3
BEAT REPORTING-1 113
BLOCK 4
BEAT REPORTING -2 183
1
EXPERTS COMMITTEE
Prof. B.P. Sanjay Prof. J.S. Yadav Prof. B.K. Kuthiala
Former VC, CUTN; PVC, Former Director, IIMC, Former VC, MLCRPV,
Univ. of Hyderabad, Hyderabad New Delhi Bhopal
Prof. G. Ravindran Prof. Kiran Thakur Prof. Usha Raman
Head, Department of Former Head, Deptt. of S. N. School of Arts &
Communication, University Communication & Communication,
of Madras, Chennai Journalism, Savitribai University of Hyderabad,
Phule Pune University, Pune Hyderabad
Mr. Shastri Ramachandran
Editor and Columnist, Prof. Iftekhar Ahmed Prof. Jaishri Jethwaney
New Delhi Director, MCRC, Jamia Former Head, ADPR,
Milia Islamia, New Delhi IIMC, New Delhi
Prof. Usha Rani
Former Head, Deptt. of Ms Sevanti Ninan Ms Pamela Philipose
Comm.& Journalism, Mysore Senior Journalist & Senior Journalist and
University Founder Editor, Author, New Delhi
The Hoot, New Delhi
Ms Mahalakshmi Jayaram Prof. Gita Bamezai
Senior Dy. Editor, Prof. Biswajit Das Head Dept. of Comm.
The Hindu, Chennai Director, CCMG, Jamia Research, IIMC
Milia Islamia, New Delhi New Delhi
Dr. Vipul Mudgal
Senior Journalist and Author, Prof. Madhu Parhar Mr. K. Ravikanth
New Delhi Director, STRIDE, IGNOU Director, EMPC, IGNOU
Prof. Subhash Dhuliya Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, Dr. O. P. Dewal
Former Director, Former Director, SOJNMS, Associate Professor,
SOJNMS, IGNOU IGNOU SOJNMS, IGNOU
Dr. Kiron Bansal Dr. K.S. Arul Selvan Dr. Ramesh Yadav
Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor,
SOJNMS, IGNOU SOJNMS, IGNOU SOJNMS, IGNOU
Dr. Shikha Rai Dr.Amit Kumar Ms. Padmini Jain
Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor,
SOJNMS, IGNOU SOJNMS, IGNOU SOJNMS, IGNOU
PRINT PRODUCTION
Mr. K. N. Mohnan Mrs. Sumaty Nair
Assistant Registrar (P) Assistant Registrar (P)
MPDD, IGNOU, New Delhi MPDD, IGNOU, New Delhi
December, 2019
@ Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2019
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COURSE INTRODUCTION: REPORTING
TECHNIQUES
Traditionally, the field of Journalism and Mass Communication was known to be producing
skilled journalists – reporters, editors and page designers until technology perforated the
social fabric to create greater opportunities and scope. Learning how to be a skilled
professional and learning how to report continues to be an important arm of journalism
education even to this day. This course also teaches a budding journalist the art of
analysing facts in the context provided and interpreting it to make meaning for larger
social good through creating awareness, educating, informing and persuading keeping the
ethical standards of profession in mind.
The course MJM-021 Reporting Techniques will provide you a basic understanding
of concepts and principles of news reporting, the importance and art of cultivating news
sources while also giving you a vivid idea of set up and operation of newsroom of various
media houses – print, electronic and online. Other than this, there are three more blocks,
one of which focuses on techniques of reporting and the necessary skills that go into
making a credible, holistic, professional and balanced news report tastefully in a modern,
technocratic news media world. The other two blocks focus on different beats of
reporting, enumerating in detail what kind of specialisation a budding journalist needs to
build to cover a particular beat.
Block 1 introduces you to news concepts. Unit 1 defines and enumerates the principles
of news and news values. Unit 2 Talks in detail about the news sources, their kinds, how
to cultivate them and ethical practices. Unit 3 discusses at length the news room set up
and functions of print and online media and Unit 4 does the same for electronic media.
Block 2 explains the reporting techniques in detail. Unit 5 details the different types of
news reporting and what sets one apart from the other. Unit 6 stresses a very important
aspect of research for journalistic writings and how it adds credibility and background
information to any news story. Unit 7 speaks about the tools and techniques used for
interviews. Unit 8 explains the newly emerging field of data journalism.
Block 3 is Beat Reporting -1 and covers four different beats. Unit 9 describes political
reporting at length. Unit 10 focuses on crime reporting and its nuances. Unit 11 will tell
you about the interesting world of sports reporting and Unit 12 will give you an insight
of legal reporting and how to report legal matters while staying within the purview of the
law.
Block 4 is titled as Beat Reporting -2 and has four units. Unit 13 is a detailed account
of civic reporting and citizen journalism – a concept that has come up fast over the last
decade. Unit 14 talks about social issues like disability and old age and how to cover
them adequately. Unit 15 teaches you how to report on health and education, updated
information on which is regularly needed by the masses. The last Unit 16 focuses on
covering lifestyle, fashion and films.
On completion of this four credit course, you should be able to:
describe the concepts, sources and principles of news;
This course is designed to make you skilled in theoretical aspects and their applicability
while reporting news for any media house and also to hone the skills of those who maybe
apt at a few things but lack holistic knowledge about news reporting and make them
ready for the competitive world of news reporting.
MJM-021
Reporting Techniques
Indira Gandhi National Open University
School of Journalism and New Media Studies
Block
1
NEWS CONCEPTS
UNIT 1
News: Definitions, Concepts and Principles 7
UNIT 2
News Sources 20
UNIT 3
News Room Set-up and Functions: Print and
Online Media 33
UNIT 4
News Room Set-up and Functions: Electronic Media 47
News Concepts
BLOCK INTRODUCTION: NEWS CONCEPTS
This is the first Block of the Course: MJM-021 Reporting Techniques on
News Concepts. Spread over four units the Block deals with different aspects
of news such as concept, definition and principles of news. It takes an overview
of various news sources and the newsroom set up of newspapers; online media
and television channels.
Unit 1: News: Definitions, Concepts and Principles discusses the concepts,
principles and techniques of news writing. It describes various techniques of
news writing such as 5Ws and 1H and the Inverted Pyramid style. It also
discusses the elements and ingredients that make news.
Unit 2: News Sources takes a critical look at the news sources in a story
and lists different news sources available to a news organisation while
differentiating between them from the point of view of journalistic ethics, routines
and practices. This unit helps you to search, select and compare different news
sources and develops a broad understanding of the usage of various sources
and their significance in the structuring of a news story.
Unit 3: News Room Set-up and Functions: Print and Online Media focuses
on working mechanism of a newsroom and its function and how news is gathered,
edited and disseminated in a presentable manner. It outlines the structural
difference between a newspaper and magazine and also explains how the working
of online media is different from the print media.
Unit 4: News Room Set-up and Functions: Electronic Media outlines the
picture of a newsroom in a TV news channel where presentation/production
of news takes final shape. Though there are some differences in the technologies
being used at different channels, more or less, the same basics are followed
everywhere. So if you learn these basics, you can begin work in any channel
with ease and pick it up in a short time.
Thus the block gives you a holistic perspective on the selection, collection, and
dissemination of news. To be a good or competent newsroom person, you need
to be conversant with all the areas discussed in this Block.
6
UNIT 1 NEWS-DEFINITIONS, CONCEPT
AND PRINCIPLES
Structure
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Learning Outcomes
1.2 Concept and Definition of News
1.3 Elements of News Writing
1.4 Principles and Techniques of News Writing
1.4.1 5Ws and 1H
1.4.2 The Inverted Pyramid
1.4.3 History of the Inverted Pyramid
1.4.4 Inverted Pyramid: A Critique
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Human beings’ curiosity to know and comprehend as to what is happening
around them is unlimited and unbound. People are always eager to know why
and how are certain events and incidents taking place, who is responsible for
these events, who are being affected by them; and what does the future hold
for them? If these events are of recent occurrence, and are of interest to a
vast majority of people, it becomes all the more important and necessary for
them to look for further information about these events. By piecing together
the details of all these points, some concrete, some hazy and quite often valuable
and useful facts emerge. Whatever emerges from such information is quite often
crucial and people need to know these and all possible details about these.
Such type of information, therefore, is called “NEWS”. In this unit we shall
systematically define ‘news’ and provide you with all the necessary perspectives
on news.
Conflict: Conflict of any type – political, social, cultural, communal, among some
sections of society, difference of opinion among two or more political parties,
conflict among some warring groups, or more of such conflicts always make
news. As you would have seen that differences between the Bhartiya Janata
Party and the Communist Party (Marxist) and the Indian National Congress
on the Indo-US nuclear deal made news in India for several months. You will
find that many more such issues figure in newspapers as news very often.
Novelty: Novel and rare incidents make news. When, for example, an American
woman gave birth to eight children, each weighing about 200 grams, and they
all survived, it made world news. Again, when an eight-year-old boy in Orissa
competed in a marathon race with grown ups, and won it, that became a novel
event to be deemed as news.
Empathy: Often, several events mirroring tragedy, humour, oddity, victory, failure
take place now and then in our life. Quite a few of these happenings attract
our concern or empathy: an old-age couple losing all its children in fire, flood,
accident; a child falling off from the arms of its mother in a moving bus/train
and getting crushed under its wheels – all make news. For, all human hearts
go out in sympathy for the loved ones so affected.
Given above are some of the most important elements, which often make news.
However, there are always occasions when we find new situations arising and
figuring as eminent news stories in the media all over the world. 11
News Concepts Check Your Progress 1
Note: 1) Use the space below for you answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. Define News in brief.
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2. Explain the five most important elements of a news story.
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18
d. Impact – events which have a wide ranging affect are more News: Definitions, Concepts
and Principles
newsworthy.
e. Novelty – any occurrence which is different or new will make for
more interesting news.
Check Your Progress 2
1. Lead, also called the Intro is the first paragraph of a news story. It should
contain the answers to the 5Ws and 1H:
Who was involved?
What happened?
When did it take place?
Where did it happen?
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
2. The inverted pyramid style of writing is an important technique of news
writing. In this style of writing the most important information is given first,
followed by less important and then the least important, thus forming an
inverted pyramid.
19
News Concepts
UNIT 2 NEWS SOURCES
Structure
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Learning Outcomes
2.2 News Sources
2.2.1 News Agencies
2.2.2 Wire Copies
2.2.3 Reporters
2.2.4 Individual Sources
2.2.5 Bureau Reports
2.2.6 Online sources and Social Media Platforms
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Have you ever wondered how dozens of television news channels and
newspapers manage to get enough news to broadcast round the clock or fill
up all the pages day after day? This is made possible because news collection
is not done randomly; instead it is a specialised activity that involves personnel
who are specifically trained to track news developments and select ‘news’ from
a wide variety of events that transpire in the world around us. Needless to
say, news is dependent on news sources and the news organisations’ ability
to get the news out in a timely (news being a perishable commodity), reliable
and presentable manner. At the same time, of the many events that occur not
everything becomes news.
News therefore is a complex process that involves selection of events that are
deemed ‘news worthy’. This selection implies three things: one, that a certain
class of people who we know as journalists and editors make the selection
on our behalf and decide what we must read as news; second, it inherently
means that certain people or sources have more access or privileged access
to media than others and therefore become newsmakers and third, it mandates
a routinised functioning of the media which presents stories in a specified format
and in a factory-like content production to produce news 24x7.
In this unit, we shall discuss different aspects of news sources including the
variety of news sources available to news organisations and the social
‘construction of news’; the source-media relationship and organisational routines
in media including the hierarchical distribution of work among a pool of trained
reporters who use these sources to produce their daily staple of news.
20
The objective of this unit is to describe how new stories are produced while News Sources
taking a critical look at the news sources used. The unit lists different news
sources available to a news organisation / reporter while differentiating between
them from the point of view of journalistic routines, ethics and practices.
Activity 1
Take a PTI story from its website and rewrite it by shuffling the sources
and interview bites. Analyse which other sources could have been used
in the story to make it more objective and balanced.
2.2.3 Reporters
Reporters and correspondents, as you are aware, are the backbone of any
24 newspaper or a television news channel. They are literally the face of the channel
or the newspaper. In fact, today news has become so news person or ‘reporter News Sources
centric’ that news channels and news papers market their brands in the names
of their reporters.
Competent, well- known and experienced reporters are thus central to any news
organisation which aspires to earn its readers’ or viewers’ trust and claim to
practice high quality journalism. Reporting itself is a highly specialised and
demanding profession that requires years of training and commitment to
journalism. Young reporters work for shifts much beyond their stipulated time
to learn the ropes of their profession. They have to sit with their editor for
hours and patiently learn to report, make contacts and get skilled into the fine
art and craft of reporting. They therefore have to learn to ‘create’ a news story
which follows well established conventions of the narrative form (see Schudson
1982), language codes, hierarchy of sources and seamless editing that hides
the frames in which meaning of the story is contained. Such socialisation in the
newsroom is both covert and overt. Graham Murdock points out how the
routinised and fixed way of presenting news within familiar frameworks has two
important consequences: it ‘recharges and extends the definitions and images
in question’ and it also conveys the eternal continuity and stability of the social
structures and order.
News gathering requires certain acumen and as they say- ‘a nose for news’.
Cub reporters are usually groomed into specialised areas of news, which has
resulted into what news organisations call the ‘beat system’ categorised into
national, political, metro/ city, business, sports, legal, science and environment,
education, health, and entertainment desks. In this division of work between
beat reporters, special correspondents and the general reporters, each are trained
differently and enter into very dissimilar relationship with their sources. This
also implies that the beat reporter has to spend plenty of time in the field, building
contacts with key persons who will eventually be his/ her sources often resulting
in a relationship of mutual cooperation with their sources. At times, this even
leads to co-optation of reporters by big corporate houses and powerful
politicians. For example, a city crime reporter must have adequate ‘contacts’
in the Police department, the courts and locals who will then be his/ her informers
in case some crime happens. While the reporter gets to file the story, the sources
attain a proximity to the Press and get free publicity when quoted in the story.
Time is of supreme value in news. A reporter could be reprimanded for not
covering an event in his/ her beat on time when other channels have already
begun flashing it. Source proximity could play a crucial role in getting the
information first. In a ‘breaking news’ culture marked by knee-jerk reactions,
sensationalism and where news outlets are competing to be the first to report,
the credibility and aptitude of the reporter who fails the time test is severely
put under the scanner. This mad rush to be the first to ‘break a story’ can
lead to instances of poor journalism when reporters fail to verify or cross- check
what their sources are saying in the interest of time. This can lead to a serious
violation of the principle of factual reportage. The consequence of making a
wrong piece of information public can never be overstated.
After applying satisfactory checks and balances, the reporters ‘cultivate’
trustworthy sources who give them information from time-to-time. Some of these
include: politicians, ministries, influential individuals, government officials, social
activists, spokespersons, public intellectuals and even other reporters covering
25
News Concepts the same beat in ‘rival’ news organisations. Besides press releases, handouts,
video clips, corporate films and media events provide a steady inflow of news.
Gans (1979) enlists six considerations that determine the suitability of a source
to a journalist. These are: past suitability, productivity, reliability, trustworthiness,
authoritativeness and articulateness.
Investigative journalism that results in ‘exclusives’, requires more time and tact
in the field, chasing information that is not easy to unearth. Investigative reporters
develop ‘contacts’ who can tip-off classified information or ‘leak’ information
in public interest to spark off a nationwide debate which would otherwise be
swept under the carpet. Often investigative reportage ends up questioning those
in power, upsetting the status quo and asking uncomfortable questions driven
by a commitment to bring the truth out in the ‘public sphere’ for a democratic
debate on the issue. Investigative reportage can therefore be used as an effective
safeguard against attempts by governments or powerful groups to manipulate
information or create consensus on issues without its full deliberations in the
public domain.
The problem is that most news organisations do not have the resources or the
time to let their reporters go on such investigative trails for weeks before it
can come out in the form of stories (Bhushan, 2013). The breaking news ethos
has in that sense eroded many long held journalistic principles of accuracy and
objectivity. The investigative news culture is fast withering away and giving place
to sensationalism and entertainment oriented news. Another phenomenon that
has had a far reaching impact on how news is gathered is the news organisations’
reliance on freelance stringers who are paid on per news/ story basis helping
cut down the expenses of retaining full time reporters (Roy, 2011) besides
providing geographical proximity (Gans, 1979).
Check Your Progress 1
Note: 1) Use the space below for you answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. Why are reporters considered to be the backbone of a newspaper or a
TV news channel?
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2. Discuss the factors that have led to the withering away of investigative news
reportage.
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3. Enlist the various sources that reporters use to build stories.
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26 .............................................................................................................
2.2.4 Individual Sources News Sources
Activity 2
Visit your nearest Railway Station regularly for a week. Make detailed field
notes everyday on all that you observe. After a week of observation try
to find three story ideas that you would like to develop as news features.
Taking each story at a time, look for your sources, take interview bytes
from them and develop your stories complete with voice-overs and visuals
that you think you will like to use for the three stories.
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Activity 2
Compare and contrast a news report on any political issue covered by
two different newspapers. Identify the sources used by each and analyse
the difference in the meaning conveyed.
32
UNIT 3 NEWSROOM SET UP AND
FUNCTIONS: PRINT AND
ONLINE MEDIA
Structure
3.0 Introduction
3.0 INTRODUCTION
In the previous units you have read about the concept and principles of news
and the news sources. In this unit we shall look at the newsroom set up and
functions of print and online media. The publication of a newspaper is a
complicated activity which needs a professionally trained and experienced team.
A team consisting of editorial and reporting staff completes various assignments,
which include news gathering, news selection, news editing and page making
etc. under the leadership of editor. All these activities are known as news
processing which take place every day in a newsroom under tremendous pressure
in order to meet the deadlines.
In true sense, a newspaper is made by its editorial and reporting team. They
generally sit under one roof, i.e., the newsroom for completion of their tasks.
They enjoy sleepless night until the newspaper goes for publication from
newsroom to the printing press. Even after publication, pressure related to
factual, technical errors and under or over play of news; keeps them in tense
mood.
This unit will focus on the working mechanism of a newsroom and its function
as well as the structural difference between a newspaper and magazine house.
It will explain how news is gathered, edited and disseminated in a presentable
manner. Further, the unit will also describe the emergence of online media and
how its working mechanism is different from the print media. 33
News Concepts
3.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After going through this unit, you should be able to:
discuss the working mechanism of a newsroom in a newspaper organisation;
explain the functions of newsroom such as news gathering, selection, editing
and page making;
describe the newsroom hierarchy and the responsibilities of journalists;
analyse the structural difference between newspaper and magazine; and
describe the emergence of online media and its working mechanism.
Generally, all editorial and reporting staff coordinates in the planning and
processing of news. The newsroom never sleeps as here various activities take
place in three shifts -. morning, afternoon and night. The first shift starts in the
morning, when editor calls a meeting for analysis of news coverage and
comparing it with the rival newspapers. If everything is fine, then the efforts
of colleagues are appreciated. However, in case of factual errors and technical
mistakes, these are pointed out and valuable inputs given for improvement. Then
planning for news coverage is made and accordingly duties are assigned to the
editorial and reporting staff.
This brainstorming session gives useful guidance to the juniors how to avoid
mistakes and maintain consistency in news coverage and presentation. It is also
a kind of warm up session, which activates the members of a newspaper house
particularly reporters, who after this session, proceed for in search of news.
The afternoon session activates the editorial wing. All editorial staff, particularly
the Sub/Copy Editor, Senior Sub/Copy Editor and Chief Sub/Copy Editor, starts
the editing process under the guidance of News Editor. Initially it goes slowly,
but in the evening, news comes very fast and processed accordingly in order
to meet deadline. Keeping in view the news values, this wing proposes lead
news followed by other news items on various pages before the Editor. After
multi-level checking it in finalised and then news goes on different pages for
designing and publication. This entire process requires professional skills, team
efforts and co-ordination at every level.
News Editing: Editing is the final point of a newsroom, where a sub/copy editor
examines the news value of that news story and edits it in order to make it
readable. S/he reads all news stories carefully, edits and fine tunes the news
items and reads it again. A sub editor follows the editing methods such as
arranging, adding, reducing and translating the facts and gives a readable shape
including a headline to the news items. The gatekeeping process continues at
the level of editing too.The Sub/copy editor may reject the news story, if it
is not relevant for larger audience and does not contain news values. Editing
is the soul of a newspaper which cannot survive without excellent editing.
Activity 1
Executive Editor: As the name suggests, Executive Editor executes the vision
of the Editor-in-Chief or Chief Editor into reality. S/he takes part in all initiatives
taken by the Chief Editor and accordingly gives suggestions to the junior staff.
In the absence of the Editor-in-Chief, s/he looks after all the activities of the
newsroom. The Executive Editor also keeps oneself up to date about the activities
of multi-edition newspapers and apprises the chief editor accordingly.
38
Check Your Progress: 2 News Room Set-up &
Functions: Print & Online
media
Note: 1) Use the space below for you answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1) What is the difference between the work of an executive editor and the
resident editor?
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2) Mention two activities of assistant editor.
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3) What are the main criteria that news editor keeps in mind before placing
news on page?
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Editor/Chief Editor/Editor-in-Chief
Executive Editor
EDITING DESK REPORTING WING
CONTENT ART/VISUAL Senior Correspondent
Assistant Editor Art/Creative Director Correspondent
Feature Editor Photo Editor Reporter
Chief Sub/Copy Editor Photographer Trainee (as per need)
Copy/Sub Editor Graphic Designer
Trainee (as per need)
Keeping above factors in view, a magazine needs a small newsroom set up.
The number of staff is lesser than a newspaper and varies from one magazine
set up to another. The role of a magazine staff is slightly different from newspaper
staff because of the factors discussed above.
Check Your Progress: 3
Note: 1) Use the space below for you answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1) What are two major news sources of a newspaper?
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2) What is the role of a bureau chief?
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3) Mention two main activities of photo editor.
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Activity 3
Visit the newsrooms of any two web/news portals and collect information
about the use of technology for news processing, photo and audio-video
editing.
The newsroom setup for online media comprises fully equipped editorial
department with online reporters and online editors. The newsroom also consists
of modern gadgets in order to facilitate and carry out the information. Television
sets, cell phones, personal computers, video monitors professional video camera,
microphones and foldback speakers, stage lighting rigs and the associated
controlling equipment are few of the essential gadgets required to be setup in
newsroom.
There are myriad functions of online media, it reports the news, serves as an
intermediary between the government and the people and keeps people actively
involved in society and politics. Content reproduction and updation is much
simpler and cheaper in online media. It reaches out to the large, scattered,
heterogeneous and anonymous audience at the same time.
Check Your Progress: 4
Note: 1) Use the space below for you answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1) Which electronic devices have changed the face of a newsroom?
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2) What are the activities of Desktop Publishing?
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44 .............................................................................................................
News Room Set-up &
3.5 LET US SUM UP Functions: Print & Online
media
In this unit you were exposed to the newsroom set up of a newspaper
organisation and the professional staff working at various levels. It was discussed
that the publication of a newspaper is a complicated activity which needs a
professionally trained team. A team consisting of editorial and reporting staff
completes various functions of newsroom such as news gathering, gate-keeping,
news editing and page making etc. under the leadership of the Editor. Collectively
these activities are known as news processing, which take place every day in
a newsroom under tremendous pressure in order to meet deadline.The content
and presentation of a newspaper reflects the vision of the Editor who is assisted
by a team of professionals.
It was also discussed that the publication of a magazine is different from a
newspaper because of its periodicity, size and content. It needs a small newsroom
set up led by the editor.
Further, we discussed the emergence of online media, which primarily includes
software, digital images, digital video, web pages and websites has begun a
new era of information & communication technology. It has led to a paperless
society in which information can be created, viewed, distributed, modified and
preserved on electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and wireless
networks etc.
Unlike Print media, online media makes use of audio and video components
for dissemination of information and offers Live discussions. Frequent updation
of content is one of the prime requirements of online media. You will read about
‘Online Newsroom Setup’ in the Course MJM-023: Broadcast & Online
Journalism in greater detail.
46
UNIT 4 NEWSROOM SETUP:
ELECTRONIC MEDIA
Structure
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Learning Outcomes
4.3 News Production in a News Channel
4.4 Assignment/Input Desks
4.4.1 Overseeing Reporters
4.4.2 Arranging Visuals
4.4.3 Arranging Phone-in Interviews
4.4.4 Monitoring Other Channels
4.4.5 Story Planning
4.4.6 Forward Planning
4.1 INTRODUCTION
In the previous unit you have read that newsroom is a place where presentation/
production of news takes final shape. In newspapers, all pre-printing jobs like
editing, giving heading to a news story, deciding its place and page of appearance
and page making etc. are done in a newsroom and when pages are released;
work of the Newsroom is over. However, television is a different ball game
- here production of the news bulletin is more complex. It is hi-tech, it includes
different sections of the news channel, things keep changing till the last moment
and even during the telecast of the bulletin, so it becomes an ongoing process.
To be a good or competent newsroom person, one needs to be conversant
with modern information and telecast technologies. Though there are some
differences in the technologies being used at different channels, more or less,
the same basics are followed everywhere, so if you learn these basics, you
can begin work in any channel with ease and pick it up in a short time. 47
News Concepts
4.2 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After going through this unit, you should be able to:
discuss the functioning of a television newsroom;
describe the production process of a news programme;
analyse the functioning of various desks in a television newsroom; and
use the vocabulary of a television newsroom.
The assignment/input team first lines-up all their reporters, who can give any
piece or type of information or perspective regarding the development. A
competent assignment/input team keeps an updated phone directory of important
persons from every walk of life, so that they can be approached for information
or their perspective in case that a big event or a development occurs in their
field. The aim is to keep the viewers engaged, so that they don’t switch over
to any other channel. Continuing with the latest and new information, new
elements, and new perspectives, the newsroom tries to achieve their aim. And
providing all these NEW information is the duty of the assignment/input desk.
Phonos are not required only in the case of breaking news. During normal
coverage also, Phonos are required to get updates or for getting reactions of
50
the concerned parties or persons. It is the assignment/ input team that arranges News Room Set-up and
Functions: Electronic Media
these.
From above discussion you would have understood that the assignment/input
desk of the newsroom is very important. It is the provider of the information,
story and perspectives. How other parts of the newsroom perform is totally
dependent on the assignment/input desk. In fact, their roles begin after this desk
has done its job.
51
News Concepts Check Your Progress 2
Note: 1) Use the space below for you answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. List some of the activities undertaken by the assignment desk.
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2. Why is it important for a news channel to monitor other channels?
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Activity 1
Watch a news channel of your choice. Identify some catchy supers and
analyse whether they synchronise with the visuals and the theme of the
story.
2.5.5 Tickers
Whenever you watch a news channel, you see that the top headline stories
are running in a written text form at the bottom of the screen. These are called
54
Tickers. Putting tickers is also a job of the output team. Generally in news News Room Set-up and
Functions: Electronic Media
channels, one person is specially assigned for this duty. His/her job is to keep
information continuously updated. As we saw in the case of supers, this is also
a specialised job. A person of deep news sense, having command on the
language, and capable of writing correctly in hurried situations as well, is given
this responsibility.
Tickers are considered very important as many viewers go to a news channel
just to scan the main news of the day or of that hour, and they get it from
the tickers. As the tickers are running continuously, one does not need to follow
the clock and hit the channel at the beginning of the hour. Secondly, tickers
give an idea of the priorities of the selection of news in a particular channel.
It attracts viewers of a particular taste, and it may distract other viewers if
they find information running at the bottom of the screen intriguing. For example,
if a channel runs a horoscope forecast in the ticker, then many viewers who
take news seriously, may shift to some other channel. Similarly, if there is only
serious news on the ticker, then the viewers of who prefer lighter news may
shift to other ‘location’.
Thus tickers are written according to the channel’s policy. There are some simple
rules for it. You have to put the information here in a very simple and
communicative language. If you can create magic with the language without
compromising on simplicity, then that is highly appreciated. Tickers are also used
as programme promos. You must have seen that channels give information about
their forthcoming programmes in tickers, with the objective to inspire people
to watch those programmes at the scheduled time.
From above analysis you would have understood that working at the output
desk is full of responsibilities. If you want to get a job at output desk, you
must have a sound news sense, technical competence and you should be a
good team person. In addition, you must know video editing, have command
on the language and patience to handle the breaking news situations, because
at that moment things are very fluid and decisions have to be taken quick and
fast.
Check Your Progress 3
Note: 1) Use the space below for you answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. What qualities are required for an Output person?
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2. What is the main function of the output desk?
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55
News Concepts
4.6 SCRIPT DESK
In television, apart from the visual element, the act of listening also plays an
important role. Therefore, if camera person is an integral part of TV news
presentation, so is the script writer.
Script Desk consists of senior and highly experienced persons as writing a script
is a job of responsibility. Only those persons are considered for writing scripts,
who have indepth knowledge about social, political, economic, and legal issues
as well as have excellent command on the language.
In news channels, in normal situations, reporters write their scripts themselves.
After that they go to the script desk to get their scripts checked. Outstation
reporters send their scripts through mail, then they inform it to the input desk,
and the input desk asks the script desk to check the script. The script editor
goes through all the facts written in the scripts carefully. If s/he has doubt
anywhere, s/he asks for clarification from the reporter. Only after being fully
satisfied, s/he clears the script. It is also expected from the script editor that
s/he will do necessary corrections in the language of the script and make it
more simple and catchy.
At times, script editors have to write the full script when the story is being
prepared on desk only. A news channel telecasts many special programmes of
half an hour’s duration and scripting of these programmes is done on the desk.
The script person goes through all the visuals and bytes available, and writes
the script for the planned programme.
These days, stories of short duration are in vogue and in some television channels,
scripts for news stories are written in not more than 90 words which is a
challenging task. Moreover, since scripts are written to the pictures; visuals get
priority over the words. In fact, it is said that the words are written according
to the available pictures - to explain and match the visuals. They should enhance
the impact and the effectiveness of the pictures.
A script editor is required to learn these qualities to fulfil the specific demands
of a news channel. They have to develop a visual sense and for the NEWS
part of the story, the information is also significant which comes from reading.
If you wish to work as script writer; you must develop the habit of reading
a serious newspaper thoroughly on a regular basis and develop a visual sense.
60
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