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MJM-021

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

Programme Coordinators : Dr. Kiron Bansal, MA (JMC)


Dr. Shikha Rai PGJMC
Course Coordinator : Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh & Dr. Shikha Rai
BLOCK 1 PREPARATION TEAM
Unit 1: Prof. M.R.Dua Unit 2: Prof. Saima Saeed Block Editor:
Former Professor Indian Centre for Culture, Media & Dr. Kiron Bansal
Institute of Mass Governance, Jamia Milia Associate Prof.
Communication, New Delhi Islamia, New Delhi SOJNMS IGNOU,
New Delhi
Unit 3: Mr. Rajesh Kumar Unit 4: Mr. Satyendra Ranjan
Asstt. Prof. Dept. of Mass Executive Editor Swaraj
Communication Express, New Delhi
Central University of
Jharkhand, Ranchi

BLOCK 2 PREPARATION TEAM


Unit 5 & 7: Unit 8: Block Coordinator and Editor
Sh. Devashish Prasoon Writer Sh. Vipul Mudgal Dr. Shikha Rai
& Entrepreneur Center for Policy Research Assistant Professor
Former Assistant Editor, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi SOJNMS, IGNOU
Dainik Bhaskar Group
Former Media Consultant Unit 6:
& Researcher Ministry of Dr. Raghavendra Midira
Women & Child Development Associate Professor
Deptt. of Journalism and Mass
Communication, Indira Gandhi National
Tribal University, Amarkantak
BLOCK 3 PREPARATION TEAM
Unit 9 Unit 11 Block Coordinator
Prof. Ambrish Saxena Dr. Smiti Padhi Dr. Amit Kumar
Assistant Professor
Dean, DME Media School Assistant Professor SOJNMS, IGNOU
Affiliated to GGSIP University Swarnim Gujarat Sports University
New Delhi Gandhinagar, Gujarat Block Editor
Prof. S.N. Singh
Unit 10 Unit 12 and
Dr. Neeraj Karan Singh Prof. Santosh Tewari Dr. Amit Kumar
Dean & Principal, GSVSCJMC Professor (Retired), Assistant Professor
Swami Vivekanand Subharti SOJNMS, IGNOU
Central University of Jharkhand
University, Meerut, U.P. Ranchi Language Editor
& Dr. Usha Chandar
Research Officer
Dr.Amit Kumar SOJNMS, IGNOU
SJONMS, IGNOU

BLOCK 4 PREPARATION TEAM


Unit 13: Ms. Aishwarya Unit 15: Block Coordinator and
Chatterjee Assistant Professor Ms. Rohini Singh Block Editor
Media Studies Dept. i LEAD Former Communication Officer Dr. Shikha Rai
Maulana Abul Kalam Wildlife, SOS Assistant Professor
University of Technology, SOJNMS, IGNOU
Unit 16: Sh. Dwijendra Kumar
Kolkata
Assistant Editor,
Unit 14: Ms. Reena Sethi National Book Trust (MHRD),
Former Chief Manager New Delhi
(Response)
Times of India, New Delhi

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
ISBN-81
All right reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form by mimeograph or any
other means, without permission in writing from the Indira Gandhi National Open University.
Further information about the Indira Gandhi National Open University courses may be
obtained from the University’s office at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068
Printed and published on behalf of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi by
Registrar, MPDD, IGNOU, New Delhi.
Laser Typeset by: Rajshree Computers, V-166A, Bhagwati Vihar, (Near Sector-2, Dwarka), Uttam
Nagar, New Delhi-110059
Printed at:
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;

 explain different types of reporting techniques;

 undertake civic, crime, sports and legal reporting; and

 report social issues, health, education and lifestyle.

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

1.5 Let Us Sum Up


1.6 Further Readings
1.7 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers

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.

1.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES


After you have gone through this unit, you should be able to:
 discuss the concepts and definitions of news;
 describe the principal elements of news and news writing; and
 examine various news writing techniques.

1.2 CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF NEWS


It is said that news is difficult to define. However, news remains something that
surprises the reader, listener and viewer, and will always remain so. Let us look
at some of its definitions: 7
News Concepts  Most dictionaries impart the meaning of ‘news’ as “an account of a recent
event, or information that’s not known previously.
 According to the Random House Dictionary of English Language, the
meaning of ‘news’ is: “a report of a recent event; intelligence, information.
 The Oxford Dictionary says: News is the report of recent events, or
occurrences brought or coming to one as new information; new occurrences
as a subject of report or talk.”
 Any important information coming from North, East, West and South, which
deserve to be taken as ‘news’.
 Lord Northcliffe, the famous British editor, said of news: “News is something
that somebody somewhere doesn’t want to print, wants to suppress. All
the rest is advertising.”
 News is what people want to read about themselves.
 News is essentially about people, events, surrounding people, and places.
 “Get the Truth and print it,” said John S. Knight, founder of a greatest
U.S. newspaper chain, adding, news is heavy on community service, and
society interest and mindful of the city’s pecking order in civic and social
affairs.
 When a dog bites man, that’s not news; but when a man bites dog that’s
news.
 News is what affects readers directly.
 An emotional event that will make people laugh or cry.
 News is a timely account of a recent, interesting and significant event.
 Out of the ordinary, departure from routine convention.
 Change. The passing of an era, old landmarks being torn down, new
lifestyles replacing old, new attitudes on old questions, anniversaries of major
events.
 A journalism professor of Stanford University, USA, Chilton R. Bush,
defined news as “….the report of an event that a reader can and will
understand.”
 Another pragmatic view in defining news, says: “News is an account of
an event which a newspaper prints in the belief that by so doing it will
profit.”
After reading the above varied definitions of news, you would have understood
the broad nature and concept of news. But, it is difficult to accurately define
‘news’. For, to be correctly termed as the ‘News’, any information must be
factual, new and interesting. There must be facts to report; without facts, there
can be no news. It is important that these facts must be new to the reader,
listener and the viewer. Again, news is what’s being published on the news pages
of newspapers, and magazines, broadcast on radio and telecast on television
networks, or put out on the Internet. News is also about the lives, loves and
scandals of the famous, the rich and the notorious.
8
As William Metz, professor of journalism, University of Nevada, USA, says: News: Definitions, Concepts
and Principles
“While it may not be possible to describe it precisely in words, every news
reporter must come to a personal understanding of nature of news, must reach
some conclusion about its essence before it is possible to recognise ‘news’ when
it happens.” We can also say in simple terms, as a well known British writer
and author, Evelyn Waugh, wrote in his book, “Scoope”, way back in 1938
that “news is what a chap who doesn’t care much about anything wants to
read. And, it’s only news until he has read it. After that it’s dead.”
Here, it’s also important to know as to what we mean by ‘news sense’, or
‘news judgment’. “Being able to identify what will interest readers is called having
news sense,” said a noted American professor of journalism, Wyford Hicks.
The important dictum about the news, which is even somewhat contradictory
is, bad news sells more newspapers than good news. So, what would be the
news today? Given the limits of space, time and resources, what’s important,
what isn’t, what’s to be left in, what’s to be left out? And in the age of Internet,
infinity, who’s to say what’s news, asks Wyford Hicks.
Thus, it will not be an exaggeration to say that there are almost as many definitions
of the news as there are reporters/journalists. Most news reporters will of course
agree that every occurrence or event in itself is not and cannot be the ‘news’.
Activity – 1
From the newspaper(s) that you read, identify three items you consider
as (i) most important news; (ii) less important news; (iii) only gossip or
rumour or hearsay.

1.3 ELEMENTS OF NEWS WRITING


Now that you know the meaning, definition and content of news, we will discuss
the principal elements or ingredients of writing news. Because, if you are reading
your newspaper carefully, you would surely have noticed that a news item or
a news story as it is also called, is not written in a style or fashion we write
our letters or essays or any other piece of writing.
News has to be written, presented or broadcast in such a manner or style
that the reader, listener or viewer gets the most important information in a shortest
possible span of time, in minimum words, without using superfluous, unnecessary
and redundant words. It is often said that a news reporter should have “a nose
for news”. They may have their whims and fancies of ‘smelling’, ‘sensing’, or
recognising the news, but there are certain established and well known factors
and ingredients which if present in the event or happening that have taken place,
which for sure would be considered raising the event, happening, occurrence
to the pedestals of a standard ‘news’ story. Here are some of the most important
ones: Timeliness, proximity, prominence, dimension, consequence, conflict,
empathy, adventure and weather, among others.
Timeliness: The time of occurrence of an event is the most important element
of a news story. People want to know about the event as quickly as possible.
Report of an event that happened yesterday or the day before yesterday is
generally deemed stale and often not considered fit for publication, unless it
is of extra ordinary nature, or extremely significant in some manner. So, the 9
News Concepts time of the event’s occurrence is immensely crucial for it to be considered news.
News may cease to be news after 24 or even after 12 hours in today’s race
against time and the age of Internet and smartphones. Readers, listeners or
viewers now a day, very well recognise the immediacy and perishability as
profusely vital factors in ‘newsfall’ and news reporting. It is said that stale news
is abhorred as stale bread.
Proximity: Closeness or nearness of an event or an incident to the audience
has tremendous importance for reporters as well as for a newspaper. Proximity
could be geographical or relevance to the audience. The more ‘local’ or closer
the site where the event took place, the greater will be its importance to be
termed as news. To take an example,
Kolkata, June 4 - The Kolkatans were taken aback by a series of blasts that
took place in the local Park Street claiming 15 lives on Monday evening.
This story would naturally be on front page in all the local newspapers, but
may be relegated to a remote corner of the inside pages by the papers in Jammu,
Bhopal, Guwahati, Surat, Madurai or Chandigarh. A local angle to the news
has greater appeal and greater relevance due to the fact that the victims may
be known to the newspaper staff and could be its readers, buyers, and
advertisers or people living close to the newspaper office.
Prominence: If a well-known personality happens to be involved in the event,
it will invariably make news. For example, if the prime minister strains his ankle
while walking to the car, or a celebrity has a bathroom fall, it makes news.
The important fact is that the famous, the infamous and even the eccentric
command a special appeal for audiences. This is also due to the fact that high
profile families enjoy privacy and often make news for any pleasant or unpleasant
event.
Dimension: The number of people involved or affected or losses that occur
in terms of huge money by an event makes news. For example, if 500 or more
people die in an earthquake in Manila, the Philippines, it makes news even
in India as human lives are precious wherever these are lost. But if heavy rains
flood low-lying areas in Mumbai or Patna, and 23 people are killed, and four
high-rise buildings collapse, it makes much bigger news in India, and automatically
gets front page treatment, possibly with tell-tales photographs from the scene.
Similarly, if in a fire in Vadodra property worth lakhs is destroyed and several
deaths are reported, that too will need front page featuring. Here, we see the
number of people though less, but the proximity factor comes in making the
news ‘local’, requiring a different, and serious way of presentation in the
newspaper.
Impact: If the U.S. president or British prime minister announces his plans to
sanction military aid to Pakistan, it’s bound to impact the Indo-US or Indo-
British ties, and also Indo-Pak relations. Similarly, if the Union Government
increases income tax in its annual budget, or levies a tax on purchase of cars,
that make all-India news. Or, if the chief minister of a state in India
abolishes state grants for the private-aided schools, the children of lower middle
class or poor parents availing fee concession may be hit adversely as the
consequence of the new policy, thus, it will make big news for all citizens of
that state.
Human Interest: Quite often, newspaper reporters come across situations,
10 which induce emotions of mercy or sentiments or sympathy. For example, if
a visually- challenged person performs some daring act, such as scaling Mount News-Definitions, Concepts
and Principles
Everest, or a hearing-challenged boy scores a meritorious position in a
competitive examination, these are human interest stories. Again, if a bicycle-
rickshaw puller’s son gets selected in IIM / IIT admission test, or a primary
school teacher’s daughter finds herself in the civil services merit list, we call
these as human interest stories. You may recall the incident when a four-year-
old child by the name of Prince, fell in a way-side 30-foot-deep well some
years ago; the rescue work by the army personnel was put out live on many
television channels. This was a live human interest story which attracted the
interest of viewers all over India for many hours, till the rescue act was
completed.

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.

Adventure: As we mentioned earlier, tackling difficult-to-handle tasks easily or


smoothly or daringly by disabled individuals always make news anywhere. When
a 70-year-old Japanese woman attempted to scale the Mount Everest, the highest
mountain peak in the world, and succeeded, it made international news. This
was a case of adventure appearing as front page banner headline in Japan,
besides making news in many other countries.

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.

Weather / Climate / Environment: Weather – extreme heat, cold, rain, storm,


pollution affects all of us; and usually bad weather affects us badly. Remember
how the Indian Ocean tsunami made news all over the world in so many
countries, including India, which killed hundreds of men, women, children, and
wreaked unusual, unimaginable losses of property, animals and marine life. For
months together, this was considered as an extra ordinary change in weather,
and was forecast to be a prodigious problem of environment for all time to
come across the globe. Climatic changes, different aspects of environment
degradation, pollution as well as efforts towards environment conservation make
news.

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.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2. Explain the five most important elements of a news story.
.............................................................................................................
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.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................

1.4 PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF NEWS


WRITING
As we mentioned earlier, news has to be written in such a manner and drafted
in a style that the main or the principal information is conveyed to the audience
in minimum possible words and in minimum possible time. Therefore, the first
paragraph of the news story, which is called Lead or Intro (introduction), presents
the gist of the event/happening in about 24 to 30 words, as far as possible.
We will also briefly mention how to draft an intro/lead, and of how many kinds
of leads are there for writing the news.

1.4.1 5Ws and 1H


The news stories are written using 5Ws and 1 H in the first paragraph itself.
This is probably the first and the most important, and traditional principle of
writing a news item. The first paragraph of news, called the Intro or Lead should
contain answers to five Ws, and one H, namely, Who, What, When, Where,
Why and How. This is the most cardinal principle of writing news and followed
all over the world. The first paragraph of the news item must clearly state as
to who is the main actor, character, object, subject or concern of the event,
which needs to be told or written about. Is it the President, Prime Minister,
any minister, governor, a well-known foreign dignitary, or any other prominent
person? Is it a notorious criminal or any other individual of any status, whom
people know in some context or the other?
The other four Ws and one H are:
 What happened?
 When did it happen?
 Where did happen?
12
 Why did it happen? News: Definitions, Concepts
and Principles
 How did it happen?
Depending upon the nature of the event, the reporter has to decide which of
these Ws is more important and crucial to the story. Obviously, politically
prominent persons such as president, prime minister and other such people in
government or in society will get more attention and also more space.
The time when the event occurs is also extremely significant. Any event having
impact on a large majority of people will also be of great import. For example,
a rail accident taking place at midnight will be the important time to be taken
note of –- both for the news reporter, for the editorial desk, and for general
public also.
The venue of event also assumes great importance in a news story. For example,
if the event occurs in prime minister’s office, parliament house, or in state
assembly, a railway station, in mosque or temple, every place mentioned here
has its own unique significance. But if it happens on the venue where a large
number of people are present, the consequences can be well imagined. Therefore,
each W has its own importance in the context of the event which is reported.
Incidentally, the 5W-1H formula of writing the intro or lead is attributed to the
late British author who lived and worked in India, Rudyard Kipling. He wrote
for the daily English language newspaper, The Pioneer, then published from
Lucknow in the 1930s. Kipling’s favourite saying for writing news based on
this formula was as follows:
I keep six honest serving men
They taught me all I knew
Their names are what, and why and when
And how and where and who
Given below are some examples to tell you as to how intros and leads can
be drafted, based on the formula 5Ws and 1H:
WHEN: On coming Monday, August 15, at 8 a.m., the Prime Minister will
address the nation on its seventieth Independence Day from the ramparts of
Delhi’s historic Red Fort.
WHERE: From the ramparts of Delhi’s historic Red Fort, the Prime Minister
will address the nation on August 15 this year, the seventieth Independence
Day of the country, at 8 a.m.
WHO: Prime Minister will address the Independence Day function on Monday,
August 15, at 8 a.m. from the rampart of Delhi’s historic Red Fort.
WHAT: On the Independence Day, on August 15 at 8 a.m., Prime Minister
will address the nation from the rampart of Delhi’s historic Red Fort.
WHY: As August 15 marks the nation’s seventieth Independence Day, the Prime
Minister will address the nation from Delhi’s historic Red Fort at 8 a.m.
HOW: From the ramparts of Delhi’s historic Red Fort, Prime Minister will
address the nation on August 15, which marks the seventieth Independence Day,
at 8 a.m.
13
News Concepts The reporter who has to decide which of the 5 Ws is crucial and is key and
really essential to the story, and of course to its overall development. It also
depends on the fact as to where is the story being written from, and where
is intended to be published. If, for instance, the reporter is in Delhi and the
newspaper is in Jaipur, Bangalore, Guwahati, or Jammu, the story will have
to be angled to suit the local audience of the newspaper accordingly.

1.4.2 The Inverted Pyramid


Another traditional technique of writing the news is in the form of an Inverted
Pyramid. The first paragraph, i.e., the Intro or the Lead, contains the most
important and main thrust of the news item. The body of the news item further
expands, elaborates and explains rest of the story. Therefore, the main points
stated in the Lead or the Intro have to be supported by the facts in the paragraphs
that follow the Lead or the Intro.
Thus, if you view the story in the form of a figure or a diagram, it will look
like an inverted pyramid as illustrated below. The most important point in the
story should be at the top, followed by less important facts, with the least
important ones coming at the bottom, one by one, depending on their importance
in the overall structure and length of the news story. Such a technique of writing
a story is called Inverted Pyramid.
The lead / intro of a news story which should usually be based on inverted
pyramid technique is illustrated as under:
ILLUSTRATION NO. 1: INVERTED PYRAMID
This story (news) starts off with a great lead.
Then, short summary of the story, and
sometimes a little history for the
context of story. Important
stuff goes here. Becomes
unimportant here. Even
more unimportant
downright dull,
can be cut,
often cut,
c u t,
cut.
Actually, the inverted pyramid technique is a very basic method of news writing.
A question may now arise in your mind as to why should one work like this?
The main argument behind it is that the new’s theme point should be wrapped
up in one-sentence, or two-paragraph nutshell, with summary high up in the
story. Also known as lead or ‘nutgraph’—important information near the top
of the story, usually in one paragraph. This has also been illustrated by anther
14 illustration given below:
ILLUSTRATION NO. 2: INVERTED PYRAMID News: Definitions, Concepts
and Principles
The most important facts go here
What, who, why, where & how. Then
comes the next most important
facts in the story, followed
by the next most important.
And still some important
fact that could just be
cut, if need to be
cut again, and
and cut,
cut.
Here are some more illustrations and diagrams to tell you as to how should
the news story be constructed and written. These are borrowed from a famous
book entitled Exploring Journalism, written by two most well-known American
professors of journalism, Roland E. Wolesely and Laurence R. Campbell, more
than 50 years ago. In fact, the late Roland Wolesely taught at the Hislop College
of Journalism at Nagpur in the early 1960s, and also edited a book on journalism
for Indian students.
ILLUSTRATION NO. 3: PYRAMID

PROCESS OF NEWS WRITING


A: Illustrates the form for a routine news story as it is prepared for print. Its
lead summarises the story, then the importance of information decreases gradually
until the least significant material is at the end.
B: This figure is the pattern used in writing the story chronologically and is
usually employed with suspended interest features. The story begins with
unimportant but hugely attractive details and broadens as it nears the climax 15
News Concepts C: This figure may be used in building a story consisting of the elements of
almost equal value throughout. Most important is the lead, least so, the final
details of the story.
Source: Exploring Journalism By: Roland E. Wolseley and Laurance R.
Campbell .

1.4.3 History of the Inverted Pyramid


Since this traditional technique of writing the news is still being practised it would
be useful for you to know how and when this technique of news writing was
developed and came to be adopted. It is believed that the inverted pyramid
technique of news writing was innovated during the American civil war, some
150 years ago. Prior to that, news items were written in the form of a narrative,
somewhat like a fiction or as an essay, story, in a chronological style, the most
important point coming in the end. It was during the U.S. civil war that the
news writing style went through drastic changes. This was necessitated due to
the fact that the most recent development in the progress of the civil war had
to be communicated, through the Morse telegraphic mode, in the first paragraph
itself. And if it was put in the end of the write-up, as in the case of an essay,
or any other narrative, it could be lost in transit. The receiving newspaper’s
editorial desk could miss the news about the latest and the newest developments
on the progress of the war. Therefore, to overcome that danger, war
correspondents started prefixing and putting the recent most war news in the
first paragraph itself, which increased the chances of the news ‘arrival’ or receipt
at the news desk, in the beginning of the message itself. Though the original
reason for employing the inverted pyramid technique of news writing has gone
into oblivion, most news items are now-a-days written in this manner and style
only, almost universally.
The inverted pyramid technique is also deemed to be a rational, technological
and typographical outcome of modern news writing necessity for the consumers
who are busy in their life’s other important routines and can afford to spare
very little time to go through the details of the long and elaborate news stories.
They prefer to get their news as quickly and in the minimum possible time as
the news media can deliver.
The inverted pyramid has survived and it will hopefully survive for quite some
time to come. The main reason is that majority of reporters even now care
and need to get the most important information to the reader first, and prompt
them to read, listen and view the news media output worldwide.
This style of presenting the news facilitates the reporter to organise the facts
of the story systematically and quickly. It is also convenient for the sub-editor
to compose the story’s headlines, and make the news pages to attract the
attention of the reader. In addition, it is time-saving for the reader to decide
whether s/he is interested in going through the entire text of the news story.
Thus, the inverted pyramid news writing style also suits newspersons at all levels.

1.4.4 Inverted Pyramid: A Critique


Of late, some senior journalism scholars and professional journalists have started
questioning the inverted pyramid style. According to a well-known American
journalism professor and author, Christopher Passante, why should pyramid be
16 ‘inverted’ when the pyramid in its pyramid shape, i.e., the right way up, can
serve the purpose perfectly and most befittingly? For, anyway, the primary News: Definitions, Concepts
and Principles
objective of the pyramid as such is to show that the point in a news story
is made in a descending order of importance. The news is deliberately written
in a manner that the reader can stop reading when s/he has just satisfied his/
her curiosity and desire to be informed about a particular event, and without
worrying that it affects him/her in some way. Another implicit purpose of this
style of news writing is to cut the story from bottom up without losing its important
parts.
A noted critic of the inverted pyramid philosophy Professor William Metz of
the University of Nevada, USA, feels that the inverted style has “over-
standardised” the technique of writing news. He adds that as “it is not a natural
storytelling method because its climax comes at the onset… is predictable and
old-fashioned.”
A former editor of the United Press International (UPI), Roger Tatarian, has
pointed out that narrative news writing style leads will be more popular over
summary leads, especially in “stories reader has already heard over the air.”
Lately, the ‘featurised’ style of news writing has started gaining acceptance over
the traditional and weather-beaten inverted pyramid especially in prominent
American daily newspapers such as The New York Times, Washington Post,
USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angles Times, The Chicago
Tribune, etc.
As one former managing editor of The New York Times, Turner Catledge, also
said about the diminishing value of 5Ws and 1 H, some time ago: “Once it
will no longer be necessary, as may be, never was, to wrap up in one sentence
or paragraph, all the traditional 5Ws.”
Thus, there is need to caution against intensive use of the Inverted Pyramid
techniques of news writing: Don’t worship the pyramid: it’s only a way of
visualising the most common structure of a traditional news story. The guiding
principle in developing a story is: what does the reader needs or wants to know?
If answering these questions is the meat of the story, do it. Reporting speeches
is not done in this format. Thus it is time that the inverted pyramid format gave
way to a more scientific, currently acceptable news writing method to meet
the changing needs of the modern consumer of the news media.
Activity-2
Go through a newspaper of your choice on any day and identify five stories
which could have been written without following the inverted pyramid style
and re-write them in a different style.

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. What is a Lead? What information should it contain?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................. 17
News Concepts 2. Explain the inverted pyramid style of writing.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................

1.5 LET US SUM UP


In this unit, we have discussed the definition, concepts, principles and techniques
of news writing. The news has been defined as a timely report of significant
events that concern and interest majority of people. News means different things
to different people, what’s news to one may not be news to another person.
The definition and concept of news also varies from place to place. We discussed
the various techniques of news writing such as 5Ws and 1H and the Inverted
Pyramid style. We also discussed the elements and ingredients that make news,
and kinds of news. Intros and Leads were also discussed and illustrated with
figures. Even though, there are several types of leads, only a few are used
by reporters these days. The style and content of news writing are often dictated
by several new type of considerations such as ideology and policy of news
media organisations. News publication is also affected by advertising, audiences’
preferences for or against mixing news with entertainment, and the public opinion
about certain vital issues.
Some of the issues discussed in this unit shall be expanded in subsequent units
of this block.

1.6 FURTHER READINGS


Writing For Journalists by Wyford Hicks, 1999, New York: Routledge.
Associated Press Guide to News Writing: The Resource for Professional
Journalists, 1999
Rene J. Cappon, Peterson’s Publications, News Structure & Flow by Writer’s
Digest 1996, Cincinati, Ohio.

1.7 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: POSSIBLE


ANSWERS
Check Your Progress 1
1. News has been defined as timely reports of significant events that concern
and interest majority of people. What is news means different things to
different people. Moreover, the definition and concept of news varies from
place to place and time to time.
2. The five most important news elements are:
a. Timeliness – recent stories have more news value than older occurrences.
b. Proximity – stories of happenings which are local are of more interest.
c. Prominence – news about well-known people gets more attention.

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

2.3 Source Media Relationship and Roles


2.4 Reliability and Credibility of Sources
2.5 Let Us Sum Up
2.6 Further Readings
2.7 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers

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.

2.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES


After going through this unit, you should be able to:
 enlist, select and compare different news sources;
 develop a broad understanding of the usage of various sources and describe
their significance in the structuring of a news report; and
 identify stories that fulfill the journalistic standards of fairness, objectivity
and unbiased presentation of ‘facts’.

2.2 NEWS SOURCES


News sources are people who journalists interview, talk to, quote, observe or
meet to ‘construct’ a news story. They provide the basic information which is
the building block of a news story. At the same time no two sources can lend
the same meaning to a news story. Since the role of journalists is interpretational
in that they infer an event for us, framing it or mapping it in a certain social
or cultural context and thus making it intelligible to the audiences, the choice
of one source over another is often ideological. Stuart Hall points at three aspects
of the social production of news- first, the bureaucratic organisation of the
media which produces the news in specific types or categories; second, the
structure of news values which orders the selection and ranking of stories within
these categories and third, the moment of the construction of news stories which
implies contextualisation of an event by the media.
Hall argues that this process of identification, classification and contextualisation
of events by the media is a social process made up of a number of journalistic
practices. This process of signification that is giving social meanings to events
‘both assumes and helps to construct society as a consensus’ (Hall et al 1978).
Consensus implies overall one perspective on events which is provided by the
central value system of the society. Media are one of the institutions which are
involved in organising and encouraging this broad consensus. Media’s mapping
of extraordinary events is often the only explanation people get in order to
interpret events and understanding the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of it.

2.2.1 News Agencies


The modern form of the press is linked to the rise and consolidation of the
news agencies. News agencies are a steady source of news for media outlets.
Each news organisation subscribes to a large number of national and international
news agencies or ‘wire services’ to keep a close tab on all that is happening
in different parts of the world where they can neither set their own bureaus
or afford to send reporters. For example, maintaining a foreign correspondent
in all the capitals of the EU throughout the year will be extremely expensive
indeed out of reach for most newspapers or a TV channels based in New
Delhi which would otherwise mean that they cut themselves out from news
developments in these places. However, subscribing to Reuters or AP would
21
News Concepts ensure a minute-by-minute update on every event that transpires in those
countries with their vast network of reporters sending stories from the ground.
The rise and consolidation of news agencies and the cartels
Early founders of news agencies such as Bernhard Wolff in Germany, baron
von Reuter in England and Charles-Loius Havas in France started out just like
any other business venture. They focused on regions and places where
technologies of printing were available. In 1859, the big three formed a cartel
or a ring virtually dividing the world into three parts for news collection: Reuters
was to cover the British Empire, North America, and most of Asia and Egypt;
Havas, the French Empire, the Latin countries of Europe, and South America;
and Wolff, the remainder of Europe (Cuthbert: 1980).
These agencies were organised early in the nineteenth century to quickly provide
latest market reports to traders and business houses that needed them. There
have been considerable shifts in the ownership patterns of news agencies from
initial days of private ownership to the post World War period when it was
realised that the news agencies should be owned by newspapers subscribing
to their services and not by individuals. After the Second World War when
most countries in Asia gained freedom from colonial rule many national news
agencies were set up. As news agencies grew and expanded their potential
for quick transmission of political news and information between different
countries became apparent as was also realised that they could provide a bulk
of information to newspapers. This made the business of news agencies very
lucrative as many newspapers wanted to report about events from places where
their correspondents could not be sent due to economic reasons.
The birth of the Associated Press can be attributed to attempts to break the
European cartel and partly stemming from cultural and ideological reasons to
reduce the de jure control of the cartels over news flow. By 1859, the AP
was able to reorganise its business in the American region to get a near exclusive
hold of the American territory signing a contract with the European cartel that
each agency should create the news report in its own marked territory and
provide it for the use of the other contracting agencies.
Reuters was the first news agency to set operation in India in fact Asia, more
than a century ago in 1886 when it opened a branch in Mumbai. From here,
it expanded its operations to other countries under the British rule. The opening
of the Suez Canal and installation of a direct cable link between London and
the East made a major difference in the speed with which messages could be
transmitted. Reuter and its subsidiary agency, the Associated Press of India,
had a monopoly in India until the Press Trust of India was formed by the Indian
newspapers.
Press Trust of India (PTI) was incorporated on August 27, 1947 under the
Indian Companies Act 1913. The story of the growth and evolution of PTI
which is the largest news agency of the country is itself a saga of the growth
of journalism in India (Raghavan, 1987). The PTI has an extensive news
collection and distribution system in the country. The PTI website states the
size of its operation that commands 90 per cent of new agency market share
in India thus: Currently it employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers
to cover almost every district and small town in India. Collectively, they put
22 out more than 2,000 stories and 200 photographs a day to feed the expansive
appetite of the diverse subscribers, who include the mainstream media, the News Sources
specialised presses, research groups, companies, and government and non-
governmental organisations.
What happened in the U.S. in the 1920s was repeated in the 1970s, this time
by the developing countries who found that under the monopoly control of the
western news agencies the developing world could neither get fair access to
news (being always under-reported) and was also misrepresented. These
countries felt that only negative news about disasters, under development,
poverty, malnutrition and other problems in their part of the world would be
considered newsworthy by these cartels. As a result, the 1970s were impregnated
by widespread rejection and protests against the international news flow
imbalance between the core and the periphery (Hamelink, 1990).
This was also the time marked by UNESCO’s free flow ideology which
assumed that individual information access as supreme and a fundamental human
right. The doctrine evolved from two UN declarations: first, 1946 UN
Declaration on Freedom of Information which placed much significance to free
flow of information between countries and second, the UN Declaration on
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which looked upon freedom of
information as a fundamental human right as evident from the Article 19 of the
declaration.
By the mid-1970s there was a growing demand for democratisation of
information particularly from the Third World countries most of which got
organised under the umbrella of the New World Information and Communication
Order (NWICO), sometimes also referred to as New International Information
Order which called for a ‘new order’ as a move away from the ‘old order’
of information imperialism. New World Information and Communication Order
(NWICO) discussions with powerful voices like those of Tunisia’s Information
Minister, Mustapha Masmoudi brought into sharp focus the imbalances in the
international news flows between the developed and the developing world (Roach
1990, Musa 1990). All through the MacBride roundtables (culminating in the
significant report, Many Voices, One World) which were commissioned by the
UNESCO to address the North-South information imbalance, among a host
of other disparities, as voiced by scholars and media persons in Asia, Africa
and Latin America, there was a felt need to reduce the vertical, one-way flow
of news and rely on local, indigenous sources including establishment of more
regional news agencies.
In his 1978 call for a New World Information Order, submitted to UNESCO’s
International Commission for the Study of Communication Problems, Masmoudi
identified more than a dozen specific areas of imbalances. These imbalances
were seen as both the cause and effect of cultural imperialism of the media-
rich countries toward the media poor. So the existing international media
relationships resulted in increasing the gap between rich and poor states, because
of the media poor states’ incomplete access to information resources and the
unabated volumes of Western media messages to which they were subject to.
From initially focusing on the information imbalance created by the dominance
of the news flows from a few transnational news agencies and companies, the
debate advanced to consider the role of the overall role of communications
structures and their social as well as cultural implications.
23
News Concepts
2.2.2 Wire Copies
Let us now see how the news organisations use these wire services or the
wire copies to make news. Since the news agencies have to cater to very many
nations who might have different stakes and interests in given news situation,
the ‘copy’ made by them is mostly an objective statement of the facts as they
occurred with minimum interpretation or commentary. The input department has
several trainees at the desk and reporters who monitor at least 4-5 international
and national news agency updates all the time to alert the news desk or the
editorial if something significant happens. It is then taken up, ‘cleaned’, or more
inputs added to it and readied to be placed in the bulletin or the newspaper.
News agency copies are considered to be reliable and extremely authentic
sources of news so the newspapers don’t have to bother about checking the
facts and usually tend to attribute the agency whose news is sourced.
Television channels subscribe to the audio-visual footage like by APTN and
ANI in India which is sent along with the story and use the clips for their stories.
For example, the New Year celebrations in different capitals of the world are
procured from the clips send by the wires and could be edited together to
produce one complete visually rich news package of how New Year’s Eve
looked like around the world since it is not possible or cost effective to send
an organisation’s own reporters in so many different places all for one night’s
coverage of the celebrations.
On the other hand, in the case of domestic coverage or news that occurs in
the country, a news organisation would have the advantage of subscribing to
copies from the PTI, ANI, Univarta, and a few other news agencies in the
country besides being able to send one’s own reporters who could reach the
location in a few hours to provide live coverage. Generally, in case of important
news stories, news organisations use wire copies as a buffer for the time their
own reporters take to reach the location. After all, reporters lend more credibility
and add the organisation’s editorial perspective to the coverage besides being
able to do live programmes and ‘chats’ with the anchor in the studio. Besides,
reporters provide first hand accounts of what is happening, meet eye witnesses
and create several stories around that one event making it exclusive to that
newspaper or channel. It is this, that makes two news reports different even
though the event was the same. Besides, for more newsworthy events with a
greater national significance, reporters can be lined up for live discussions in
each successive bulletin or can provide news updates so long as the story is
‘developing’ which could run into days. In that sense, a wire copy is often
used as a first reaction and later the news organisations prefer to cover the
events/ happenings in their own style. This is also why news is reporter driven
or to put it in another manner- it is the reporters which make a news organisation.

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?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2. Discuss the factors that have led to the withering away of investigative news
reportage.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
3. Enlist the various sources that reporters use to build stories.
.............................................................................................................
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26 .............................................................................................................
2.2.4 Individual Sources News Sources

Most news organisations insist on getting government or established sources of


information to add weight to their story. As discussed above, this is how media
tend to reinforce the definition of the powerful few and impose a single meaning
to the event. Stuart Hall’s concept of the primary definers of news succinctly
sums up this aspect of news. As a result of pressures of time and resource
allocation coupled with the journalistic practice of objective and balanced
reporting, reporters tend to get statements from ‘accredited sources’ i.e.
accredited ‘representatives’ of powerful organisations who become what Hall
calls the ‘primary definers of the topics’.
This initial framework sets the tone and parameters of the discussion on the
given topic. In this way media reproduce the dominant ideas, the ideologies
of the ruling class and are often in subordination to these powerful institutions
in contradiction to the normative ideal of the press being a watchdog of society.
Sigal (1973) in his study on sources of news in the case of The Washington
Post and The New York Times found out that the U.S. government channels
dominated the news sources in these two papers. American officials contributed
to a bulk of stories and were a sole source of 56.3% of the 405 single-source
stories and 53.8% of all primary sources. Sigal (1973) rightly surmised that
the routine channels for newsgathering therefore constituted ‘the mechanism for
official dominance of national and foreign news in the two papers’.
Besides the institutional sources, reporters often turn to subject ‘experts’,
academics or known faces in a particular field to lend a new dimension to the
story. For example a story on Women’s Reservation Bill will usually consist
of interviews of at least two women MPs representing two different political
parties in favour of the Bill and may be another woman MP against the Bill.
In addition to these ‘government sources’ the reporter must try and get a known
women rights activists and a byte from the general public to flesh out the debate
from different points of view. Just interviewing a couple of women MPs will
make the story one-sided and narrow in its focus. Neutral sources that do not
have a direct stake in the issue provide the much-needed balance, but are often
last in the priority of sources!

2.2.5 Bureau Reports


Reports from several bureaus across the country and abroad are an important
aspect of this routine of news gathering. At the level of the bureaus, the reporters
are less inundated with assignments when compared with the head offices and
therefore are able to spend more time in the field, even go for investigative
pieces or specials. The logic behind setting up bureaus is geographical closeness-
given that reporters from their own native states or region have a better
understanding of the political, economic and cultural dynamics of the region and
therefore are better placed to cover local news stories.

2.2.6 Online Sources and Social Media Platforms


New media and the internet have radically altered the way news is collected,
disseminated and consumed. The significance of the internet as a source of news
is very well documented in the literature on online news and social media.
Newspapers and television news channels keep a track of what news items
are posted on different news portals and websites on a daily basis. In the present 27
News Concepts day digital world, Twitter (see Hermida 2010), Facebook and other social media
platforms are emerging as instantaneous and popular sources of news with almost
all politicians at national and international levels, political parties, organisations,
celebrities, and newsmakers having their own twitter accounts and Facebook
pages to directly connect with the public and to feed reporters with the latest
information. The earlier debates on whether online sources are reliable or not
and does online news count as journalism is rendered irrelevant given the heavy
reliance of journalists on online 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.

2.3 SOURCE MEDIA RELATIONSHIPAND ROLES


Studies on source-media relationship point to the exercise of political and
ideological power especially by influential institutional sources which seek to
dominate and define news stories. A sociological approach to understanding the
field of journalism has been marked by two distinct and opposed positions-
‘neo-Marxism’ and ‘pluralism’. Pluralists deny any dominant interest group in
news production, seeing all as equal contenders and media as representing a
multiplicity of views. The neo-Marxists construe media as instruments of
hegemony in the hands of dominant ideological groups who determine and define
the way issues are presented to the public and debated. No one position may
be wholly applicable to the present day media ecology as it is case specific
depending on the media structures and the political economic conditions under
which media operate. But in most instances it has been seen that the powerful
institutional sources end up being the primary news sources. Gans (1979) points
out that news organisations are unique among commercial firms in that ‘the raw
material from which they produce the news is itself obtained without charge…
they do not pay their sources. Consequently, the news media are especially
attractive to sources that need publicity but not money’.
Thus, the nature and function, as also the relationship of the source and the
media, needs to be critically examined. In a classic study, Walter Gieber (1999)
examines the socio-psychological forces which control the flow of news from
source to reporter and finally the press. News is seen as a process of mediation
in which the communicators (reporters on the one hand and sources, on the
other) communicate or narrate an event to a community and in so doing assume
the function of gatekeepers deciding what to communicate. 25 sources of news
(like members of the civil society, activists and lobbyists for various political
and cultural organisations) were interviewed by Gieber on what they thought
their role as communicators were. The sources primarily believed in the ‘cause’
of the event and thought of themselves as educators of the community. The
problem was that often the sources operated in an egalitarian frame addressing
themselves to limited members of the public. Also the sources were at times
critical of the press for being dominated by advertising which was why they
28 often failed to identify with their cause.
Gieber then interviewed 22 reporters on what they thought their role as News Sources
communicators entailed. Most reporters made a sharp distinction between their
private and professional lives while they acknowledged their public role of writing
a news story for mass consumption. The reporters were not as much concerned
with the ‘cause’ as with the ‘craft condition’ of their profession. The craft
orientation influenced everything including what event a reporter selected for
news. For instance, s/he was not concerned about the fate of a story after
it was sent.
The bureaucratic structure of the newsroom too had a tremendous influence
on the work of the reporters. They were guided by their organisation’s news
policies that they had to adhere to at all times which led to professional guilt
of not being able to do enough for the public. Gieber concludes that it became
obvious from the study that what is news to sources is not necessarily news
to reporters. The major source of disagreement between sources and reporters,
according to the latter, arises from the difference in news evaluation. As a result
the ‘fate’ of the story is determined by the demands of the reference group
of which the communicator is a member, not by the needs of the community
or mass audience.

2.4 RELIABILITY AND CREDIBILITY OF


SOURCES
Journalistic practice relies on factual information. A news story normally is made
up of interview bytes or ‘talking heads’ who give their accounts or comments
on an event. A journalist’s job is to pad the story with these quotes interspersed
in a logical sequence with voiceovers and visuals so that the event can make
sense to the audiences. The sources in that sense are the building blocks of
the story. The standard of objectivity often entails verifiability of information
independent of sources’ accounts. But in routine practice of fast pace news
production reporters do not have the time or the resources to probe into the
sources’ informational world to establish the veracity of the facts independent
of the source’s account (Schlesinger 1978; Ericson, Baranek and Chan 1989).
Scholars have warned that journalism is increasingly accommodating funding and
ownership patterns, work practices and routines that blur the distinction between
fact and fiction, selling propaganda in the name of news. In such a scenario,
many a times individual reporters find themselves torn between ethical principles
they cherish, the foremost being truth telling and the pressures accruing from
the corporate control of the press which dilutes such a commitment.
Government sources, party spokespersons, ministers, officials and bureaucrats
are considered to be authorised sources of information and the best talking heads
to give credibility to a story. The suitability of sources is adjudged through a
process of bureaucratised institutional form of authority and knowledge in which
editors and sometimes the management decides who will be given space in the
news story and which institutions, communities and individuals will be denied
such privilege. This is also partly how news maintains social status quo,
representing political power as residing in formal institutions of the state and
law enforcement agencies keeping the poor, the minorities and marginalised
sections of society in the periphery. It is a clear categorisation between the
haves and have-nots; the powerful and the voiceless.
29
News Concepts In this process, news also tends to legitimise these institutions and the dominant
power structures often neglecting civil society and oppositional groups which
are represented as insignificant, worthless even illegitimate (see Golding,
Murdock, and Schlesinger 1986). News sources are mostly pre-determined and
decided by the established practice of calling certain known sources whose
contacts and phone numbers are meticulously maintained. Reporters rarely make
any attempt to look beyond the established protocol and even if they do want
to they do not want to take the risk as it may not be accepted by the editors
or bureau chiefs. Journalism therefore develops its own ‘regime of objectivity’
flowing from its own version of social constructionism (Hackett and Zhao, 1998).
In the case of television news, visuals and footage from locations or showing
the face of the eyewitness add credibility and a slice of reality to the story
as the saying goes - seeing is believing. Besides, television story’s construction
also involves staging of sources complete with props, lighting, sound and realistic
background to make the scene as close to reality as possible. The staginess
of televised news involves controlled production and other contexts which can
lend their own meanings to the event. Often the emphasis is on presentation
than on the veracity of information. Moreover, with visual and high end graphics
used in packaging less credible information or even false information are easily
passed off as fact. Publishing news not attributable to any source or under the
guise of unnamed or unidentified sources is indicative of low quality journalism
which should be avoided at all cost.
In the last couple of years ‘fake news’ has emerged as a major social issue
faced by citizens and governments alike. As the phenomenon of fake news
becomes more widespread with platforms like WhatsApp providing easy avenue
for their ready dissemination, new technologies and tools are being developed
to detect fake news and ensure that citizens can ensure the veracity of information
they consume (Zhou and Zafarani, 2018).
The onus lies with both news organisations as producers of information and
citizens as consumers of information to push for truth telling in the public domain.
This will not only ensure the criticality of information in the public sphere and
its concomitant strengthening of democracy (Saeed, 2013) but also serve to
safeguard ethical principles that are definitive of journalism as we know it for
the last 200 years.
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. How source media relationship involves an element of power?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2. How does the structure of a newsroom influence the work of reporters?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
30
3. Why credibility of sourcing is important in journalism? News Sources

.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................

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.

2.5 LET US SUM UP


The unit discusses in detail the various sources that journalists use to report
a news story. It recounts the history of the emergence and consolidation of
international and national news agencies and how the wire copies have always
served as a staple of news that feeds into newspapers and television. It further
explores the other sources of information that reporters routinely turn to like
interviewing individual newsmakers or reporting on events as they happen on
the ground.
Official sources often find a privileged place in news when compared to the
less powerful and marginalised groups and communities. In so doing, news has
traditionally served to mirror and maintain the social structures and differences
including the biases in society instead of challenging these stereotypes and
domination that favour the rich and the powerful. This major shortcoming of
news is complicated in a digital era where fake news and misinformation is
being peddled in the name of journalism. It posits a real danger to the future
of journalism and democracy making it imperative that we develop tools and
fact checkers that can detect fake news early enough to prevent its wide
dissemination.

2.6 FURTHER READINGS


Allan, Stuart, (2004). News Culture, 2nd Edition, Open University Press: New
York
Gans, Herbert, (2004). Deciding What’s News, 25th-anniversary edition,
Northwestern University Press: Illinois
Saeed, Saima, (2013). Screening the Public Sphere: Media and Democracy
in India, New Delhi and London: Routledge
Schudson, Michael, (1995). The Power of News, Harvard University Press:
Massachusetts.

2.7 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: POSSIBLE


ANSWERS
Check Your Progress 1
1. Reporters are the building blocks and the face of the news organisations.
Reporting on different beats, they provide exclusives, live coverage and 31
News Concepts special reports which differentiate one news outlets from the other. Their
contacts with news sources and in various departments of governments,
ministries, local administration, police, locals, spokespersons, think-tank,
activists and others provide the stories that fill up newspaper columns and
news bulletins.
2. The breaking news culture, the clamour to be the first to report, financial
constraints and cost cutting by news organisations and a general decline
in adhering to ethical principles of journalism have contributed to the
withering of investigative journalism.
3. Reporters use various sources such as personal contacts, politicians,
ministries, influential individuals, government officials, social activists,
spokespersons, public intellectuals and even other reporters covering the
same beat in ‘rival’ news organisations. Besides press releases, handouts,
video clips, corporate films and media events provide a steady inflow of
news. They also check the wire copies in their beat and track major news
portals and online sources to keep themselves updated with the latest
developments
Check Your Progress 2
1. Government and institutional sources have a privileged access to reporters
which maintains the status quo in society and journalist hardly plays an
adversarial role relationship with those in power and challenge the
domination that favours the rich and the powerful.
2. The structure of the newsroom is generally bureaucratic and it also influences
the work of the reporters. They have to adhere to their organisation’s news
policies at all times which impacts upon their work and many a time they
are not able to do enough for the public.
3. The credibility of sourcing is important in journalism as fake news posits
a danger to democracy and journalism due to misinformation. There is a
need to develop tools and fact checkers to detect fake news and prevent
its wide dissemination.

32
UNIT 3 NEWSROOM SET UP AND
FUNCTIONS: PRINT AND
ONLINE MEDIA
Structure
3.0 Introduction

3.1 Learning Outcomes


3.2 Functions of a Newsroom
3.3 Editorial Structure of a Newspaper
3.3.1 News Wing
3.3.2 Reporting Wing
3.3.3 Photography Wing
3.3.4 Desktop Publishing Wing

3.4 Changing Pattern of Newsrooms


3.4.1 Use of Digital Technology
3.4.2 Online Media

3.5 Let Us Sum Up


3.6 Further Readings

3.7 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers

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.

3.2 FUNCTIONS OF A NEWSROOM


Newsroom, as you know is the place, where actual news operation takes place.
It is the heart of a newspaper where information is processed into news and
views. The editorial wing (also known as Editorial Department or Copy Desk
or News Desk) and reporting wings are parts of the newsroom.

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.

Newsroom plays a vital role in the making of a newspaper. In addition, some


other activities have been merged with the newsroom which include - Desktop
Publishing (typing, photo editing, illustration, page designing and its transmission
etc.) which support the editorial and reporting staff in speedy processing. Thus
a newsroom undertakes the activities of news gathering, selection of news, editing
34 and Page layout and designing. Let us look at these activities in detail.
News Gathering:You have read in the previous unit that reporters are one News Room Set-up &
Functions: Print & Online
of the main sources of news. They cover various beats and collect news. media
Thereafter, news is submitted to newsroom, where it is processed and put up
in a presentable manner. The close coordination between the editing and reporting
wing is very important in the process of news making and presentation.

News Selection: The next step is the selection of news. In a newspaper


organisation, a number of gatekeepers work at various points in the editing and
reporting wings. Their duty is to select or reject information on the basis of
their news-worthiness. A reporter may draw upon his/her sources, reach the
spot and make efforts to obtain information. However, each event and incident
will not be newsworthy and a few stories get selected for making news. Even
the reporter has to reject some events/incidents, which do not have news value.

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.

Page Designing and Layout: Presentation of a newspaper is very important


for attracting readers and that is why newspaper organisations are doing extensive
research on content presentation and implementing the findings. The presentation
includes placement of news and photos, use of logos, illustrations and graphics
and most importantly; style sheet that covers font, colour, box and pointers etc.
In totality, page designing and layout covers all these aspects and the same
are finalised by newsroom staff. Now-a-days, Desktop Publishing (DTP)
operators have become extremely important and are in great demand.

Activity 1

Visit the newsrooms of two newspaper organisations and collect information


about the use of new technology for news editing, photo editing and page
designing.

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.

Fill in the blanks:

a) The role of …...................................………………is crucial in the selection


of news.

b) …….........................………………. of a story is essential for the selection


of news.
35
News Concepts c) …………….and …………..wings are the pillars of a newspaper
organisation.

d) A newspaper needs good……................…..…as well as effective


…………...........…..............

e) The……………................................……process continues at the level of


editing too.

f) News goes through …………........................................…………..before


it is finalised.

3.3 EDITORIAL STRUCTURE OF A NEWSPAPER


The editorial structure of a newspaper organisation constitutes a variety of
professional staff at different levels, as discussed below:

Editor/Chief Editor/Editor-in-Chief: An experienced and visionary professional


who heads a newspaper organisation is known as the Editor or Chief Editor
or Editor-in-Chief. S/he supervises and controls all the newsrooms (in multi
edition newspapers) that come under his/her authority across the country. The
designation varies according to the size and structure of a newsroom. In the
case of single or multi-edition newspapers, s/he decides and implements the
editorial policy and looks after its execution in consultation with the Resident
and Executive Editors. The person is actively involved in the planning and growth
of newspaper and being the head of the news as well as views wing, s/he
is responsible for everything particularly the editorial page, which is considered
to be the voice of a newspaper. Despite the busy schedule, s/he writes editorial
and special comments on contemporary issues from time to time. The content
and presentation of the newspaper reflect his/her vision.

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.

Resident Editor: In the case of multi-edition newspapers published


from different cities/towns/capitals, a person who heads that particular edition
is known as Resident Editor. For example, The Times of India originates from
Mumbai, but its other editions are from New Delhi, Kolkata, Patna and
Chandigarh etc. Similarly, The Hindustan Times originates from New Delhi, but
its editions are in Mumbai, Chandigarh, Patna, Lucknow etc. In Hindi
newspapers, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan have more than 30
editions across the country which are led by the Resident Editors. Thus Resident
Editor serves as extended arms of the Chief Editor, who implements the
newspaper’s policies and is responsible for the selection and publication of news
and views for the local editions. S/he heads the local editorial and reporting
wing of a newspaper.
36
News Room Set-up &
Functions: Print & Online
media

Note : The number of people working on different designations may vary


in different organisations and it mainly depends on the size of newspaper.
Big newspapers may have many News Editors whereas smaller ones have
only one News Editor.
Assistant Editor: The Assistant Editor assists the chief editor and performs
the duties assigned by the chief editor. This may be writing an editorial, looking
after the feature page and supplements etc. S/he is the key person, who is
closely associated with the chief editor.
News Editor: The News Editor is a key person in newsroom, who decides the
selection and rejection of news items and assigns it on various pages. S/he also
gives a fresh treatment or angle to the news, if the story has the elements of
news-worthiness. Apart from this, s/he allocates news to different pages on the
basis of its importance and supervises his/her colleagues at different levels such
as news placement and page designing etc. S/he is always in close contact with
the news and reporting wing for better co-ordination. The news editor knows
the policies of the newspaper and implements the same under the guidance of
the editor. The post of news editor exists in all big newspapers, but in small
and medium newspapers, the chief sub editor performs the duties of news editor.
37
News Concepts Chief Sub/Copy Editor: The Chief Sub Editor performs all the duties of news
operation with the help of senior sub editor and sub editors. S/he distributes
news items to sub editor for editing and pages for designing. Further, s/he also
decides the treatment or angle and length and breadth of news story. S/he remains
in close contact with the junior staff and coordinates with them. The chief sub
editor always keeps ears and eyes open on major happenings or incidents that
can become news. S/he coordinates with news and reporting wing for better
coverage and also consults with the advertisement and circulation wing. S/he
is also known as chief sub.
Senior Sub/Copy Editor: For smooth functioning of the newsroom and to assist
the chief sub editor; the senior sub editor mediates between the chief sub editor
and sub editors. S/he ensures accuracy, objectivity and balance in news
processing for avoiding mistakes during pressure hours. In the absence or
shortage of staff, the senior sub editor performs all the duties of sub editors,
such as news editing and page designing etc.
Sub/Copy Editor: The sub editor plays one of the most important roles in
the publication of a newspaper. S/he actively engages oneself in various works
such as news editing, processing and page designing etc. during pressure hours.
A sub editor performs various duties such as: editing and rewriting a news story
with an impressive intro in an inverted pyramid form; giving pointers to a news
item; caption to a photo; and translating news item from English to the concerned
language. In doing so, s/he keeps the available space in view and ensures proper
placement of story and designing on the assigned page and proof reading. A
sub editor works behind the scene and hardly gets the kind of appreciation
a reporter gets but gets fired by seniors for making mistakes.
Trainee: A trainee is a newcomer who joins a newspaper just after the
completion of his/her professional degree. In order to understand the working
mechanism of a newsroom, s/he is put in association with a sub editor, where
s/he learns the basic principles of news editing and page designing. S/he also
seeks guidance from the senior members regarding the functioning of a
newsroom.

3.3.1 News Wing


News Desk is the central place, where actual news operation takes place. In
addition there are some specialised desks where specialised work is done such
as Business Desk, Sports Desk, Foreign Desk, Film Desk, Desk for Sunday
Magazine and Special Pages. These desks work independently from Central
Editing Desk.
The Business Desk plans and executes the coverage of local market, share
market, entrepreneurship, financial activities and business news etc. The Sports
Desk plans and executes the coverage of sports activities. The Foreign Desk
plans and executes the coverage of international developments, foreign visits of
President, Prime Minister and other prominent leaders and its impact etc. The
Film Desk plans the coverage of film release and its review, celebrity gossips,
profile of a film star etc. Sunday Magazine and Special Pages are planned and
published by newspaper on any particular day like Sunday, Saturday etc.

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?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................ .
2) Mention two activities of assistant editor.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................ .
3) What are the main criteria that news editor keeps in mind before placing
news on page?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................ .

3.3.2 Reporting Wing


The Reporting Wing is the main source of information which supplies bulk of
news items to the newsroom on a daily basis. It not only reports news items,
but also promotes a newspaper as a brand. One cannot think about the existence
of newsroom without a reporting wing. In fact, both the wings are interdependent,
but the charm of reporting makes a huge difference. The following are the various
categories of reporters who work in a newspaper organisation:
Bureau Chief: The Bureau Chief is a key person who leads central bureau
from where a newspaper is being published. S/he leads a group of reporting
staff and assigns them duties. S/he not only supervises them, but also tries to
go through the news items submitted by reporters. S/he co-ordinates with news
wing in consultation with the news editor or chief sub editor and also reports
major developments to the editor. S/he also leads local bureau offices where
newspaper’s circulation and news fall is substantial. These bureaus are extended
branch of a newspaper house from where all the activities, except for the printing
of the newspaper are performed.
Special Correspondents: They are the senior and most experienced members
of the editorial wing who cover national and international issues. The foreign
visit of President or Prime Minister, cabinet meeting called by Prime Minister
or Chief Minister and parliamentary and legislative sessions are generally covered
by the special correspondents.
Chief Reporter: The Chief Reporter covers major events in the city or district
and assigns duties to reporters and guides them. S/he also plans special stories
and develops one’s information sources at various levels so that one can report 39
News Concepts any incident at the same time. S/he also builds rapport with officials as well
as politicians so that s/he can be aware of major decisions taken by them.
The Chief reporter keeps close contacts with the chief sub editor for better
coordination of the city edition.
Senior Reporter: Senior Reporter also covers major happenings in the city
and assists the bureau chief and chief reporter in smooth functioning of news
coverage. In the absence of senior members in reporting wing, s/he performs
all duties such as assigning tasks to the reporters, supervising them and
coordinating with the chief sub editor in the news room.
Reporter: A group of reporters work in the newspaper organisation. They have
specific coverage area according to their ability and expertise which is judged
by the editor. This specific area is called beat. If a reporter is interested in
politics, s/he gets a chance to do political beat. The reporter interested in games
is assigned sports beat. Similarly business, crime, art and culture and science
beats are assigned to the reporters, who have skills, potential and ability to
do that. They are supervised and instructed by the bureau chief or the chief
reporter to file news items on time.
Stringer: Since it is not financially viable to recruit reporters in each city and
area, a newspaper house appoints a group of stringers for coverage of various
areas. They provide news items from their specific areas. They are not regular
employees of a newspaper, but they provide news on a regular basis and are
paid according to the size or words written in the story.
In addition, there are some other sources that provide news items to a newspaper
house such as News Agencies, Press Release, Hand-outs and Press Communiques
issued by the different organisations.
News Agencies: News Agencies are the main source of bulk supply of news
materials including feature and photographs. Most of the newspapers take the
services of news agencies like Press Trust of India (PTI), United News of India
(UNI) and Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). Some of the newspapers are
fully dependent on them because of financial reasons.
These news agencies have international collaborations too. PTI has tied up with
Agence France Presse (AFP), Associated Press (AP) and The New York Times,
while UNI has tied up with Reuters, Xinhua, Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA)
etc. Some Hindi news agencies are PTI (Bhasha), Univarta, Hindustan Samachar
and Samachar Bharti etc.

3.3.3 Photography Wing


The photography wing has prominent position in a newspaper organisation. Most
of the newspapers have made it necessary to put a photo or logo or cartoon
(small or big depending on the size of a story) along with news items. Even
editor takes keen interest in the selection of photographs. The big, medium and
small newspapers appoint a photography team led by Photo Editor. The following
are the members of the wing:
Photo Editor: Photo Editor is the head of photography wing who is experienced
and creative enough to select best photos for newspapers of consultation with
the editor. While selecting a photo, s/he keeps news sense in mind and gives
a proper angle in tune with news presentation. S/he also assigns duties to the
40
colleagues for photo coverage and sometimes takes photos from news agencies News Room Set-up &
Functions: Print & Online
and photo library of the organisation for effective presentation. media

Chief Photographer: Chief Photographer is the second in command in


photography wing, who captures photos of various events. Generally, s/he covers
visit of a local politician or celebrity, public meetings, cultural programmes,
demonstrations, fairs, exhibitions and accidents etc.
Photographer: A big newspaper generally recruits a good photography team
with specialisation in various areas such as sports, wildlife, art and culture and
political photography. Photographers are assigned duties on the basis of their
specialisation by either photo editor or chief photographer. But a photography
team consisting of 3-4 staff exists in medium and small newspapers. Here a
photographer covers almost all activities taking place in his/her area. S/he moves
to different places and takes photographs of various events and submits it to
the newsroom with good captions, within the deadline.

3.3.4 Desktop Publishing Wing


This wing provides technical support to the newspaper. It designs illustration,
logo and caricature for a news story and also provides font size, color, ad
design and other materials in consultation with the editor. Particularly for the
designing of special pages like Sunday magazines, supplements etc. they use
their creativity to make them attractive. The staff of Desktop Publishing are
not journalists, but with experience, training and close coordination with sub
editors they acquire basic journalistic skills. This wing is led by Chief Desktop
Publishing Operator.
Desktop Publishing in Charge: Chief DTP Operator leads technical wing and
supervises all staff to work with close coordination with news wing and provide
them complete support so that all editions can meet the deadline. S/he assigns
various duties such as designing a page, logo, illustrations, font, advertisement
etc. to DTP Operators. S/he gives suggestions to his/her colleagues for better
presentation. DTP wing is the final place where a page is checked technically
and goes for publication. Therefore, s/he ensures that newspaper should reach
the printing press on time.
Layout artists, graphic designers and make-up artist also comprise the DTP Wing
and are mainly responsible for making pages attractive. They design a page
in such a way to attract the reader. The designers take ideas from sub editors
regarding news placement and then design the page with their aesthetic sense.
Newsroom of Magazines
It will be worthwhile to briefly look at the newsroom of magazines which is
totally different from a newspaper due to the difference in their periodicity, size
and content. A magazine is published in a digest or journal form while a
newspaper comes up in broadsheet or tabloid. The periodicity of a magazine
may be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, even half yearly etc., while a
newspaper comes up on a daily or weekly basis.
Moreover, the content of a newspaper mainly focuses on daily happenings that
provide information in inverted pyramid style, but magazine covers any event
for a long period, based on research. It may be a week or month on the basis
of periodicity, thus, it has enough time to give in-depth analysis of any events.
41
News Concepts A magazine also contains editorials, articles on current topics, letters to the editor,
film review, book review, features, columns, short stories, art and entertainment
related content, among others.
Editorial Structure of a Magazine

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?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2) What is the role of a bureau chief?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
3) Mention two main activities of photo editor.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................

3.4 CHANGING PATTERNS OF NEWS ROOMS


The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the
42 face of newsrooms. The computer and internet based technology has replaced
the old and traditional methods of news processing and everything is News Room Set-up &
Functions: Print & Online
being processed by the editorial and reporting staff on computer. It has media
become very easy to cross-check facts through internet, modify news
selection rejection and placement process through various software’s like
Word Pro, News Pro and Word Xpress etc. It is also possible to break the
designed page and redesign it through software like Quark Xpress, In-Design
and Page Maker etc.
A visual can also be used or modified by many ways with the help of software
such as Adobe Photoshop etc. A designed page, visual and news material can
easily be sent from one place to another for its use through modem and internet.
It can also be sent directly for publication from the newsroom.
3.3.1 Use of Digital Technology
It is hardly surprising that it is compulsory for all, irrespective of their position,
to be well acquaintance with the latest and changing technologies. The traditional
newsroom was totally based on ‘Pen-Paper Work’ wherein the process of
transmission of news was cumbersome as compared with today’s newsroom
setup.
The following electronic tools have become essential for the present day
newsroom:
 Computers: The newsroom is well equipped with electronic gadgets
particularly computers by which all activities are done like news editing,
page making etc. Newsroom staff frequently uses computers for felicitating
all activities.
 Internet: Internet has become essential in every newsroom now-a-days. It
not only helps in cross-checking the facts, but also transmits news and
photographs in fraction of seconds.
 Modem: A designed page can easily be sent from the headquarters to the
local centers and vice versa for publication of newspaper through this
electronic device.
 Software: Some software are commonly used for news editing like News
Pro, Word Pro and Word Xpress, while Adobe Photoshop and Adobe
Premier for photo editing while Quark Xpress, In-Design and Page Maker
etc. are used for page designing.
 Telephone: It is the most conventional tool of transmitting news. But its
new versions i.e. Cellular/WLL/Satellite phones are now being used for
speedy transmission of news and live coverage for newspapers, radio and
TV. Fax and modem linked computers are also being used through telephone
lines.
Despite all these technological developments notebooks, a pen or pencil and
tape recorder have still maintained their importance in the era of paperless
journalism.
3.4.2 Online Media
Due to the advent of digital technology; media is produced and consumed on
digital devices. The growing prevalence of smartphones and tablets and the 43
News Concepts wireless networks that connect them, implies that more number of people will
view media on a digital device.
Online media as you are aware is different from print media. Literacy is the
primary requirement in the case of print media which is not required for online
media as there is substantial use of audio and video components in it. Live
discussions and various other formats are used in the online media platforms.
Any form of print media be it newspaper, magazine, journals etc. has its limitation
in terms of its reach whereas online media with availability of internet has wider
canvas. In print media there is always a time limit for the collection of news
as its publication remains due until that time, but in online media there is no
such deadline and information can be updated anytime at regular intervals.

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?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
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.

3.6 FURTHER READINGS


Varma Adarsh Kumar, 2001. Advanced Journalism, Har-Anand Publications.
Tapas Ray, 2006. Online Journalism: A Basic Text, Cambridge University Press.
RC Ramanujan, 2009. Multi Media Journalism, APH Publication.
Raman Usha, 2009. Writing for Media, Oxford Publication.
SK Bansal, 2009. Information Technology in Journalism, APH Publishing
Corporation.
Spark David, 2010. Harris Geoffrey, Practical Newspaper Reporting, Sage
(fourth Edition).

3.7 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS : POSSIBLE


ANSWERS
Check Your Progress 1
a) Gatekeepers
b) News-worthiness
c) Editorial and Reporting 45
News Concepts d) Content and effective presentation
e) Gatekeeping
f) Multi-level checking
Check Your Progress 2
1. The Executive editor executes editorial plans and policies for all editions,
whereas Resident editor focuses on a single edition. The Executive editor
provides key suggestions to Chief Editor for the growth of multi-edition
newspapers, whereas Resident editor contributes for this growth from single
edition located in a particular city/town.
2. The assistant editor plans the editorial page and feature and supplement
pages 3.
3. The news editor keeps the news values and gatekeeping in mind before
placing news on page.
Check Your Progress 3
1. Two major news source of a newspaper are Reporting Wing and News
Agencies.
2. The bureau chief leads a group of reporting staff and assigns duties to
reporters.
3. The main activities of photo editor are selection of best and suitable photos
for news items and assigning photography assignments to photographers.
Check Your Progress 4
1. Computer, Internet and Software have changed the face of newsroom.
2. Desktop Publishing is the technical hand for print media. Its activities include
page making, illustration, logo and caricature designing.

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

4.5 Output Desk


4.5.1 Preparing the Rundown
4.5.2 Executing the Rundown
4.5.3 Getting Stories on Air
4.5.4 Information on Screen
4.5.5 Tickers

4.6 Script Desk


4.7 How a Newsroom Functions
4.8 TV Newsroom Vocabulary
4.9 Let Us Sum Up
4.10 Further Readings
4.11 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers

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.

4.3 NEWS PRODUCTION IN A NEWS CHANNEL


To understand the functioning of a newsroom, it’s imperative to first take a
look at the production process of news bulletins or a news programme in a
news channel. Let us have a glimpse.
We have already stated that newsroom setups are not similar in all the channels,
and there also differences in the nomenclature of desks and personnel. For
example, in some channels, the people who are in-charge of news bulletins are
called Producers, whereas in some other channels they are called Output
Editors. In the same manner what is termed the Assignment Desk in some
channels, in the other channels, it is known as the Input Desk.
As in any news media, there are two branches for the production of news
in a channel. First is the news gathering and second is to make the raw news
presentable for the viewers. Newsroom comes into the picture in the second
stage. When a reporter has done his/her job of news gathering, which here
means shooting of the story, the work goes forward.
First the reporter comes back to the newsroom and writes his/her script. These
days it is done on computer, which is connected to all computers of the office
through local area network (LANs). In fact, these days, computers are connected
through wide area networks (WANs) as well, so the senior officials of the news
channels also remain connected to the office systems from anywhere.
After the script is written, it goes to the script desk, where it is checked by
a senior person. When the script is cleared, reporter takes it and goes for the
voice over and video editing. Video editing is a technical process. In every
channel now, reporters are required to edit their stories themselves. A video
editor, who is a technical person, checks the edited story before it is published
for telecast. As the story is published, the reporter hands it over to the production/
output desk.
Production/output desk can then include that story in a Rundown; in some
channels it is also known as a Run Order. A Rundown or a Run Order is
a sequence of Headlines and stories, which are to be played.
Then, the Production/output person goes to the PCR (production control room)
with the Rundown. From there, the final telecast takes place which is entirely
a technical process executed by engineers and other technological experts.
However, a newsroom person or a journalist always remains there, because,
s/he understands the News, and it is his/her responsibility to keep the bulletin
or the programme in order. If there is breaking news, only a journalist can
48 decide how to go into it, how long to stay on that news, what is the need
of the coverage, i.e., whether any live interview or graphics are needed, it is News Room Set-up and
Functions: Electronic Media
s/he who feeds the latest information regarding that news to the anchor. Actually
it is the news producer / output editor, who editorially or you can say, content-
wise controls the show.
Here we mentioned three main functions of the newsroom- Scripting, making
rundowns and executing the rundowns. But there are other functions as well
which are performed by senior journalists. These are mainly related to
conceptualisation, planning and execution. In any channel, the news takes shape
from here. It is at this level, that the policies are formulated and the whole
newsroom gets its guidance.
As we now understand the main functions of a newsroom, we are in position
to know its structure, for the simple reason that the structures are made to
perform the functions and achieve the targets.
Electronic media Newsrooms mainly consist of three desks. These are:
Assignment or Input desk, Output desk and Script desk. These desks are
additional to the sitting arrangements of reporters/ bureaus, as well as other
journalists/functionaries of the channel.
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. What qualities does a person need to be effective in a TV newsroom?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2. What are the three main desks in a newsroom?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................

4.4 ASSIGNMENT/INPUT DESKS


As the name suggests, the responsibility of this desk is to arrange and give
input to the channel. In practical terms, it means feeding the channel with news
items and information, which can be produced and presented to the viewers.
This desk consists of many input editors, who work under the guidance of their
in-charge and have many functions to perform. Let us look at the job of
assignment/ input desk.

4.4.1 Overseeing Reporters


The reporters of the channel come under the assignment/ input desk. From there,
they get their work assigned. They have to report to this desk. The reporters
are expected to keep the assignment/input desk informed about the status of
their stories. If they come to know about any new information or breaking news,
they first pass it to the assignment/ input desk. It is this desk, which decides 49
News Concepts what to do about that information, how much importance it is to be given, and
how it is going to be played up.
This is the desk which is responsible for whatever news and information you
watch on a channel. So, input editors keep an eye on whatever is happening
in the world. They continuously keep track of the news agencies, other news
channels and news web sites. They are expected to flash all the information
that they think would be useful for a channel and the journalists there.

4.4.2 Arranging Visuals


TV being a visual media, visuals are of prime importance there. Every news
channel wants to be the first to air the visuals. They also want to air the best
visuals available. You can get an idea of this race only by being in a TV
newsroom. It is the duty of the assignment/input team to fulfil this need of the
channel and they keep pressurising reporters on the spot, to send the visuals
as soon as possible. As the visuals are uplinked, they immediately inform the
output team and as the visuals arrive they give all the related details to them.

In addition to channel’s own sources, the assignment/input team have to


continuously track the agencies, like APTN, REUTERS and ANI. Most of the
channels subscribe to the services of these agencies and are dependent on these
agencies for the visuals of the events and the developments happening in the
foreign countries.

The assignment/input desk is also expected to keep an eye on the foreign


broadcasters, so that they are aware of the events taking place in the areas
or countries of interest of the viewers of that particular channel. By overseeing
these channels, they also get an idea of the visuals that might be available in
due course to their channel.

4.4.3 Arranging Phone-in interviews


When news breaks in, generally the information first comes through phones.
If the news is big, then the channels try to stay on it for many hours. It takes
time to show the visuals or bytes of the eye witnesses or authorities, due to
a simple reason that the reporters or the technical infrastructure can’t be present
everywhere. As they try to reach there as soon as possible, the channel has
to give the latest information to its viewers. So, here come in phone-in interviews.
These interviews are called Phonos in newsroom parlance.

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.

4.4.4 Monitoring Other Channels


The assignment/input desk is required to continuously monitor the other channels,
which are its competitors. After all, there is a cut-throat competition to attract
more and more viewers. News channels are vying for snatching viewers of the
other channels. So the most important thing is to know, which channel is showing
what, and in what manner. Based on this information and its analysis, channels
prepare their strategy. Generally, the assignment/input desk keeps flashing
headlines of other channels every hour on an intra-mail system of the organisation.
They also tell the whole team, if some other channel has any exclusive story
or extra information/input regarding a running story.

4.4.5 Story Planning


Story planning is a major responsibility of the assignment/input desk. They have
to assess the different angles of a story, what elements are required to present
the full picture, from where these elements will come, and which reporter is
best suited to do that story. After assessing all these aspects, the story is assigned
to a reporter; s/he is given a detailed guideline to proceed with, and is also
told the deadline. Then the assignment/input desk informs the newsroom about
the Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) of the story. It is duty of the assignment/
input desk to follow and make reporters follow the timetable. Sometimes, a
single story needs input from many places. For example, if a story is being
done on a controversy regarding an advertisement featuring a cricketer, it might
be the case that the player at that time may be in Bangalore and the ad company
officials are in Mumbai. Naturally, the bytes will have to be taken in those cities.
In addition, it may be imperative to give voice of the fans of the player. These
have to be brought from different places. Coordinating and collecting all these
inputs and handing it over to the story packaging team are the responsibilities
of the assignment/input desk.

4.4.6 Forward Planning


Forward planning implies planning for the near future. Many dates fall in the
coming weeks or month, which may be important for news coverage. For
example, festivals, birthdays of celebrities, elections, sports tournaments, and
release of big budget/ multi-starrer films. It comes under forward planning to
prepare a calendar of these events and suggest how the channel should cover
it. Providing background material of each and every such event is also the job
of the assignment/input desk. The day, every channel will play up the event,
your channel should not lack in any aspect or look dull. The assignment/input
desk also has to shoulder this responsibility.

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.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2. Why is it important for a news channel to monitor other channels?
.............................................................................................................
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4.5 OUTPUT DESK


The Assignment/input desk gives raw material and the Output cooks it up as
‘digestible food’ for the news hungry audience. To keep the audience engaged,
the ‘food’ should be tasty enough. It’s the duty of the Output desk to ensure
that the raw information is produced in a presentable format, in the shortest
possible time frame and put on air.
Output persons have many functions to perform. One should always keep it
in mind that the job at the output desk is half journalistic and half technical.
If you aspire to work at the output desk, then you must be conversant with
modern information and telecast technologies and computer savvy. You must
have the knowledge of video editing, news publishing in technological terms,
making published stories ready for telecast and all technological nuances of
telecast that come across when a news bulletin or a news programme is being
aired. You must be aware of the vocabulary of all these processes.
Nowadays, all output persons are expected to (in fact in many channels required
to) know video editing. As visuals and bytes arrive, the output team has to
edit it in a way that it is available for telecast within minutes. Sometimes when
reporters are not present in the office, output persons have to make the full
story themselves, so that they fulfil the duty of a reporter as well. Thus the
job of output person is like an all-rounder who performs different functions at
different times.
Let us now have a look at the main functions of the output desk:

4.5.1 Preparing the Rundown


This may be considered as the foremost job of the output team. In some channels,
a Rundown is called as a Run Order. It’s the order or the sequence in which
the news is planned to be aired. Before every bulletin/programme, an output
editor is assigned to make the rundown. S/he prepares it as per the directions
of the news editor/executive producer. Generally, a set pattern is followed while
making rundowns but nowadays, breaking patterns are in vogue. For example,
earlier, headlines had to be the first item in a news bulletin. But now, to present
52
a surprise element to the viewers, channels sometimes begin the bulletin with News Room Set-up and
Functions: Electronic Media
impressive visuals or interesting bytes. In conventional terms, these things are
called teasers, and now often, teasers are becoming the first thing in a news
bulletin.
The pattern of a Rundown is given below –
 Headline
 Anchor Link giving a glimpse of what is special or interesting in his/her
kitty.
 News stories
 Discussion with guest or reporter (if it is planned)
 Teaser before going for a commercial break
 Commercial break
 Come back
 Headlines (optional)
 News stories
 End of the bulletin.
News bulletins or programmes may be of half an hour or an hour’s duration.
This pattern continues if the bulletin or the programme is of an extended duration.

2.5.2 Executing the Rundown


It is the duty of Output Editor (OE) / producer to execute the rundown and
for doing this s/he has to go to the PCR (production control room). The OE/
Producer works there with a team of technical persons. The OE/Producer is
expected to be present in the PCR much before the actual telecast begins. The
person has to line-up the OBs and PHONOS. If the anchor is doing continuous
bulletins and cannot find time to go through the Rundown, s/he has to tell the
anchor the whole plan of the bulletin.
While the bulletin is in the progress, the OE/Producer is the point person and
is answerable for all content related matters. Thus it is a job of responsibility
and a job of journalistic as well as technical competence. In case of breaking
news, skills of the whole team of a news channel are tested, but it’s a special
test for the OE/Producer. S/he has to take decisions then and there and has
to feed the anchor with the latest information and also direct the PCR team
to go where, how and to whom. S/he has to coordinate with reporters, keep
a track on coming visuals and bytes and get them played according to importance
and novelty.
The job of making and executing rundowns is given to capable and experienced
people. On a news heavy day or during the breaking news situations, they are
assisted by other people at the output desk as well.

2.5.3 Getting Stories on Air


As discussed above, the input desk arranges stories and raw materials and hands
it over to the output desk. Now it is the duty of the output team to put it 53
News Concepts on air. The edited or prepared stories could be included in the rundown at
once, as they are ready for telecast. The output team is expected to know
about the full content, the visual sequence and the bytes details etc. of the story,
therefore they first have to watch it. If they feel that story is lacking somewhere
they ask the input desk to get that corrected by the concerned reporters. In
case the story has come from out station or the reporter is not available, this
has to be done by the output team itself. Working in a television news channel
is a very fast affair. The reporters are expected to write scripts and edit their
stories themselves, but sometimes they have to remain in the field for long time,
as they have to cover minute to minute detail of a developing story. Obviously
they can’t return to the office just for filing their story. In those cases, they
give information regarding the story on phone and explain the visual and bytes
details to the input desk. Then the input desk tries to get that story by some
other reporter, but if there is a shortage of human resource at that front, then
the output desk has to do that job.
2.5.4 Information on Screen
When you are watching news, you see many written information on the TV
screen. In that information you will find the gist of the story, the name and
the designation of the person whose bytes have been used in the story, the
information about the location, which means the place where the incident has
taken place or the place where the concerned person has given the bytes. In
TV news parlance, this information is called a SUPER. Putting supers is also
the output team’s responsibility. Thus command on the language is necessary
to work at the output desk. Whatever you write, it goes on air, appears at
the TV screen and is seen by the viewers. So, there is no scope for any mistake
and you have to be foolproof.
In western countries, the trend of the cluttered screen is decreasing, but in India
it is on the rise. Here TV news channels are cluttering their screen with more
and more information. It is believed that some studies have reinforced this thinking
that cluttered screens are helpful in keeping viewers remain at the channel. Even
though watching visuals being covered by text information can be agonising for
the enlightened viewers, the channel officials think otherwise.
Anyway, supers are a very important part of a news story, and writing these
has its own demand. Having command on the language is not enough; you must
be innovative as well. Supers are written in a very limited number of words.
There is a limit to accommodate the numbers of letters on the screen. You
are asked to write ‘catchy’ supers, i.e., such words which will appeal to the
viewers and which leave them amused. Their aim is to create curiosity; keep
the viewers occupied, and tell the story in such a manner that it synchronises
with the visuals and the theme of the story.

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?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2. What is the main function of the output desk?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
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.

4.7 HOW A NEWSROOM FUNCTIONS


On a normal day, when there is no breaking news or it is not a big news
day like elections, newsroom functions in a set pattern. Every morning, there
is phone conferencing with all the bureaus, reporters, and input desk persons.
Executive Editors and other bosses or in-charges of different departments also
take part in it. In this very meeting, the agenda of the day begins to take shape.
Bureaus and reporters inform what they have to offer that day - if they have
some special story or information, what events or developments are going to
or are expected to happen in their area. Decisions are then taken which
development or event or news has to be given how much importance.
Accordingly, a plan of coverage is chalked out and guidelines given to the
reporters.
56
After this meeting, the input desk follows up and implements the decisions and News Room Set-up and
Functions: Electronic Media
keeps the office informed about the progress regarding the stories. Meanwhile,
whatever information is received, the input desk keeps forwarding to the output
desk and the output as per its news sense, the policy of the channel and the
orders from the bosses, keeps putting that information on air. This sequence
breaks only when there is breaking news. During breaking news situation, a
new style of working comes into operation. In a professional news channel,
a special breaking news drill is organised occasionally to keep the staff prepared.
In this situation, only that news and the information relating to it go on air.

4.8 TV NEWSROOM VOCABULARY


A TV newsroom has its own vocabulary and when you enter a television
newsroom, you will come across many terms and expressions that you may
find interesting. For the convenience of the personnel working there, many words
are used in their cut-short versions. Some words are of technical nature and
you can understand their meaning or implication only if you understand the
technological functions related to them. Here we shall try to explain some
commonly used terms in a TV newsroom.
Package: A package is a full story. In a news channel, the input comes in
a fragmented form. Sometimes the visuals, bytes and the information come from
different sources and places. Including all of them in a single story is called
making a package. The package should give a full picture of the story; it is
developed in a sequence. First, the script should tell the viewers that what is
the news. Then it also gives the true context of the development, so that the
viewers are able to understand why this is important and how this news should
be perceived. The visuals and bytes are arranged in a package in a logical
manner. In some channels packages are called VTs. VT is the abbreviation of
Visual Text.
Anchor Link: These are the sentences an anchor reads or speaks to introduce
the package. After every story, the anchor comes on the screen and links another
story with introducing it in a manner that may look logical and interesting. So
these sentences are called the anchor link. Anchors are expected to write their
links themselves, but often an output editor has to do this job because the anchors
are in a hurry or they may not be aware of the full content of the story.
VO: VO or Voice Over is a recorded voice which is used in packages or
VTs. A person, who has a clearance for doing VOs from the authorities, records
the text of script in the video editing system. Then the video editor puts it in
the package in such a manner that the voice, visuals and bytes create a sequence.
Phono: A Phono is a short form of a phone-in interview. You would have
seen anchors taking information or reactions through these interviews during news
bulletins. Phono becomes a useful instrument, especially in breaking news
situations. There are no hard and fast rules for doing a Phono, but it is desirable
that Phonos are kept short and focused on extracting information; otherwise
viewers may get bored and switch over to another channel.
OB: OB is the short version of Outdoor Broadcasting. All news channels have
Outdoor Broadcasting Vans. These vans move around according to the needs
of broadcasting and are capable of getting things telecast from the outdoor
location. OBs are stationed at the places of happenings. A reporter keeps giving 57
News Concepts updates from there, regarding a development. OBs are also used for discussions.
In this era of numerous news channels, sometimes you will find scarcity of VIP
guests. When a VIP refuses to come to the studio of the channel, an OB is
sent to a convenient place for joining the discussion.
Disco: This term is frequently used in the news channels. But don’t get confused
- there are no Discotheques in the news channels. In fact, a Discussion is called
a disco which may be on very serious topics like war, poverty etc.
MCR: MCR is the abbreviation for the Master Control Room. This is the
room from where all air ways are monitored and controlled. If some feed is
coming from outside or something is being sent from the channel, all traffic takes
place from the MCR. The MCR sends telecast signals to the satellite, controls
the OBs, and receives feeds from the visual news agencies.
Feed: All inputs coming to the channel are called Feed. Mainly channels need
visuals and bytes. When a channel’s MCR is in process of receiving, and
recording these in its own system, these are known as Feed.
PCR: PCR is an abbreviation for Production Control Room. PCR is the place
from where the telecast process is directed and controlled. PCR remains linked
to the studio where anchor sits. PCR also remains linked to the MCR, it keeps
asking OBs for links, feeds and air signals according to the needs of the bulletin.
From there, the anchor is given instructions and the latest information.
Story Dump: Story Dump is a term used for the stories that have come in
edited form from the other centres of the channel. Publishing these stories in
the channel’s system is called dumping the story. A dumped story is ready for
telecast.
Ingest: Ingesting is the process of bringing deleted or lapsed stories/feeds again
into the system. Sometimes channels need old stories or bytes to re-run. For
this, they have to go to the archives and find those feeds. After getting those
from the archive, they INGEST them in to the system and get those published
again.

4.9 LET US SUM UP


In this unit, we have tried to draw a picture of a newsroom in a TV news
channel 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 is done. When pages are
released from there, the work of the newsroom is over.
However in television; production of news bulletins is more complex. Things
keep changing till the last moment and even during the telecast of the bulletin,
so it becomes an ongoing process.
TV news channels these days offer a promising career. Salaries are high and
people get opportunities to rise fast. But these are demanding jobs requiring
time and energy. Working in a newsroom sometimes seems stressful and even
mechanical. But this is the nature of this job and those who have the requisite
flair, enjoy the work even in most tiring situations. If you understand the true
potential and nuances of this medium, you can carve out a place for your self.
58 Understanding the working of a newsroom definitely helps in this endeavour.
News Room Set-up and
4.10 FURTHER READINGS Functions: Electronic Media

Boyd, A., Stewart, P., & Alexander, R. (2008), Broadcast Journalism,


Amsterdam: Elsevier/Focal.
Cury, I. (2007), Directing and producing for television. Burlington, MA: Focal
Press.
Schultz, B. (2005), Broadcast news producing. Thousand Oaks [Calif.]: Sage
Publications.
Yorke, I., & Alexander, R. (2017), Television News, Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge.

4.11 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: POSSIBLE


ANSWERS
Check Your Progress 1
1. To be a good or competent newsroom person, one needs to be conversant
in 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 one learns these basics,
then he/she can begin work in any channel with ease and pick it up in
a short time.
2. Electronic media newsrooms mainly consist of three desks. These are:
Assignment/Input desk, Output desk and Script desk.
Check Your Progress 2
1. Some activities undertaken by the assignment desk are as follows:
 It assigns work to reporters and decides what to do about that
information, how much importance it is to be given, and how it is
going to be played up.
 This desk continuously keeps track of the news agencies, other news
channels and news web sites.
 It follows up with the reporters to send the visuals as soon as possible.
As the visuals are uplinked, they immediately inform it to the output
team and as the visuals arrive they give all the related details to them.
 The desk also arranges Phone-in interviews or Phonos.
 Story planning in terms of giving different angles, what elements are
required to present the full picture, from where these elements will
come, and which reporter is best suited to do that story is a major
responsibility of the assignment/input desk.
 Forward Planning to cover festivals, birthdays of celebrities, elections,
sports tournaments, and release of big budget/ multi-starrer films
enables the assignment/input desk to be ready to play up that event,
on that particular day
2. It is important for News channels to monitor other channels to know which
channel is showing what, and in what manner. Based on this information 59
News Concepts and its analysis, channels prepare their strategy for higher TRPs. The
assignment desk keeps flashing headlines of other channels every hour to
share with their team any exclusive story or extra information/input regarding
a running story.
Check Your Progress 3
1. The job of the output person is half journalistic and half technical. S/he
must be conversant with modern information and telecast technologies.
S/he must have the knowledge of video editing, news publishing in
technological terms, making published stories ready for telecast and all
technological nuances of telecast that come across when a news bulletin
or a news programme is being aired.
2. Preparing the Rundown may be considered as the foremost job of the
output team. It is the order or the sequence in which the news is planned
to be aired. Before every bulletin/programme, an output editor is assigned
to make the rundown who prepares it as per the directions of the news
editor/executive producer.

60
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