NEWS REPORTING

Ø Reporting involves researching and presenting information for newspapers and other mass media.

Ø Most reporters are assigned an area to focus on, called a beat or patch. They are encouraged to cultivate sources so they will not miss news.

Ø Reporters gather their information in a variety of ways, including tips, press releases, and witnessing an event.

Ø Reporters gather and analyze facts about current events -

·        Trough interviews, investigations, public records or observations and other sources.

·        Write news stories describing the events, background, meaning, and effects.

·        They are given assignments such as disasters, crime, and human interest.

·        They take notes while covering a story.

·        They check reference materials such as books, news files, and public records including criminal and civil court files for additional relevant facts.

·        Basic tasks of reporters involve viewing events objectively, reporting them accurately, and explaining their significance.

·        Depending on the nature of job, reporting could be classified into three groups:

o   Event reporting,

o   Interpretative reporting, and

o   Investigative reporting.

·        On the basis of subjects covered reporting can be classified as follows:

o   Political reporting,

o   Economic reporting,

o   Social reporting,

o   Parliamentary reporting,

o   Business reporting,

o   Development reporting,

o   Crime reporting,

o   Legal reporting, and

o   Science and Technology reporting.

REPORTING: AN OVERVIEW:

REPORTING PRACTICES:

Traditional methods for gathering information for a news story are –

1.   Interviews,

2.   Observation and

3.   Document searches

1.   Interviewing means -

Ø Finding out what is happening?

Ø Find people who know and talk to them.

Ø The best sources are folks who were or are directly involved in the incident or subject that you're covering.

Ø If you are unsure of your ability to take accurate notes, record the interview.

Ø Interview start by getting the source's name and its spelling, as well as his or her official title, if it is relevant to the story.

Ø Ask questions that cannot be answered with a 'yes' or a 'no.'

Ø Instead, ask people to describe the incident or situation.

Ø Listen as they respond and imagine what additional information a reader would want.

Ø Then ask follow-up questions to get that information.

Ø Don't get intimidated and feel afraid that you are asking "dumb" questions.

Ø If your source says something you do not understand, ask them to explain it in simpler terms.

Ø If something a source says does not make sense to you, say why and ask for an explanation.

Ø If you don't understand something, your readers likely will not as well.

Ø Always be polite and respectful when interviewing someone, but respect your readers as well.

Ø Don't allow a source to intimidate you into not asking tough, appropriate questions.

2.   Observation involves –

·        Getting relevant information first hand

·        Your five senses i.e. Ear, Eye, Nose, Feel, Taste (if necessary) can provide the details. What do you See? Hear? Smell? Feel?

·        Drop those details into your story to provide your reader a better perspective about what you are reporting.

3.   Documents search is another way of finding relevant information.

·        Reporters can find thousands of stories in public documents. Government databases on crime, school test scores, population statistics, accident reports, environmental safety and more can keep a motivated writer busy for years.

·        Documents also provide a great way to fact-check statements made by an interview subject.

·        Journalists often use computer-assisted reporting to find trends in large datasets, including budgets and crime reports.

No matter which method you use - and you should try to use them all on each story –You want to find information that illustrates and explains the issue or incident you are reporting.

The trick is to use as many methods of collecting information -

·        First observe.

·        The next step is to interview.

·        Then, if necessary, go back and do more interviews.

·        Look for documents to find more information.

·        Check, check and double-check all your facts.

·        Try not to make mistakes when transcribing an interview, copying data from official records or describing something you've seen.

·        Everyone makes a mistake at some point, but that does not excuse carelessness.

 REPORTERS, CORRESPONDENTS, AND STRINGERS:

Ø Reporters usually have a general assignment, special assignment, or have a regular "beat."

Ø Beat Reporters are responsible for news originating from specific areas such as municipal offices, hospitals, and police departments, etc.

Ø Reporters are also assigned to cover news in special fields such as medicine, foreign affairs, consumer affairs, fashion, art, education, labour, or social events.

Ø Reporters who are expert in certain fields may specialize in one type of story including stories involving sports, politics, or financial affairs.

Ø Reporters may also form their own concept for a feature story and newspaper pictures.

Ø They may carry camera and obtain photographic coverage

Ø Reporters usually return to the office to write copy on a computer.

Ø As Reporters type their copy, it can appear simultaneously on their screen and the editor's terminal screen, or the story can be sent to the editor after it has been polished.

Ø From the editor, it is transmitted to the composing room computer, which produces the story.

Ø Sometimes, to meet deadlines, reporters deliver their news story over the telephone or use portable computers to enter the story, which is then sent by modem directly to the newspaper's computer system.

Ø “Correspondents” and “Stringers” report from distant locations such as state capitals, important national places and international locales.

Ø Stringers are freelance reporters, often students or non-professionals, who write news stories about their campus, community, or local areas.

 WORKING CONDITIONS:

Ø Automation has eliminated the complexities of the newsrooms. Automation and electronic technology have resulted in a more high-tech information producing operation.

Ø Reporters often work unscheduled overtime, and must have a high energy level to keep up with the fast pace of this occupation.

Ø They must also be prepared to work under stressful situations such as earthquakes, fires, floods, shoot-outs, and other dangerous conditions.

Ø Reporters work both indoors and outdoors, dealing with all kinds of people.

Ø They may work for long periods on unproductive leads.

Ø Editors have the option of revising, shortening, or deleting their stories from the newspaper.

Ø Newspaper Reporter salaries vary depending on whether the publication is weekly or daily, its circulation, experience level of the reporter, the type of publication, etc.

Ø Critics, columnists, feature writers, and other specialists usually receive salaries based on individual contracts.

Ø Stringers are paid according to the size and type of news stories printed.

 ENTRY LEVEL REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING:

Ø Employers look for those who write clearly, accurately, and with correct spelling and grammar.

Ø Bilingual Typing ability is essential and using computer terminals for word processing is almost always necessary.

Ø Bilingual skills are necessary for some assignments. At least some prior work experience on an actual publication is expected.

Ø Newspapers, prefer generalists rather than specialists and look for people with broad experience in different fields.

Ø Aside from academic and career related achievements, most papers also place a great amount of emphasis on personal characteristics such as curiosity, resourcefulness, competitiveness, and nose for news.

Ø Education or exposure in such subjects as political science, economics, business or finance can help in a job search.

Ø Reporters get salary increases and more interesting or challenging assignments as they advance. After many years of experience, reporters with suitable talents may become columnists, special correspondents, or critics; those with executive ability can become editors or administrators.

 REPORTERS’ CODE OF ETHICS:

The duty of a reporter is to seek the truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.

Professional integrity is the basis of a reporter's credibility.

Reporters should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

In addition, reporters should:

o Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.

o Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

o Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.

o Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.

o Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

o Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

o Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

o Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story.

o Never plagiarize.

o Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

o Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.

o Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.

o Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

o Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.

o Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labelled and not misrepresent fact or context.

o Distinguish news from advertising and avoid such publicity material. Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

 REPORTERS SHOULD CAUSE NO HARM:

Reporters should:

o Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.

o Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.

o Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.

o Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.

o Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.

o Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.

o Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

o Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

REPORTERS ACT INDEPENDENTLY:

Reporters should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. In this regard, reporters should:

o Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

o Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.

o Refuse gifts, favours, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.

o Disclose unavoidable conflicts.

o Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.

o Deny favoured treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.

o Be wary of sources offering information for favours or money; avoid bidding for news.

 REPORTERS BE ACCOUNTABLE:

Reporters are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other. Thus reporters should:

o Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.

o Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.

o Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

o Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.

o Abide by the same high standards to which they hold other