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Welcome to Journalism 203. Media Writing I. Week 1. The nature of news. Convergence – We are constantly bombarded with news from different mediums. Print Web Broadcast PDA’s, other media Civic journalism Becoming involved in communities Importance to a democratic society. What is news?.
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Welcome to Journalism 203 Media Writing I Week 1
The nature of news • Convergence – We are constantly bombarded with news from different mediums. • Print • Web • Broadcast • PDA’s, other media • Civic journalism • Becoming involved in communities • Importance to a democratic society
What is news? • Three primary characteristics • Relevance • Usefulness • Interest • Context-specific definitions • Audience
News values • Relevance • Importance to audience • Usefulness • Provides information that can influence audience members’ lives • Interest • Can be a combination of relevance and usefulness, or it can be simply interesting
News values – key elements • Specific elements • Impact • How many people? • How much? • Conflict • Struggles • Novelty • “Man bites dog” • Prominence • Who?
News values – key elements • Proximity • Close to home • Timeliness • Before rather than after
Changing audiences • Online • News when and where you want it • Print news audiences want: • News • Relevant to them and their community • Some world and national news • Gimmicks alone won’t do it • Practical and useful information they can use
Changing audiences • Journalists no longer just gatekeepers on information • Journalists are navigators • Demographics • 51 percent women • 30 percent ages 18 to 34 • 25 percent ethnic minorities and immigrant groups • 21 percent adults over 50 • 15 percent ages 5 to 17
Changing audiences • Gen X want list • Visual snap • Densely Layered • Interaction • Relevance • Diversity • More “hope,” not just “catastrophe” and “absurdity”
New Journalism • Democracy isn’t working as well as it should • Journalists should try to do something about it • Goodwill at the expense of Independence?
Accuracy and fairness • “The best obtainable version of the truth” • Journalists find and write the facts • Hard to get the facts • What do they mean? • Is it really a fact? • Time limitations and/or space limitations
Accuracy and fairness • Names spelled correctly • Facts correct • Context questions • Both sides of the story • All possible viewpoints
Frames • Viewpoint or perspective on story or topic • Audience’s point of view? • Colorado Springs Gazette and the school bond issue • Students • Parents • Teachers • Taxpayers
Objectivity • Is it possible? • What does it really mean? • The Hutchins Commission (1947) “ . . . truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s event in a context which gives them meaning.”