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A Nose For News

A Nose For News. What is News? Journalism Skills. Module Aims. To study the theory, principles, potential and limitations of research Treatment of stories, develop personal contacts Identify and assess news sources; substantiate stories. A Nose for News.

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A Nose For News

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  1. A Nose For News What is News? Journalism Skills

  2. Module Aims • To study the theory, principles, potential and limitations of research • Treatment of stories, develop personal contacts • Identify and assess news sources; substantiate stories

  3. A Nose for News Someone who knows what a story is and doesn’t need someone from outside to tell them what they should be covering

  4. Why does journalism matter? • News is available on TV, radio, online and on the mobile • Digital revolution means anyone can produce a report and put it on the web • Good journalism - story telling • Be fair and be right, but above all be bold

  5. Journalism Skills • Friendly • Story telling - natural • Writing - grammar, spelling, punctuation • Interest • Time keeping • Long hours

  6. News What’s the difference between a newsworthy event and news? • A newsworthy event does not necessarily become news, just as news is often about an event which is not newsworthy

  7. What is news? • News is - Fresh new exclusive local Interesting educational informative Entertaining immediate life changing …..what else is news?

  8. Newsworthiness • Highly subjective - is there a right or wrong? • It’s what the audience wants • Process should be objective rather than relying on a ‘gut feeling’ • Threshold criteria (space, logistics, time)

  9. News stories News comes to us from different places - Tip-offs press releases pressure groups listservs newsgroups Other media local council government Contacts archives fire police hospital RNLI

  10. What is News? News is: Relevant - has to relate to people (TA) Educational - will it empower people? Informative - will it change people’s lives? Exclusive - no one has this information New - topical Entertaining - does it make people happy? Interesting - do people sit up and take notice?

  11. Emergencies Crime Human Interest Political (local/national) Planning and Developments Conflict and controversy Pressure Groups Industry Health Personalities Sport Seasonal news Special local interest Weather Traffic Animals Types of News

  12. Generating ideas • Journalists get an idea • Find information to develop idea (interviews, online research, documents) • Story produced - print/TV/radio

  13. What do we know? What is our journalistic purpose? What are our ethical concerns? Which policies should we consider? Which other voices should we include in the decision making process? Who will be affected by the decision? What are the consequences of the actions? What are the alternatives? Who will publicly explain our actions? Guidelines

  14. What’s the story? NEWS VALUES ? AUDIENCE

  15. I’ve got a great story for you! • Newsworthy events What do YOU think is news?

  16. Fieldwork 1. You are setting up a new publication/TV/radio station in your area. Think of ten important contacts you would make in the community. Find out their name, job title and phone number.

  17. 6pm local bulletin What do you put in the running order… • 900 job losses at Youngs • 88 year old granny reunited with lost son after 60 years • New airport for region • Mariners go bankrupt • Fireman rescue man from drain after 48 hours

  18. Newspaper headline What would you put on the front page? • Council leader quits after money scandal • Meals on wheels service closes • School raises £200 for YMCA • 2 yr old needs £1million for heart transplant

  19. Fieldwork Go through each story and in your view rate each in terms of relevance, significance, immediacy, interest and entertainment. Award each 3 points (3 = v. important)

  20. Ask yourself these questions - Is it relevant? Important? Bad news? Unusual? Happy? Interesting? 7. Controversial? 8. Will it affect the audience? 9. Is it local? Is it a news story?

  21. So consider…. • Think like the audience • Decide what the story is about before you start writing • Don’t let your biases come into play • Think about the words • Let the entertainment supersede the information

  22. Contacts • Press Officers • Tipoffs (hoax or real?) • Networking (shaking hands) • Contacts book (little black book) • Importance of contacts (love them!)

  23. Things to do • Buy yourself a notepad Make sure your notepad and pen go with you everywhere! • Who do you think is the typical listener to the radio station nearest to your home? • Think back. Can you recall five big stories and remember where you were when you first heard the news?

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