Reporting 51

Unit 2: Reporting
Notes
Structure
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Structure of News Report – Inverted Pyramid
2.3 Qualities and Responsibility of a Reporter
2.4 Role and Functions of a Copy Editor
2.5 T.V. Reporting Techniques
2.6 Summary
2.7 Check Your Progress
2.8 Questions and Exercises
2.9 Key Terms
2.10 Further Readings

Objectives
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
 Understand the Structure of News Report – Inverted Pyramid.
 Discuss the Qualities and responsibility of a reporter.
 Explain the Role and functions of a copy editor.

2.1 Introduction
The ability to enable large numbers of people to easily access real-time enterprise
information, and transform it into richly formatted reports is critical to the success of any
organization. By extending reporting capabilities to anyone who impacts the business -
from executives, analysts, and frontline workers, to customer and other external
partners - companies can respond more rapidly to changing marketplace conditions,
optimize core processes, and maximize productivity and cost-efficiency.
WebFOCUS empowers companies to meet these vital requirements by providing
everyone across the organization with fast and simple access to timely, accurate
business data. Our reporting solutions maximize report usability by delivering some of
today's most advanced Web-based features, such as integrated proactive hyperlink
drill-downs - in all supported formats - to any other report, program, or location, as well
as multiple locations, without any additional client or viewer.
Additionally, WebFOCUS is so easy to use that it boasts the industry's highest user
adoption rates – more than 2 ½ times that of other BI tools.
 End user reporting: With our revolutionary guided ad hoc technology, companies
can give users the ability to rapidly create their own fully-customized reports by
simply choosing columns, sort criteria, measures, and output formats from drop-
down menus.
 Report Distribution: By combining a robust report delivery engine with leading-
edge event monitoring, WebFOCUS provides a single point of control for real-time
alerts, as well as the automation, scheduling, distribution, and storage of reports
and other critical business content.
 Financial reporting: With WebFOCUS, financial professionals at all levels can
access and analyze real-time information from any source, and rapidly share it with
investors, creditors, regulatory agencies, and other key stakeholders.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

52 Reporting and Writing for Media
 Print-ready reporting: The value of graphics, charts, and other visual data
representations is dramatically enhanced through the creation of boardroom-quality
Notes reports and documents in scalable vector graphic (SVG) format.
 Output formatting: WebFOCUS satisfies the broadest range of user needs with
highly flexible report output options, including HTML, Microsoft Excel™, Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF)™, Microsoft PowerPoint™ and Active Reports,
our new "thin" interactive form1at.
 Excel and Microsoft Office: WebFOCUS provides the most flexible choices when
it comes to business analysis tools, through its seamless integration with Excel and
other Microsoft Office products.
This is an example of a portal built with WebFOCUS that includes a sales
dashboard, search capabilities and a news feed. It shows how WebFOCUS becomes
an application that everyone can use. It's simple enough for novices, flexible enough for
power users, and scalable enough to serve thousands.

Benefits of Reporting
An effective sustainability reporting cycle, which includes a regular program of data
collection, communication, and responses, should benefit all reporting organizations,
both internally and externally.

Internal Benefits
Internal benefits for companies and organizations can include:
 Increased understanding of risks and opportunities
 Emphasizing the link between financial and non-financial performance
 Influencing long term management strategy and policy, and business plans
 Streamlining processes, reducing costs and improving efficiency
 Benchmarking and assessing sustainability performance with respect to laws,
norms, codes, performance standards, and voluntary initiatives
 Avoiding being implicated in publicized environmental, social and governance
failures
 Comparing performance internally, and between organizations and sectors

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 53
External Benefits
External benefits of sustainability reporting can include: Notes
 Mitigating – or reversing – negative environmental, social and governance impacts
 Improving reputation and brand loyalty
 Enabling external stakeholders to understand the organization’s true value, and
tangible and intangible assets
 Demonstrating how the organization influences, and is influenced by, expectations
about sustainable development.
The reporting to management can also be called as management reporting or
internal reporting.

Objectives or Purpose of Reporting to Management

A Management Accountant has to prepare the report for the following purposes.
1. Means of Communication: A report is used as a means of upward
communication. A report is prepared and submitted to someone who needs that
information for carrying out functions of management.
2. Satisfy Interested Parties: The interested parties of management report are top
management executives, government agencies, shareholders, creditors, customers
and general public. Different types of management reports are prepared to satisfy
above mentioned interested parties.
3. Serve as a Record: Reports provide valuable and important records for reference
in the future. As the facts and investigations are recorded with utmost care, they
become a rich source of information for the future.
4. Legal Requirements: Some reports are prepared to satisfy the legal requirements.
The annual reports of company accounts are prepared to furnish the same to the
shareholders of the company under Companies Act 1946. Likewise, audit report of
the company accounts is submitted before the income tax authorities under Income
Tax Act 1961.
5. Develop Public Relations: Reports of general progress of business and utilization
of national resources are prepared and presented before the public. It is useful for
increasing the goodwill of the company and developing public relations.
6. Basis to Measure Performance: The performance of each employee is prepared
in a report form. In some cases, group or department performance is prepared in a
report form. The individual performance report is used for promotion and incentives.
The group performance report is used for giving bonus.
7. Control: Reports are the basis of control process. On the basis of reports, actions
are initiated and instructions are given to improve the performance.
The term “reporting” mean different things as follows:
1. Narrating some facts,
2. Reviewing certain matter with its merits and demerits and offering comments,
3. Furnishing data at regular intervals in standardized forms,
4. Submitting specific information for particular purpose upon specific request
instruction.
Management reporting refers to the formal system whereby relevant required
information is furnished to management by means of reports constantly. Thus ‘report’ is
the essence of any manage-ment reporting system.
The term ‘Report’ normally refers to a formal communication, which moves
upwards, i.e., for factual communication by a lower level to a higher level of authority in
response to orders received from higher level. Reports provide the means of checking
the performance. A person, who is issued with orders or instructions to do certain
Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education
54 Reporting and Writing for Media
things, should report back what he has done in compliance thereof. Reports may be
oral or written and also routine or special.
Notes
Objects of Reporting
The primary object of management reporting is to obtain the required information about
the operating results of the organization regularly in order to use them for further
planning and control.
Another object is to secure understanding and approval of the judgment by the
people engaged in various aspects of work of enterprise. The second object is closely
related to the first one and is important in terms of efficiency, morale, and motivation.

Essentials of a Good Reporting System

A good reporting system is a better guide and effective tool for efficient managerial
decision -making.
Hence, the essentials of a good reporting system are as follows:
1. Proper Form: In order to facilitate decision-making the information supplied should
be in proper form. The style and layout of a report depend upon the needs of the
individual who will use the same. The report may be submitted in the form of
narration [written statement of facts], statisti-cal tabulations, graphs, charts, etc.
2. Proper Time: Promptness is very important because information delayed is
information denied. Reports are meant for action and when adverse tendencies or
events are noticed, actions should follow forthwith. The sooner the report is made,
the quicker the corrective action is taken.
3. Proper Flow of Information: The information should flow from the right level of
authority to the level of authority where the decisions are to be made. Further
complete and consistent infor-mation should flow in a systematic manner.
4. Flexibility: The system should be capable of being adjusted according to the
requirements of the user. For example, production manager should be provided
with information relating to his division or area of control only.
5. Facilitation of Evaluation: The system should distinctively report deviations from
standards or estimates. Controllable factors should be distinguished from non-
controllable factors and re-ported separately. A good reporting system should give
information required for the evaluation of each manager’s area of responsibility in
relation to the goals of the organization.
6. Economy: There is a cost for rendering information and such cost should be
compared with benefits derived from the report or loss sustained by not having the
report. Economy is an informa-tion aspect to be considered while developing
reporting system.

2.2 Structure of News Report – Inverted Pyramid

Writing in the Inverted Pyramid style has so many benefits for your readers, that
everyone who writes for the Web needs to learn to write this way.

What is the Inverted Pyramid?

In journalism, this method of starting with your conclusion is called the Inverted Pyramid
style. Sometimes referred to as Front-Loading, it means you should put your most
important information first when writing for the web.
This style is called an ‘inverted’ pyramid simply because it is an upside-down
pyramid with the most important information at the top.
This style of web writing or news story writing has many benefits:
 Readers can quickly assess whether they want to read your entire article.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 55
 Readers can stop reading at any point and still come away with the main point of
your article.
 By starting with your conclusion, the first few sentences on your web page will
Notes
contain most of your relevant keywords, boosting your SEO.
 By front-loading each paragraph, you allow your readers to skim through the first
sentences of every paragraph to get a quick overview of your entire article. (See
below for how to front-load your paragraphs).

Start with your Conclusion

Journalists are taught to write news stories using this inverted pyramid structure. They
front-load their story, putting the essential and most attention-grabbing elements first,
followed by supporting or explanatory information in order of diminishing importance.
The least important information is at the bottom. This style allows newspaper readers
to skim their newspapers for a quick news update; they can choose to read only
partway through an article knowing that the information they fail to read at the end is not
going to be as important as the information at the beginning. This style also has the
advantage of allowing editors to chop off the bottom of articles at any point so that the
story will fit into the required space on a newspaper page. When the least important
information is at the bottom, articles can be easily shortened by editors without
damaging the structure of the story.
Front-loading is different to the style you were taught in school or university for
essay-writing. To write an essay, you start with an introduction and you gradually build
up to your conclusion. To write effectively for the web, you need to do the opposite,
and come to the point immediately.
This style calls for a very direct approach. If you spoke in this manner, it would be
considered blunt and perhaps a little rude. But it is the preferred style for Internet
readers. So be direct. Make your point first, then explain it.

Don’t Lose your Audience

By front-loading your web content, you are more likely to keep your readers on the
page. Today’s Internet users are impatient for results. If they cannot quickly and easily
assess your article for points of interest, they are likely to leave your webpage and go
search for an alternative that is easier to skim.

How to write in the Inverted Pyramid Style

 To Front-load your article: Write a brief summary or overview of your article in a
few sentences. Include your most important keywords in the summary and put it at
the beginning of your article. This allows users to quickly assess what your article
is about, and helps search engines to identify your most important keywords.
 To Front-load every paragraph:
 Limit each paragraph to one main point or idea.
 Start each paragraph with the main point or conclusion in the first one or two
sentences.
 Then go on to explain your point.
By doing this, you allow your readers to skim your entire article and get an overview
of it by simply reading the first sentence or two of each paragraph. They can also scan
your content, looking for points of interest, without having to read every paragraph to
the end.
Inverted pyramid refers to the structure or model commonly used for hard-news
stories. It means that the most important or heaviest information goes at the top of the
story, while the least important information goes at the bottom.
Here's an example: He used the inverted pyramid structure to write his news story.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

56 Reporting and Writing for Media
Early Beginnings

Notes The inverted pyramid format was developed during the Civil War. Correspondents
covering the great battles of that war would do their reporting, then rush to the nearest
telegraph office to have their stories transmitted, via Morse Code, back to their
newsrooms.
But the telegraph lines were often cut in mid-sentence, sometimes in an act of
sabotage. So the reporters realized they had to put the most important facts right at the
very start of their stories so that even if most of the details were lost, the main point
would get through.
(Interestingly, the Associated Press, which is known for its extensive use of tightly
written, inverted pyramid stories, was founded around this same time. Today the AP is
the oldest and one of the largest news organizations in the world.)

Inverted Pyramid Today

Of course, some 150 years after the end of the Civil War, the inverted pyramid format is
still being used because it has served both journalists and readers well. Readers benefit
from being able to get the main point of the story right in the very first sentence. And
news outlets benefit by being able to convey more information in a smaller space,
something that's especially true in an age when newspapers are literally shrinking.
(Editors also like the inverted pyramid format because when working on tight
deadlines, it enables them to cut overly long stories from the bottom without losing any
vital information.)
In fact, the inverted pyramid format is probably more useful today than ever. Studies
have found that readers tend to have shorter attention spans when reading on screens
as opposed to paper.
And since readers increasingly get their news not just on the relatively small
screens of iPads but on the tiny screens of smartphones, more than ever reporters must
summarize stories as quickly and as succinctly as possible.
Indeed, even though online-only news sites theoretically have infinite amounts of
space for articles, since there are no pages to be physically printed, more often than not
you'll find that their stories still use the inverted pyramid and are very tightly written, for
the reasons cited above.

The Inverted Pyramid Style in English Composition

The inverted pyramid became a standard form in American newspapers early in the
20th century, and variations on the form remain common today in news stories, press
releases, short research reports, articles, and other forms of expository writing.

Examples of Inverted Pyramid Composition

"The concept behind the inverted pyramid format is relatively simple. The writer
prioritizes the factual information to be conveyed in the news story by importance. The
most essential pieces of information are offered in the first line, which is called the lead
(or summary lead). This usually addresses the so-called "five W's" (who, what, when,
why, and where). Thus, the reader is able to ascertain the key elements of the story
immediately. The writer then provides the rest of the information and supporting
contextual details in descending order of importance, leaving the least essential
material for the very end. This gives the completed story the form of an inverted
pyramid, with the most important elements, or the 'base' of the story, on top." (Robert A.
Rabe, "Inverted Pyramid." Encyclopedia of American Journalism, ed. by Stephen L.
Vaughn. Routledge, 2008)

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 57
Opening with the Climax
"If the essence of the story is its climax, then a proper inverted pyramid places the Notes
story's climax in the lead or opening sentence. The most important elements of a well-
written news article thus appear in the lead, the very first sentence of the story." (Bob
Kohn, Journalistic Fraud. Thomas Nelson, 2003)

Cutting from the Bottom

"The inverted pyramid style in newspaper writing was developed because editors,
adjusting for space, would cut the article from the bottom. We can write the same way in
a magazine article. . . .
"We add details as we enlarge the article. So the weight is like an inverted pyramid,
with the details of lesser importance at the end of the article.
"For example, if I write, 'Two children were injured when fire swept through the First
Community Church, Detroit, Michigan, on May 10. The fire is believed to have started
from unattended candles.' That's complete, but a lot of details can be added in
succeeding paragraphs. If space is tight, an editor can cut from the bottom and still save
the essential elements."

Using the Inverted Pyramid in Online Writing

"The inverted pyramid structure, typically used in newspaper writing, is also appropriate
for long narrative text in online technical documents. Use this structure to organize
paragraphs and sentences within a section of narrative text.
"To create an inverted pyramid structure, follow these guidelines: (Sun Technical
Publications, Read Me First!: A Style Guide for the Computer Industry, 2nd ed. Prentice
Hall, 2003)
 Use clear, meaningful headings or lists at the beginning of a topic.
 Create separate paragraphs or topics to emphasize important points.
 Do not bury your main point in the middle of a paragraph or topic."

How to Structure News Stories

There are a few basic rules for writing and structuring any news story. If you’re
accustomed to other types of writing – such as fiction – these rules may seem odd at
first. But the format is easy to pick up, and there are very practical reasons why
reporters have followed this format for decades.

The Inverted Pyramid

The inverted pyramid is the model for news writing. It simply means that the heaviest or
most important information should be at the top – the beginning – of your story, and the
least important information should go at the bottom.
And as you move from top to bottom, the information presented should gradually
become less important.

An Example
Let’s say you’re writing a story about a fire in which two people are killed and their
house is burned down. In your reporting you’ve gathered a lot of details including the
victims’ names, the address of their home, what time the blaze broke out, etc.
Obviously the most important information is the fact that two people died in the fire.
That’s what you want at the top of your story.
Other details – the names of the deceased, the address of their home, when the fire
occurred – should certainly be included. But they should be placed lower down in the
story, not at the very top.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

58 Reporting and Writing for Media
And the least important information - things like what the weather was like at the
time, or the color of the home - should be at the very bottom of the story.
Notes
The Story Follows the Lede
The other important aspect of structuring a news article is making sure the story follows
logically from the lede.
So if the lede of your story focuses on the fact that two people were killed in the
house fire, the paragraphs that immediately follow the lede should elaborate on that
fact. You wouldn't want the second or third paragraph of the story to discuss the
weather at the time of the fire.

A Little History
The inverted pyramid format turns traditional storytelling on its head.
In a short story or novel, the most important moment – the climax - typically comes
near the very end. But in news writing the most important moment is right at the start in
the lede.
The format was developed during the Civil War. Newspaper correspondents
covering that war’s great battles relied on telegraph machines to transmit their stories
back to their newspapers’ offices.
But often saboteurs would cut the telegraph lines, so reporters learned to transmit
the most important information – Gen. Lee defeated at Gettysburg, for instance – at the
very start of the transmission to make sure it got through successfully. The news writing
format developed then has served reporters well ever since.

What can I write about? What is news?

On the surface, defining news is a simple task. News is an account of what is
happening around us. It may involve current events, new initiatives or ongoing projects
or issues. But a newspaper does not only print news of the day. It also prints
background analysis, opinions, and human-interest stories. Choosing what news is can
be hard! The reporter chooses stories from the flood of information and events
happening in the world and in their community. Stories are normally selected because
of their importance, emotion, impact, timeliness and interest. Note: all these factors do
not have to coincide in each and every story!
Kinds of News Stories Hard news +/ - 600 words: This is how journalists refer to
news of the day. It is a chronicle of current events/incidents and is the most common
news style on the front page of your typical newspaper. It starts with a summary lead.
 What happened?
 Where?
 When?
 To/by whom?
 Why?
The journalist's 5 W's. It must be kept brief and simple, because the purpose of the
rest of the story will be to elaborate on this lead. Keep the writing clean and uncluttered.
Most important, give the readers the information they need. If the federal government
announced a new major youth initiative yesterday, that's today's hard news. Hard news
stories make up the bulk of news reporting. Hard news consists of basic facts. It is news
of important public events, international happenings, social conditions, economy, crime,
etc. thus, most of the material found in daily papers, especially from page items or news
casts, deal in the hard news category. The main aim of the hard news is to inform.
Soft news +/ -600 words: This is a term for all the news that isn't time-sensitive. Soft
news includes profiles of people, programs or organizations. As we discussed earlier,

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 59
the "lead" is more literary. Most of news content is soft news. Soft news, if cleverly
written and carefully targeted can offer an alternative. Soft news can cover business or
social trends. Typically, soft stories have a human interest, entertainment focus or a Notes
statistical and survey approach. This is your chance to be creative and have fun with
the news. One major advantage of softer news is that many of the stories have a longer
shelf life: they can be used at any time the practitioner or reporter deems appropriate.
Feature +/ -1500 words: A news feature takes one step back from the headlines. It
explores an issue. News features are less time-sensitive than hard news but no less
newsworthy. They can be an effective way to write about complex issues too large for
the terse style of a hard news item. Street kids are a perfect example. The stories of
their individual lives are full of complexities, which can be reflected, in a longer piece.
Features are journalism's shopping center. They're full of interesting people, ideas,
color, lights, action and energy. Storytelling at its height! A good feature is about the
people in your community and their struggles, victories and defeats. A feature takes a
certain angle i.e. Black youth returning to church and explores it by interviewing the
people involved and drawing conclusions from that information. The writer takes an
important issue of the day and explains it to the reader through comments from people
involved in the story.
Hint: Remember to "balance" your story. Present the opinions of people on both
sides of an issue and let the readers make their own decision on who to believe. No
personal opinions are allowed. The quotes from the people you interview make up the
story. You are the narrator.
Editorial: The editorial expresses an opinion. The editorial page of the newspaper
lets the writer comment on issues in the news. All editorials are personal but the topics
must still be relevant to the reader. Editorials try to persuade the readers. Its goal is to
move the readers to some specific action, to get them to agree with the writer, to
support or denounce a cause, etc. it is considered to be the most difficult writing among
all the newspaper types of writing. Editorials are also important as they interpret and
analyze issues for the readers.
Two types of editorials can be recognized: Youth beat +/ - 700 words: Youth beats
are journalist’s editorial bread and butter. It's your story, from your point of view. Tell it
like it is. Youth beats usually but not always combine personal experience(s with
opinion/analysis. Essentially, you establish your credibility by speaking from experience.
My Word! +/ -600 words: An opinion piece. Short, sweet and to the point. Not as
likely to be a personal narrative. Christmas "spirit" bugs you? Say why. Had an
encounter with a cop that left you sour? Same deal. Be strong. If you don't like
something, don't beat around the bush. This is a space for you to rant and roll with as
much emotive power as possible.
Writing the Story: Attribution, Identification, Time and Timeliness, The Stylebook: -
Writing the story: There is no substitute for the direct style of sentence and story
construction. When you have the story in mind, tell it in a straightforward way. Avoid
putting participial phrases or dependent clauses at the beginning of sentences. If the
main element is qualified by some ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ present the main element first and then
get into the qualifications. The lead should call attention to the main element of the story
and should not be crowded with too many facts.
Don’t try to cram all five Ws and the H into the lead. You’ll lose the listener or
reader’s attention. Avoid leading with direct quotes or questions. A direct quote may
make the listener wonder for a moment or two. Make your points one at a time. Wrap up
one aspect of a story before going to the next. Don’t jump back and forth from one to
another.
Names and Identifications: don’t lead with unfamiliar names. They’re too easy to
miss. Set the listener up for them by leading with identifying information about the
person, it’s all right to lead with a familiar name like President’s name or Governor’s

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

60 Reporting and Writing for Media
name. Middle initials of most newsmakers are omitted for broadcast. Indeed, if a person
is very well known, first name is usually skipped. If you’re sure most members of the
Notes audience know the first name, omit it. Otherwise, include it. The middle initial should be
included if it appears needed for exact identification, as with an accident victim or a
suspect in a crime. The newspaper form for ages- Mary Jones, 30- should usually be
avoided. The standard broadcast approach for years has been 30-year old Mary Jones.
If –in doubt, use this style. But now and then it’s good to hear someone break the
monotony of the standard treatment of ages.
Attribution and Quotes: attribution should be made clear and should be placed
before what the person said. This is part of direct oral expression: who said-what. As
noted at the start, the dangling attributions so common in newspaper stories make for
unnatural speech patterns. Do not use them. Use quote sparingly! The paraphrase or
indirect quotes is usually preferable. You can often say it more concisely than the news
source, and the exact words are seldom so important that you gain by presenting them
as such. If a diary spokesman tells you that ‘the price of milk is going up’ and those are
the words you use in the story, the fact that they happen to be exactly the ones the
spokesman used is too trivial to justify making them stand out as a direct quote. Such
quotes only clutter your news copy. If the exact words are so colorful, meaningful or
controversial that you feel you should make them stand out as a direct quote-do just
that.
Time & timeliness: listeners or readers expect the news to be up to date. Without
misleading, your writing can make it sound fresh and current even if it’s getting a little
older than you’d like at times- as in the early morning when most of the file is what
happened yesterday. Ask yourself what the current situation is and use the most
appropriate tense, which may well be different from the past tense rigidly used by
newspapers. Using present and continuing tense helps you avoid constantly repeating
the words ‘yesterday’ and ‘today’ in the many items, which make up a newscast. For the
matter, ‘yesterday’ is implied for many stories in the early morning newscast- congress,
speeches, news conferences, etc. and on a late afternoon or evening newscast, ‘today’
maybe assumed for most of them. When there’s danger of having the listener think a
yesterday story happened today, include the time element. Never use a story that has
been out more than 24 hours. It’s no longer news. You waist the time of listeners or
viewers when your 10 p.m. newscast includes stories they read several hours earlier in
the morning newspaper. This happens quite often where some of the newspersons
apparently don’t bother to read the morning paper. The wire-service rewrites the story
from the morning paper and sends it over in present perfect tense. Since all these
writers or editors know is what they read on the radio wire, they assume that it is fresh
news. Never assume that a wire story written in present perfect tense is a today story.
Stylebook: Each newspaper has its set of rules that generally are strictly enforced.
These are contained in something called a stylebook. At some smaller newspapers, this
may be no more than a sheet of paper. At larger newspapers, the stylebook may
consist of up to two hundred pages and resemble a dictionary. The chief keepers of the
stylebook rules are the newspaper’s copy editors.

Structure for News Story

Story structure: You have several options when it comes to the structure of your story.
You can choose a chronological order, where you present the key events in your story
as they occurred. It is more likely, though, that you will use one of the three traditional
news forms: the inverted pyramid, the narrative or the hourglass. The most popular
structure for news stories is the inverted pyramid. In the inverted pyramid, the
information is arranged in descending order of importance. The most important material
is placed at the beginning of the story, and less important material follows. Succeeding
paragraphs explain and support the lead.
The inverted pyramid is popular because it still serves readers well. It tells them
quickly what they want to know. It also serves the reporter by forcing her to sharpen her
news judgment, to identify and rank the most important elements of the story. But the

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 61
inverted pyramid has big disadvantages. Although it delivers the most important news
first, it does not encourage good writing. Many times stories do not have an ending
crafted by the writer; they simply end. Notes
There is no suspense. Reporters tend to lose interest, time and energy. Writing in
the second half of the story is casual at best, and poor at worst. One alternative to the
inverted pyramid is narration or storytelling. Narration uses scenes, anecdotes and
dialogue to build to a climax. People are prominent in the story, and they are
responsible for the action. The story has a beginning, middle and end. Quotations
sound like real speech. The words and actions of the characters reveal motives. A third
story structure, the hourglass, combines some of the best elements of both the inverted
pyramid and the narrative. It consists of three parts: a top, which tells the news quickly;
the turn, a nimble transition; and the narrative, a chronological retelling of events. The
hourglass works well with police stories, courtroom dramas and other incidents that lend
themselves to chronological narration.
The hourglass has several advantages: Readers get the news high in the story; the
writer gets to use storytelling techniques; and it encourages a real ending. The structure
of a news story hard & soft news & features is simple: a lead and the body. The Lead
One of the most important elements of news writing is the opening paragraph or two of
the story. Journalists refer to this as the "lead," and its function is to summarize the
story and/or to draw the reader in depending on whether it is a "hard" or "soft" news
story - See below for the difference between these two genres of news stories. In a hard
news story, the lead should be a full summary of what is to follow. It should incorporate
as many of the 5 "W's" of journalism who, what, where, when and why as possible. e.g.
"Homeless youth marched down Subhash Street in downtown Delhi Wednesday
afternoon demanding the municipal government provides emergency shelter during the
winter months." - Can you identify the 5W's in this lead?)
In a Soft news story, the lead should present the subject of the story by allusion.
This type of opening is somewhat literary. Like a novelist, the role of the writer is to
grab the attention of the reader. e.g. "Until four y ears ago, Raju slept on railway tracks."
Once the reader is drawn in, the 5 "W's" should be incorporated into the body of the
story, but not necessarily at the very top.

The Body
The body of the story involves combining the opinions of the people you interview,
some factual data, and a narrative, which helps the story flow. A word of caution! In this
style of writing, you are not allowed to "editorialize" state your own opinion in any way.

Remember
The role of a reporter is to find out what people are thinking of an issue and to report the
opinions of different stakeholders of an issue. These comments make up the bulk of the
story. The narrative helps to weave the comments into a coherent whole. Hint: Stick to
one particular theme throughout the story. You can put in different details but they all
have to relate to the original idea of the piece. For example, if your story is about black
youth and their relationship with the police you do not want to go into details about the
life of any one particular youth.
As a reporter, you are the eyes and ears for the readers. You should try to provide
some visual details to bring the story to life this is difficult if you have conducted only
phone interviews, which is why face-to-face is best. You should also try to get a feel for
the story. Having a feel means getting some understanding of the emotional
background of the piece and the people involved in it. Try to get a sense of the
characters involved and why they feel the way they do.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

62 Reporting and Writing for Media
Further Tips for News Writing

Notes Finding story ideas

 Keep your eyes and ears open; listen to what your friends are talking about.
 Read everything you can get your hands on; get story ideas from other newspapers
and magazines.
 Think of a youth angle to a current news story
 Research a subject that interests you ask yourself what you would like to know
more about.
Talk to people in a specific field to find out what is important to them.

Structure and scope of News Reports

‘Always grab the reader by the throat in the first paragraph, sink your thumbs into his
windpipe in the second and hold him against the wall until the tag line.’- Paul O’Neill.
News report writing always starts with the most important fact. When you report on
a football game, you do not start with the kick-off; you begin with the final score. A news
report has a beginning, middle and an end. News stories in contrast to this will blurt out
something and then explain themselves. News reports are mostly active rather than in
passive voice and are written in concise language.
Paragraphs are short so as to set in newspaper columns. Shorter paragraphs are
more likely to keep the attention of readers. Attribution meaning ‘somebody saying
something’ is used in the news- reports to present a range of views over which the
reporters can appear to remain neutral.
Most news reports follow the ‘Kiss and tell’ formula- Kiss standing either for ‘keep it
short and simple’ or ‘keep it simple, stupid.’ Complexity, abstract notions, ambiguity and
unanswered questions tend to be frowned upon and deleted out of news copy. News
reports structure should have-
 Stories should have the main idea given to the journalist for covering of an incident.
 Content of the news report should be comprehensive and balanced.
The intro should contain the main point of the story and should be clearly developed
with the most important information coming early in the story, followed by a coherent,
logical and readable structure.
 Personal comments should be avoided.
 Facts should be presented logically.
 The style, context and facts should be accurate.
The news reports aim is to meet the requirements of everyday life as lived by
everyday readers. So it largely depends on elements like directness, pace, variety and
information. It aims to state the facts quickly and clearly.
A news report has three parts:
1. The headline
2. The first paragraph
3. The remainder of the news story
The Headline first attracts us. It stands out in bold black type. It message is abrupt
and often startling. It makes us stop and look. It tells us quickly what the story covers.
Its function is to attract our attention. Though, the headline writing belongs to the
copyreader’s province and not to the reporter’s.
The lead remains the primary concern of the news writer. As the present day reader
is the man who both runs and reads, present day newspapers seek to facilitate his

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 63
getting the information quickly. The convention has developed of telling the main facts
of a news story in its first lead paragraph. Writing this lead also involves answering the
questions, which would occur to any normal person when confronted with the Notes
announcement of a news story. These questions, called the five W’s are:
 Where?
 Who?
 What?
 When?
 Why?
Suppose the news story concerns a fire. In writing the lead-the reporter would
answer the questions, ‘What?’ “Fire broke out,” he would write. He would answer the
question, ‘Who?’ and ‘Where?’ by telling whose premises were burnt and giving their
location. He would answer “When” by telling the time the fire broke out and how long it
lasted. ‘Why?’ - In this case the cause the usual carelessly tossed cigarette butt. The
reporter can also answer the ‘How’ in this story in several ways by describing the type
of fire, or by answering ‘How much’? Here, he would estimate the probable lost and find
out if premises had been covered by insurance and if so by what amount.
The lead forms the springboard for the reporter’s leap into the story. The journalist
should keep in mind the elements of a good lead as he may flop sadly if the lead turns
out to be defective. The best way to gain journalistic facility is to practice the writing of
leads.
The end is the conclusion of the news reports. From the headline and the lead one
comes to the rest of the story. The reporter constructs the model news story after this
pattern. He selects the most important incident or fact for his lead. Then he proceeds by
selecting the next most important incident, fact or detail, the next most important after
that, and so on till he reaches least important phase of all. Guided by his idea of news
importance, the story assumes graphically the shape of an inverted pyramid. The end
will be at the peak of the inverted pyramid with the facts or incidents of least value.
When writing a news story for an organization you should always retain the idea that
your text is to be read and understood by others. Thus a story is like building blocks,
which should be linked logically to each other. Therefore, there should be continuity
between the intro, the lead and the end of the news story.
Thus, the most popular format of news writing is the Inverted Pyramid:

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

64 Reporting and Writing for Media
This is the most widely used approach in news writing. The information is given in
the descending order of importance. Thus, it has three parts:
Notes 1. Lead –introduction paragraph
2. Support and supplement to the lead
3. Details on descending order of importance

Leads
The opening paragraph of the introduction paragraph of the news story is called the
‘lead’. Though in journalistic practice we also use this word for biggest headline on the
front page of newspaper, calling it the ‘lead story’.
The main purpose of the intro or the lead is to make the reader want to read on,
motivate them to move further into the news story and state the important facts first.
Lead to a story "grabs the reader, informs the reader, and teaches the reader how
to read the rest of the story." John Mc Phee says the lead is the "flashlight that shines
into a story.” A newspaper reader is likely to spend only a few seconds deciding
whether to read a story. If the lead does not grab the reader, the writer's work is in vain.
The lead establishes the direction your writing will take. A good lead grabs your
reader's attention and refuses to let go. In other words, it hooks the reader. Not every
type of lead will work for every writer or for every piece of writing and one has to
experiment with them. For writing a good news story, be sure to have at least three
sentences in your lead, whatever type it may be.
Below are some ideas on how to write an interesting lead:

Question
Open with an interesting question that relates to the main idea.
Example: Have you ever wondered how you would survive if you found yourself
alone in the wilderness? How would you defend yourself against predators? What
would you eat? Where would you find water?

Riddle
Open with a riddle that the reader can solve by reading further. You may want to give
the answer right away or save it for the conclusion.
Example: What textbook has no pages, is miles wide, and smells like a creek? It's
been around for millions of years. That's right-Outdoor School

Announcement
Open with an announcement about what is to come. However, do not insult the reader
by saying something like, "I am going to tell you about..." The reader should be able to
figure out what you are writing about. If not, there is something wrong with what you
have written, not with the reader.
Example: The trait of voice is very important in writing. However, it is difficult to
teach and even more difficult to learn. It is similar to athletic ability because it is more
like a talent than a skill.

Bold and Challenging Statement

A bold and challenging statement is similar to an announcement, but is meant to cause
some people to disagree with what you say. It's like one side of an argument.
It can be an opinion, but don't immediately state that it is your opinion.
Example: Using horses and cattle in the sport of rodeo is animal abuse. What
makes it more aggravating is that it is legal. According to the law, there is nothing wrong
Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education
Reporting 65
with chasing an animal down, tightening a rope around its neck, knocking it to the
ground, and tying its legs together so it cannot move.
Notes
Definition
Open with a definition of the term you are discussing. It can be your own or come from
a dictionary or textbook. If you take it from a dictionary or textbook, be sure to use
quotation marks and give credit to the source.
Example: According to Webster's Dictionary, a government is the authority that
serves the people and acts on their behalf. How can the government know what the
people want if the people do not vote? If we do not vote, the government may act on its
own behalf instead of on the behalf of the people.

Opinion
Open with your opinion about the topic. This is similar to a bold and challenging
statement, but you let the reader know that it is your opinion right away.
Example: In my opinion, the driving age should be lowered to fourteen. Most
teenagers are more responsible than adults give us credit for being. Just because we
are teenagers does not mean we are irresponsible and dangerous.

Well Known Quotation or Quotation from a Famous Person

Open with a quotation that is well known or from a famous person. Be sure to put
quotations around the quotation and give credit to the person who said it. Of course, the
quotation must be directly related to your topic. A good source is a book of quotations.
Look in the library or ask your teacher.
Example: President John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do
for you, and ask what you can do for your country." I think today's Americans have
forgotten Kennedy's message. We expect our country to take care of us, but we are not
taking care of our country.

Quotation Not from a Famous Person

Open with a quotation from a person that is not famous. It could be a character from the
story or someone you know personally. You still must put it in quotation marks and give
credit to the person who said it.
Example: When I was a child, I was given the "mother's curse" by my mom. Oh, it
is not anything mean or evil. She just said, "When you have children, they will act just
like you." I laughed. Well, now that I have children of my own, I am not laughing
anymore. The "mother's curse" really works!

Personal Experience
Open with something that has happened to you, or a personal experience. It could be a
part of the story, or it could be something that is not a part of what you are writing about
but still relates to the topic.
Example: Although I did later in my room, I never cried at my grandfather's funeral.
I guess that is why I felt so sad for the little girl standing next to her grandma's coffin.
She looked so lost and afraid.

Figurative Language
Begin with a simile comparison using like or as, metaphor comparison saying one thing
is another thing, personification giving something nonhuman human qualities, or
hyperbole exaggeration. The figurative language must relate directly to your topic.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

66 Reporting and Writing for Media
Example: The pencil sharpener was always hungry. It ate my pencil every time I
went to sharpen it. It never seemed to do this to anyone's pencil but mine. What was so
Notes special about my pencils?

Enumerated General Statement

Begin with a general statement containing three or so ideas about your topic. The
information given in the lead is general, not specific. The specific details that support
the general statement will appear later in the paper.
Example: There are many characteristics that a good teacher possesses. However,
the three most important characteristics include being a good listener, being
knowledgeable about the subject, and having a kind heart. All of the teachers who
positively influenced me had all three of those characteristics in common.

Types of Leads
 Hard/Direct/Summary Leads: This kind of lead is mostly used in news stories
because of the fact that news stories need to be concise, to the point and put the
most information into the least amount of words. That's why with summary leads
you summarize the entire article in the lead, or in other words, put the most
important piece of information into the first sentence and go from there. Here's an
example of a summary lead:
President Bush was aiming to rally U.S. forces encountering tougher resistance in
Iraq and warn Americans anew of a potentially long conflict when he was to visit the
headquarters of Central Command on Wednesday. The president was getting a pair
of briefings from Central Command brass and having lunch with troops. At the
Tampa, Fla., facility, he also was to give a speech in which he was reminding
military personnel that the United States leads a large coalition in the war to unseat
Saddam Hussein, White House spokesman Fleischer said.
 Blind Leads: This is a lead where you start off the article by summarizing but
leaving out one essential detail; this is done to catch the interest of the reader. As
journalists you want people to read and be interested in your work, and in feature
writing especially confusing the reader in the beginning is sometimes a very good
way to catch their interest. Right after a blind lead you have to clarify the missing
piece of info though. Here's an example:
It was like the scene from the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," only for a
wireless generation.
Elena Brooks was incredulous when a pizza deliveryman arrived at Bethel High
School one day last spring with an order for a student who was in class.
Finding the culprit was simple enough. "Go into the room, tell everyone to turn their
cell phones on and find out which phone has the number stored for the pizza
place," said Ms. Brooks, the principal of Bethel High, in Hampton. When identified,
the student said he had ordered the pizza because he had missed lunch.
"He didn't see anything wrong with it at all, which was amazing," she said.
 Narrative Leads: These leads are another feature type that actually takes you into
the mind of the main person in an article. Narrative leads tell a story from a person's
specific perspective; it's the most classic and in some instances most effective way
to start out a feature. Pick a person and start your article out with their story and tie
it into the main point. Here's an example:
Joe Darnaby had his heart set on going to college out East next year. But since
Sept. 11, his parents have laid down a new rule: no school more than five hours'
drive from home in Deerfield, Ill.
"Part of me says that he has to follow his dreams," says his mother, Maureen, who
wants her son to be able to get home in an emergency. "But there must be another
place closer to home where he can do that."

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 67
 Quote Leads: This is a lead where you start off the article with a quote that
expresses the idea you want to get across well. In some newsrooms quote leads
are banned because finding the perfect quote for an article is a very challenging Notes
task that most newspapers don't have the time for. Articles are written fast and
frequently, and finding a good lead is essential and needs to sometimes be done
very quickly. But if you have the time quote leads are very effective if done right.
 Question Leads: These are leads use the first sentence of an article to answer one
of the "w" questions in journalism, who, what, when, where and why. Another
question is how, and question leads can use this too. Basically you use the lead to
answer one question to make the reader wonder the answers to the rest.
 Direct Appeal Lead: This type of lead addresses the reader directly or by
implication as ‘you’. It has the effect of making the reader, a collaborator, and
partner, in what follows.
 Circumstantial Lead: Here the beginning stresses on the circumstance of the
news.

Headline
A headline grabs the reader's attention, targets him or her by saying something
meaningful, and creates some curiosity in the reader. It can make a promise for some
big benefit, it can make an offer, it can challenge the reader in some way, it can
introduce some really compelling concept or idea, or it can be something newsworthy.
A headline is a ‘window’ to the news story. Thus, a heading must fit, must tell the
story, must confirm to newspaper’s standard, must not just be a label, must be safe and
must not commit the paper to an opinion. A good headline is one that in less than a
dozen words summarizes what a reporter has said.
The earliest newspapers had no headlines on the front page, which was devoted
entirely to advertisements, and the headlines inside did no more than announce the
subject of the report. Today, every newspaper has its own style of headlining a story.
Some newspaper give straight hard headings, while some other prefer to give exciting
and sensational headings. It normally depends on the policy of the newspaper.
It has been found that all daily newspapers in standard size generally prefer to give
straight headlines and tabloid newspaper throughout the world give sensational
headlines.

Type of Headline
 Banner Headline: A newspaper headline written in large letters across the width of
the page. When the heading is given below the nameplate of the newspaper and
covers all columns from left to right, it is called banner headline. Some may call it
streamer, which also covers the entire column but is normally given on the inside
page. Sometimes the streamer may leave one column.
 Skyline: for very exceptional and exclusive events, the headline of the story is
sometimes given over the nameplate of the newspaper. It means that the event is
even more important than the authority of the newspaper.
 Rectangle: in such headings, all the lines are equal from left to right. Normally, it is
of three lines but sometimes it can be of 2 to 4 lines too.
 Hanging indentation: right justification the heading with more than two or more
lines which are justified on the right side and unjustified on the left are called
hanging indentation.
 Waist: this is of three lines where the first and the third line cover the column but
the centerline is smaller and placed centrally.
 Full one/one line: the headline is normally single line heading covering all the
columns of the story

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

68 Reporting and Writing for Media
 Crosser/highlighter: crosser are normally one line headline which is given in the
middle of the story. Sometimes in the story, a few important points are highlighted in
Notes the middle of the story. They are also included in this category.
 Flash: a recent development in the newspaper is to highlight the stories of inside
pages on the first page, just below the flag. Flag The Times of India).
 Over line: this is also called the eyebrow or strap line. This is normally given over
the main heading.
 Oval: in such headlines, middle line is longer than the above and below lines. This
is normally of three lines.
 Multi deck headings: the descending lines get smaller in size, after the main
heading
 Sub-heading: these are the small subsidiary headings in the body of the story
 Symbolic headline: this headline will show the special effects of the story
 Left step: here the lines of the headline are justified on the left and unjustified on
the right.
 Step line: the headline with two or more lines, displayed so as to give an effect of a
stair. Ladder)
 Inverted pyramid: in this heading, there are three or more than three lines which
are centrally set from large to small. In some cases, there could be two lines only,
set in such a fashion.
The headline is the first, and perhaps only, impression you make on a prospective
reader. Without a headline, the rest of your words may as well not even exist. But a
headline can do more than simply grab attention. A great headline can also
communicate a full message to its intended audience, and it absolutely must lure the
reader into your body text. At its essence, a compelling headline must promise some
kind of benefit or reward for the reader, in trade for the valuable time it takes to read
more.
The one thing that can make or break a newspaper article is the headline. A good
newspaper headline is concise, informative and, at times, entertaining. When you write
a newspaper headline, your goal is to hook the reader into reading the article.

Writing a headline for your article is easy, if you follow these steps:
 Reread your article; identify the underlying theme.
 Express the theme in an active voice using as few words as possible. Active verbs
lend immediacy to a story. If a reader sees a headline written in a passive voice, he
or she might glance right over it.
 Keep your headline in present tense.
 Keep it simple. A headline is a short, direct sentence without extra adjectives or
adverbs.
 Provide enough information in the headline to give the casual reader an impression
of the entire story.

Four functions of a headline:

 It gets the reader's attention.
 It summarizes or tells about the article.
 It helps organize the news on the page.
 It indicates the relative importance of a story.
A good headline should be accurate, clear, grammatically correct, strong, active,
fresh and immediate. It should catch the reader's attention.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 69
The two most basic rules for headlines:
1. They must be accurate.
Notes
2. They must fit the available space.
For headlines to be accurate the headline writer must understand the article
thoroughly before writing the headline; the copy editor who doesn't have a good view of
what the article says isn't likely to write a headline that communicates clearly and
accurately.

Accuracy tips:
 Spell check after writing the display type.
 In particular, double-check any proper names or any numbers.
 The headline should sell the article to the reader. Tell readers why they should be
interested.
 Every news story headline should have an active Verb. Headlines on feature stories
can be more creative. But aim for complete thoughts. Tell the story, but avoid the
"clears hurdle" or "man dies" phenomena. Get the most important element first, the
least important head element last.
 Attribute heads that convey opinion. If the lead needs attribution, chances are the
headline will, too. Most times, attribution will go at the end of the headline.
 Headlines should be accurate in Tone: Don't put a light headline on a serious story.
Be careful not to put a first-day head on a second-day story.
 Match the tone of the story. Be original and creative, but not trite and cliché.
 If you do employ word play on an idiom or common phrase, be sure the meter is
exactly the same. The headline will ring falsely otherwise. If you use a pun, be
honest with yourself. Will it make the reader smile, or groan?
 Don't repeat the lead in a headline. Write a better headline than the lead.
 And don't give away the punch line of a feature story that has a surprise ending.
 Be aware of any unintended double meanings. Real-life examples of some
headlines that were published: Old man winter sticks icy finger into Virginia. Teens
indicted for drowning in lake; FBI ordered to assist Atlanta in child slayings.
 Avoid Bad Breaks at the end of lines, such as dangling prepositions or conjunctions.
 Avoid weaklings: Words such as mull, eye, rap, hit, slam, vie, assail, and seen and
bid are headline weaklings. Alter your approach to get away from them. Look for a
fresh approach.
 Don't go for the obvious. On fire-related stories, for example, stay away from verbs
such as spark and snuff; on storm stories, stay away from verbs such as spawn,
dump, blow, churn. In articles, hurricanes always seem to churn, and tornadoes are
always spawned.

Types of News writing

Every news story has to have a focus, which could be a person or an event. The story
emerges sharper when the focus is clear and blurred when the focus is unclear. A news
story is built on a central idea theme), sometimes on two or three central ideas. So it is
called as single element story or two-element story or three-element story depending on
the number of themes it has.
Journalists use many different kinds of frameworks for organizing stories.
Journalists may tell some stories chronologically. Other stories may read like a good
suspense novel that culminates with the revelation of some dramatic piece of
information at the end. Still other stories will start in the present, then flashback to the
past to fill in details important to a fuller understanding of the story. All are good
approaches under particular circumstances.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

70 Reporting and Writing for Media
 Inverted pyramid: By far the simplest and most common story structure is one
called the "inverted pyramid." To understand what the "inverted pyramid" name
Notes means, picture an upside-down triangle one with the narrow tip pointing downward
and the broad base pointing upward. The broad base represents the most
newsworthy information in the news story, and the narrow tip represents the least
newsworthy information in the news story. When you write a story in inverted
pyramid format, you put the most newsworthy information at the beginning of the
story and the least newsworthy information at the end.
Before computers, newspaper copy was cut with scissors to fit a space on the news
page. Editors cut the copy from the bottom up, chopping off the least important
information that reporters put on the ends of their stories. These days, with so much
competition from TV, radio, and the Internet, reporters tend to cover their pyramids
with cake frosting. They want to hook even the most distracted readers.
So they write a lead, statement, before the main news story. A good lead gives
readers the feeling that they have a front seat for the action and provides a reason
to keep reading.
 Story telling style: this approach to news writing is used mostly in magazines. It is
a style that is very familiar to all of us. News stories are told in the order in which
they happened, i.e., what happened first, what happened second, etc. This is
known as telling a story in chronological order. This style is used to hold the
reader’s interest and stimulate some imagination to see, feel, and understand the
news. This is also called narrative approach.
 Personalized approach: This style is rarely used in the newspaper stories. This is
the first person approach and the reporter gives a personal account of the incident,
which took place on the spot where he/she was present personally. The reporter on
the television and radio will mostly use this approach to news reporting and not the
newspaper news reports.
 Chronological news writing: In this type of writing, the information is given in a
chronological order instead of information given in descending order of importance
as in inverted pyramid.

Clarity and Accuracy

Writing is a process that has to be mixed with your own individual style, thoughts and
methods, and with the subject and a form of writing. To produce a good write-up, you
have to learn to combine all these. Also remember that writing is hard work. Most
people give up writing as soon as they can, because it is such hard work. It is
physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. Good writing does not happen all of a
sudden. The writing process is often slow, at times tedious and even frustrating. Thus, a
good writing does not happen all at once, and it is the result of sweat and blood-in a
literal sense. Context & background, technical terms, obscure details, Jargons &
unanswered questions are the things that one has to look up to in a news story or a
write-up.
Some suggestions that can improve your writing and tie-up your news stories
together are:
 Write simply: simplicity is the best way to achieve clarity. Gifted writers take to this
method to convey their message. A student, a beginner in the profession of writing,
will also find it easy to write in a simple manner.
 Use simple words: many people think big or complicated words will impress the
reader. In fact it has the opposite effect. ‘To write clearly, not only the most
expressive but the plainest words should be chosen’, Benjamin Franklin once wrote.
It is better to write ease instead of facilitate, many instead of numerous and use
instead of utilize.
 Economize on words: mostly writers use too many words in their drafts. A careful
editor deletes these at the time of editing. There is no substitute for simple,
straightforward prose. One should not try to use one word more than necessary. Be

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 71
on the lookout for phrases, words and sentences that do not add substantially to the
content of what you are writing. You should also guard against those fancy phrases
which draw attention to the writing and the writer-and take away the content. Do not Notes
boast while writing.
 Use simple sentences: it is easier to write five simple sentences than one complex
or compound sentence. So why not write simple sentences as long winding
sentences only distract the reader.
 Do not use Jargons: each group of people has a technical language of their own.
This is called jargon. You may be using certain abbreviations or names in your
schools, sports field or in an office. Scientists do so in their labs, and these are the
jargons. Only the selected groups understand them. As a writer, you should not use
these. You should rather explain the jargon if you have to use it. Your aim should be
to make your message clear to the people who have no direct relationship to such
groups. Your writings should not cut people off from receiving your ideas by a
language that they cannot understand.
Avoid using overused words or phrases. These are called clichés. A write-up with
clichés is not considered good writing. Clichés are so overused that they become
tiresome and bereft of any meaning. Some columnists have a tendency to use such
clichés and that is why you call their writing boring.
Euphemism is the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one
thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt. It is an act or an example of substituting a
mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. In writing,
readers would repel from such words or phrases used in your writing.
Tie together- quite often one might have heard that writing must be well knit. For
this it is required to not only knit the words alone but the thoughts as well. Readers
should be able to read through a piece of writing without stops and surprises.
While introducing a new idea or piece of information, do not do so without tying it to
other parts of a story. Springing up with sudden thoughts jolts a reader, and like a
sudden jerk on a smooth road, he is thrown off balance.
Connect any new information in a story to information already introduced. You have
to develop a mental discipline and read your copy with discerning eyes. Expect your
reader to condemn you for any folly you make in the copy. For a reader, your name
is immaterial. For him, you are either a good or a bad writer.
 Avoid Adjectives: adjectives and adverbs are often superfluous. You should build
up your sentences around nouns and verbs. Usage of adjectives often weakens
your message. It is suggested that you write two simple sentences than use an
adjective, which more often is unnecessary if your description are clear and vivid.
You should select good active verbs to enliven your copy. A good verb denotes
action and a better verb denotes action and description. So choose your verb
carefully. It will reverberate and rejuvenate your copy. Remember, adverbs and
adjectives modify limit and verbs expand your thoughts and thus the writing.
Be specific: brevity is the soul of wit. Just as you try to avoid someone who talks too
much, so do readers about writings, which-have too many superfluous or high
sounding words or pilings of phrases or long-winding sentences that have run out of
thoughts. Eliminate all that which you have said once. You have to have accuracy
and clarity. But never try to sacrifice these for the sake of brevity. If facts need
explanation do not economize on sentences. Instead of one long sentence, it is
better to explain it in five sentences. To be specific, get to the point, sometimes, it is
certainly a difficult task. Decide on the theme of the write-up and weave your story
around it.
 Cut out unnecessary words: quite often one is in habit of writing words like
‘really’, ‘actually’, ‘very’, ‘in fact’ and similar others. These words do not tell much to
the readers. Rather they tell nothing, so cut these out. This will also help in keeping
your story trim and fit it into the limited space of a magazine or a newspaper.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

72 Reporting and Writing for Media
Avoid repetition and redundancies: both these traits show lack of discipline on the
part of the writer. Sometimes facts need to be repeated but that is not the case very
Notes often.

Datelines, Credit Lines, Bylines

A dateline is a brief piece of text included in news articles that describes where and
when the story occurred, or was written or filed, though the date is often omitted. In the
case of articles reprinted from wire services, the distributing organization is also
included though the originating one is not. Datelines are traditionally placed on the first
line of the text of the article, before the first sentence. The location appears first, usually
starting with the city in which the reporter has written or dispatched the report. City
names are usually printed in uppercase, though this can vary from one publication to
another. The division and/or nation the city is in may follow, but they may be dropped if
the city name is widely recognizable due to its size or political importance a national
capital, for instance).
Datelines can take on some unusual forms. When reporters collaborate on a story,
two different locations might be listed. In other cases, the exact location may be
unknown or intentionally imprecise, such as when covering military operations while on
a ship at sea or following an invasion force.
Credit line - also called as photo credit - a photographer's byline. The name of the
person or organization responsible for making or distributing a photograph, usually
appearing small type under the reproduced picture.
The byline on a newspaper or magazine article gives the name, and often the
position, of the writer of the article. Bylines are traditionally placed between the headline
and the text of the article, although some magazines notably Reader's Digest place
bylines at the bottom of the page, to leave more room for graphical elements around the
headline.

A typical newspaper byline might read

Rima Seth
Staff writer
A byline can also include a brief article summary, introducing the writer by name.
Magazine bylines, and bylines on opinion pieces, often include biographical information
on their subjects. A typical biographical byline on a piece of creative nonfiction might
read. Most modern newspapers and magazines attribute their articles to individual
editors, or to wire services.

Organization of a typical Newspaper

1. Organization of Newspaper
 news stories
 feature stories
 business section
 news stories
 feature stories
 the stock market report
 exchange rates for foreign currency
 sports section
 news stories
 feature stories

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 73
 columns
 editorials
Notes
 Letters to the editor
 reviews
 schedules
 cultural events
 other
 comics
 classified advertisements
 weather reports
2. Headlines
 one- or two-sentence summaries of the article
 Deletion of short words articles, "be" verbs, etc.
 verb tenses different from ordinary use
 abbreviations
 short words instead of common longer words
3. Organization of News Stories
 bylines, credit lines, and datelines
 arrangement of news articles inverted pyramid
 leads
4. Grammar of Newspaper Articles
 shorter sentences
 omitting relative clauses
 using more noun phrases
 avoiding using "of" forms and prepositional phrases
5. Specifying the Source of Information
6. Objective; Avoiding Writer's Opinions

2.3 Qualities and Responsibility of a Reporter

Mass Media is a term used to denote a section of the media specifically envisioned and
designed to reach a very large audience such as the population of a nation state. It was
coined in the 1920s with the advent of nationwide radio networks, mass-circulation
newspapers and magazines, although mass media was present centuries before the
term became common. The term public media has a similar meaning: it is the sum of
the public mass distributors of news and entertainment across mediums such as
newspapers, television, radio, broadcasting, which requires union membership in large
markets such as Newspaper Guild and text publishers. The concept of mass media is
complicated in some internet media as now individuals have a means of potential
exposure on a scale comparable to what was previously restricted to select group of
mass media producers. These internet media can include personal web pages and
blogs.

The Business of Mass Media & Reporter

Journalism is not a profession that is founded on starry-eyed optimism. It scorns the up
lifter as much as it suspects the reformers, having had grievous experience with both in
the course of its daily dealings with human affairs. In fact, it cries woe knows full well
that such an automatic reflex action has a better chance of being right or wrong. Today,
Progressive Journalists have realized that there are both civic and national
Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education
74 Reporting and Writing for Media
responsibilities that come ahead of their normal professional duties. Merely telling and
printing the news is not enough, nor is it sufficient to keep chanting a litany about
Notes interpreting the news without finding better people, better ways, more space, and more
time to do it before a crisis makes it imperative. The reporter or the journalist is no
longer justifies in wrapping himself in the guise of a philosophical anarchist and
pretending that he is someone set apart with a mission beyond that of ordinary men.
For the fact is that he no longer is mere news gatherer, often, in the act of gathering
news, he makes it and even influences the course of events. Surely, the time has come
for him to recognize it. He is not part of the gigantic shadow play, he is one of the
principal actors, and what he says and does can have a substantial influence on its
outcome. He must face up to his responsibilities as a good citizen first, a good reporter
second.
The Press is independent of government. Governments are composed of human
beings, and human beings can and do commit wrongs. The press and government
should not become institutional partners. They are natural adversaries with different
functions, and each must respect the role of the other. Sometimes a free press can be a
distinct annoyance and an embarrassment to a particular government, but that is one of
the prices of liberty. A free press is responsible to its readers and to them alone.
Independence is at the very heart of any statement of ethical principles respecting
the conduct of the press. The proprietors of a newspaper may choose to ally it with a
particular political party or interest, but an increasing number of newspapers and
journals are politically independent as well as independent of government. This means
not that they refrain from endorsing a certain political party or a candidate for public
office, but rather that they owe no prior allegiance and that they make the endorsement
voluntarily, as an exercise of their independence.
From this it follows that an independent press must cherish that role by resisting
pressures of all kinds - from local as well as national government, from special interest
groups in the community, from powerful individuals, from advertisers.
This is a noble standard that is sometimes more difficult to follow in a small
community than in a large one. It may be relatively easy for a large, well-financed
newspaper to risk the displeasure of a particular interest group or advertiser. But on a
small paper, where the support of such an advertiser or interest has a direct bearing on
the ability of management to meet the payroll, it takes courage to resist pressure.
From this also flows the point that the newspaper and its staff should exemplify
independence in their actions. Not only should they be independent in fact, but also
they must be seen to be independent. A newspaper that rewards its friends with
unwarranted, flattering stories or fawning editorials will not long be respected. A
newspaper whose reporters also are on the payroll of a special interest group or who
accept free trips or lavish gifts will find it hard to be convincing in its criticisms of
corruption or other unethical practices in government.
Occasionally, newspapers attempt to justify the acceptance of gifts or services. A
reliable reporter will hardly be corrupt. Admittedly, in small communities, journalists
sometimes may encounter problems in maintaining an independent role.
There are pressures to participate in volunteer services, in clubs and business
associations, and even in local government. Conflicts of interest may arise frequently.
Journalists cannot expect to be walled apart from the community in which they live.
But neither can they serve two masters with opposing interests. A diligent editor or
reporter will at least be aware of the conflicts and keep his or her professional
responsibilities foremost in mind.
A newspaper has the right to be captious, or partisan, or untruthful, or bigoted, or
whatever else its conscience allows it to be. And although newspapers are answerable
to the laws of libel, within a very large compass they continue to set their own

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 75
responsibilities. The underlying idea is that, from the clash of opinions and ideas
presented by a free press, ultimately something resembling truth emerges.
Notes
In practice, however, truth does not always emerge unless someone digs it out. And
there is no single patented version of what constitutes truth. In a community where only
one newspaper exists, a reader may not encounter differing opinions unless the
newspaper chooses to present them. Radio and television are not always effective
substitutes.
Recognition, of the importance of fair and balanced reporting, in which opinions that
differ from those of the writer, or the newspaper, or a government official are
nevertheless accurately portrayed. News stories and analysis are presented on the
news pages, with their origins and sources identified wherever possible. The
newspaper's own opinions are presented on the editorial page, which may also carry
signed columns from syndicated writers or staff members of the newspaper itself.
News Reporting needs to guard against undue intrusions on the privacy of persons
about whom they are reporting. A photograph of a person jumping off a building or
plunging into a fire may be dramatic, but editors ought to debate long and hard over
whether they are violating someone's rights or dignity by publishing it. Does the
publication serve a defensible purpose, one that will be understood by readers? Or is it
using an indignity to pander to curiosity?
Reporters enjoy no special rights beyond those of other citizens. They must be
aggressive in pursuing facts. Indeed, one of the most important functions of a free press
is to serve as a watchdog. But its staff members have no dispensation to be rude or
discourteous. Television has many sins of its own, but one thing it purveys very quickly
to viewers is whether reporters at a news conference are behaving arrogantly or with
unnecessary brusqueness.
A Reporter is a type of journalist who researches and presents information in
certain types of mass media.
Reporters gather their information in a variety of ways, including tips, press
releases, and witnessing events. They perform research through interviews, public
records, and other sources. The information-gathering part of the job is sometimes
called "reporting" as distinct from the production part of the job, such as writing articles.
Reporters generally split their time between working in a newsroom and going out to
witness events or interview people.
Most reporters working for major news media outlets are assigned an area to focus
on called a beat or patch. They are encouraged to cultivate sources to improve their
information gathering.
Reporters working for major Western news media usually have a university or
college degree. The degree is sometimes in journalism, but in most countries, that is
generally not a requirement. When hiring reporters, editors tend to give much weight to
the reporter's previous work such as newspaper clippings, even when written for a
student newspaper or as part of an internship.
Reporting skills can be learned, just like any other skill. The entire reporting process
involves setting objectives, through data gathering and analysis tools, to planning,
drafting, editing and designing the report.

Set evaluation goals- know what you are doing from the start
Select data gathering methods - select the best way to get breadth and depth of
information
Analyze quantitative and qualitative data - really understand what your data is
telling you Plan the report-put your ideas into a structure that works. Write more clearly
and organize your ideas and analysis effectively - getting to the point in a powerful,
persuasive style Training & Qualifications to be a Reporter

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

76 Reporting and Writing for Media
News reporters, correspondents, and analysts gather and prepare useful
information for local and nationwide audiences. They inform society on current events
Notes and the actions of public, corporate, and special interest figures.
News analysts, or newscasters or news anchors, harness and interpret news to be
broadcast. They present on-air videotapes, stories, or live transmissions from
correspondents outside of the studio. Some newscasters specialize in either weather or
sports, and hence receive the titles of weathercasters and sportscaster. They gather
and deliver information relating to these areas of interest. Some weathercasters are
actual meteorologists who make their own weather forecasts.
Reporters are heavily involved with all phases of news gathering, organizing,
shooting, and delivering. They often interview individuals with cameras and later edit the
material for presentation. Often this information will be sent via electronic transmission
to news writers who write about the material. Television and radio reporters may submit
material live from a news source. They usually record an introduction to their story to be
presented. Commentators and columnists are journalists who provide readers and
listeners with their own personal opinions.
Reports write on assigned topics of relative importance, such as political or
company events, accidents, or celebrity visits. Some reporters will be assigned special
interest stories such as “police beats.” Still others specialize in unique fields of interest,
such as sports, politics, health, consumer affairs, science, religion, entertainment, and
others. Investigative journalists may spend days to weeks at a time working on stories.
Teams that include reporters, photographers, graphic artists, and editors are often
gathered to report on particular events or stories.
News correspondents cover news stories in regional stationed areas. Reporters that
work with smaller publications involve themselves with all phases of gathering and
presenting news, from taking photographs to laying out pages and editing final
transcriptions. They may also sell advertising and do some office work.
News reporters, correspondents, and analysts should anticipate busy schedules
and pressure deadlines. They may have to rush to broadcast a story by a certain time.
Work environments vary from comfortable offices to rooms full of technical equipment
and other workers. Outside field reporters may find the environment of an event to be
extremely hectic and even dangerous.
Work schedules vary. While print reporters typically work in the late hours of the day
until midnight, television, radio, and magazine reporters usually have day schedules
with some evening work. In order to meet a deadline, reporters may have to adjust their
schedule or work overtime. This is especially so as many stations have 24 hour
broadcast schedules.
Travel may also be necessary for breaking news events.

Where Reporters work?

Reporters gather information and write news stories. These stories appear in
newspapers and magazines. Some reporters appear on television and radio. To get
information, reporters look at documents. They also observe the scene and interview
people. Reporters write about events. These include things such as an accident, a rally,
or a company going out of business.
Radio and television reporters often report "live" from the scene. News
correspondents mostly work in large cities. Some report from foreign cities covering the
events in the city.
Reporters must meet deadlines. Some work in private offices, while others often
work in large rooms with other reporters. Television and radio reporters may encounter
curious onlookers, police, or other emergency workers.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 77
Reporters work long hours and sometimes have odd schedules. They may have to
travel. At morning newspapers, reporters might work from late afternoon until midnight.
At evening or afternoon papers, they may work from early morning until afternoon. Notes
Radio and television reporters work day or evening shifts. Magazine reporters generally
work during the day. Reporters may have to work extra hours to meet deadlines. They
may have to change their work hours to follow a story.
A college degree in journalism is preferred. Some employers hire graduates with
other majors. Working at school newspapers or broadcasting stations is good
experience. Internships with news organizations may also help when seeking a job as a
reporter.
Reporters must write clearly and effectively. They also need word processing,
computer graphics, and desktop publishing skills. Speaking a second language is
necessary for some jobs. In high school; you should take courses in English, journalism,
and social studies, with an emphasis on writing.
Employment of news analysts, reporters, and correspondents is expected to decline
moderately. Still, some job openings will occur in newer media areas, such as
magazines and newspapers on the Internet. It is difficult to get a job at newspapers and
broadcast stations in large cities. The best chances for a first job are on small town and
suburban newspapers.

Reporting for Newspapers

Our newspapers must present a balanced view of the community, state, nation and the
world beyond our borders. To do so it requires a certain amount of skill, patience and
understanding. Therefore, a reporter must have a nose for news. We talk of news of
reader interest.

Generally the following will interest the reader:

1. Unusual events
2. Mysteries and the unknown
3. Prominent people, places and the things
4. Whatever people are talking about
5. Statements by persons in authority
6. All events that affects readers’ lives
7. Trends or continuing events that grasp the imagination of readers over a period of
time
8. New ideas-anything that is likely to be new to the general reader
9. Conflict between man and man; between man and nature
10. Natural phenomenon; violence, calamities and disaster
11. Tragedies and comedies that appeal to the human emotion
12. The why of news; why things happen, what makes them happen, who pulls the
strings
13. Topics of health
14. The environment
15. Fashion and entertainment

Taking notes in Reporting is very important!

You must be able to provide evidence of everything you include in an article or news
report. Therefore, it is vital that you keep adequate notes, and include everything you
can, including for example) transcripts of interviews and e -mails. When taking notes,

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

78 Reporting and Writing for Media
you might try making your own shorthand. Evidence which is of unknown source is not
evidence.
Notes
How to Take Notes?
1. In preparation for writing a piece of work, your notes might come from a number of
different sources: course materials, set texts, secondary reading, interviews, or
government sources and common people. You might gather information from radio
or television broadcasts, or from experiments and research projects.
2. The notes you gather in preparation for writing will normally provide detailed
evidence to back up any arguments you wish to make. They might also be used as
illustrative material. They might include such things as the quotations and page
references you plan to use in an essay. Your ultimate objective in planning will be to
produce a one or two page outline of the topics you intend to cover.
3. Be prepared for the fact that you might take many more notes than you will ever
use. This is perfectly normal. At the note-taking stage you might not be sure exactly
what evidence you will need. In addition, the information-gathering stage should
also be one of digesting and refining your ideas.
4. Don't feel disappointed if you only use a quarter or even a tenth of your materials.
The proportion you finally use might vary from one subject to another, as well as
depending on your own particular writing strategy. Just because some material is
not used, don't imagine that your efforts have been wasted.
5. When taking notes from any source, keep in mind that you are attempting to make a
compressed and accurate record of information, other people's opinions, and
possibly your own observations on the subject in question.
6. Your objective whilst taking the notes is to distinguish the more important from the
less important points being made. Record the main issues, not the details. You
might write down a few words of the original if you think they may be used in a
quotation. Keep these extracts as short as possible unless you will be discussing a
longer passage in some detail.
7. Don't try to write down every word of a lecture - or copy out long extracts from
books. One of the important features of note taking is that you are making a digest
of the originals, and translating the information into your own words.
8. Some people take so many notes that they don't know which to use when it's time
to do the writing. They feel that they are drowning in a sea of information.
9. This problem is usually caused by two common weaknesses in note-taking
technique:
 Transcribing too much of the original
 Being unselective in the choice of topics
10. There are two possible solutions to this problem:
 Select only those few words of the source material, which will be of use.
 Avoid being descriptive. Think more, and write less. Be rigorously selective.
 Keep the project topic or the essay question more clearly in mind. Take notes
only on those issues which are directly relevant to the subject in question.
11. Even though the notes you take are only for your own use, they will be more
effective if they are recorded clearly and neatly. Good layout of the notes will help
you to recall and assess the material more readily. If in doubt use the following
general guidelines.
 Before you even start, make a note of your source(s. If this is a book, an article,
or a journal, write the following information at the head of your notes: Author,
title, publisher, publication date, and edition of book.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 79
 Use loose-leaf A4 paper. This is now the international standard for almost all
printed matter. Don't use small notepads. You will find it easier to keep track of
your notes if they fit easily alongside your other study materials. Notes
 Write clearly and leave a space between each note. Don't try to cram as much
as possible onto one page. Keeping the items separate will make them easier
to recall. The act of laying out information in this way will cause you to assess
the importance of each detail.
 Use some system of tabulation as being done in these notes. This will help to
keep the items separate from each other. Even if the progression of numbers
doesn't mean a great deal, it will help you to keep the items distinct.
 Don't attempt to write continuous prose. Notes should be abbreviated and
compressed. Full grammatical sentences are not necessary. Use abbreviations,
initials, and shortened forms of commonly used terms.
 Don't string the points together continuously, one after the other on the page.
You will find it very difficult to untangle these items from each other after some
time has passed.
 Devise a logical and a memorable layout. Use lettering, numbering, and
indentation for sections and for sub-sections. Use headings and subheadings.
Good layout will help you to absorb and recall information. Some people use
colored inks and highlighters to assist this process of identification.
 Use a new page for each set of notes. This will help you to store and identify
them later. Keep topics separate, and have them clearly titled and labeled to
facilitate easy recall.
 Write on one side of the page only. Number these pages. Leave the blank sides
free for possible future additions, and for any details, which may be needed
later.

Notebook of a Reporter
Every interview has a common problem; how is it to be recorded? The sight of a
notebook on the knee of a reporter sometimes has a paralyzing and tongue-tying effect
on the person whose views are being sought, unless such happenings are a common
occurrence for him and he is perfectly used to them, the best way is to make your
entrance apparently devoid of all the tools of your trade and to listen intently for a
minute or two. Then you can quietly produce your pen and a piece of folded paper and
make a few notes, if possible, while still watching the speaker. Never look away from
him for longer than you can help, make him feel that he, and not your note-taking has
more attention.
Another way is to wait until the speaker has made a point or half given a string of
figures, then, producing your paper and pen, ask: may I quote that? And as you make
your note, allow him to prompt you on the words to be used, if he wishes.
Then look up at him again, put a question, or allow him to continue talking. Later
you can make another note or two, perhaps with increasing frequency as the sight of
your slip of paper becomes familiar, but watch him as much as you can and appear
interested.
Checking, verifying, analyzing & interpreting information is extremely important for a
reporter. Fairness is the foundation of good journalism. Fairness and balance is giving
both sides of the picture, while fairness is not taking sides. It also means not providing
support to political parties, institutions, communities or individuals, etc through the
columns of the newspaper. It is the attribute of a professional reporter and the duty of a
sub editor to implement it.
This one is as difficult, in practice, as accuracy is simple. Fairness is often in the
eye of the beholder. Fairness means, among other things, listening to different
viewpoints, and incorporating them into the journalism. It does not mean parroting lies

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

80 Reporting and Writing for Media
or distortions to achieve that lazy equivalence that leads some journalists to get
opposing quotes when the facts overwhelmingly support one side. Fairness is also
Notes about letting people respond when they believe you are wrong. Again, this is much
easier online than in a print publication, much less in a broadcast.
Ultimately, fairness emerges from a state of mind. We should be aware of what
drives us, and always willing to listen to those who disagree. The first rule of having a
conversation is to listen - learn more from people who think we are wrong than from
those who agree with us. Journalists might see themselves as satisfying their
professional commitment by taking the following steps before publishing a story:
 Looking at both sides of a story
 Assessing conflicting claims
 Assessing the credibility of sources
 Looking for evidences
 Not publishing anything believed to be untrue
 See if the story stands up
Analyzing Quantitative and Qualitative data is often the topic of advanced research
and evaluation methods courses. However, there are certain basics, which can help to
make sense of reams of data.
When analyzing data whether from questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, or
whatever, always start from review of your research goals, i.e., the reason you
undertook the news-story in the first place. This will help you organize your data and
focus your analysis. For example, if you wanted to improve a program by identifying its
strengths and weaknesses, you can organize data into program strengths, weaknesses
and suggestions to improve the program
 Read through all the data in your news story.
 Organize comments into similar categories, e.g., concerns, suggestions, strengths,
weaknesses, similar experiences, program inputs, recommendations, outputs,
outcome indicators, etc.
 Label the categories or themes, e.g., concerns, suggestions, etc.

Interviews

Planning and Conducting Interviews

Before meeting for an interview, both the interviewer and the interviewee have to make
planning and preparation. Many job interviews are failures because either the applicants
or the interviewer lack the skills of planning for them. The interviewer must have clear
and detailed information about the post for which the candidates are to be interviewed.
He should be in a position to tell the candidate the working conditions, details of job
operations and other responsibilities. He has to make proper seating arrangement for
the candidates in such a way that they may feel relaxed in the waiting room before
facing the interviewer. He should know what type of candidate is required for the job. He
must have the bio-data of all the candidates who might attend the interview.
Similarly, the applicants too must prepare themselves for the interview situation. He
has to know his own abilities in carrying out the responsibilities of the post for which he
applies. He has to ask himself whether he really desires to do that work and if it is
suitable for his talents. Secondly, he has to know the organization in which he seeks the
job. He has also to prepare himself for the probable questions, which would be asked in
the interview.

The winning grace of Interviewing

The precise nature of the questions you ask will be determined initially by the purpose
and the research you have done, but it is important that you listen to people’s answer s

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 81
and adjusts your line of questioning. Though, there is plenty of often quite prescriptive
advice available on interviewing techniques, but trial and error is the way most trainee
journalists feel their way through their first interviews. Experiment with different Notes
approaches and see what works for you in different circumstances. Journalists have to
be comfortable speaking to all sorts of people from millionaires to the homeless. So the
main asset of a journalist during interviews are being curious about people and allowing
enough time.
Conversation is the key to good interviewing. Even the briefest interview should
involve the techniques of conversation: listening as well as talking, engaging with what
is being said rather than just waiting for a gap to fill with your next question, making eye
contact in face to face interviews, and encouraging the interviewee through sounds and
gestures.
Interviewing celebrities and famous personalities require much tactics and careful
preparations. Unless you are accusing the interviewee of wrongdoing, you need to
establish a rapport between him and yourself. First impressions are important so don’t
be late and dress appropriately. Nonverbal communication is important, so show
interest by making eye contact without staring or nodding. Give verbal reassurance that
the interviewee is not speaking into a vacuum-laugh at their jokes, sympathies with their
troubles and use phrases like ‘really’? But don’t over do it. Learn to listen; interrupting
their flow only if they are digressing too much and you are on deadline. Keep your eyes
as well as your ears open because you might discover a visual clue to the interviewee’s
character or a visual prompt for an unusual question. Clothes, hair, tattoos, pictures on
the wall, books on the shelves, an unusual plant, and the view from the window-all
might spark off a question and lead to the discovery of a different angle.

Different Types of Interviews

 Written Interview: The written interview, where a person writes answers to a series
of questions sent to him, is now seldom employed. Perhaps this is as well, for it is
never wholly satisfactory. For one thing, a ‘follow up’ question can never be asked,
and it may so happen that a written answer almost demands further questions in
order to elucidate a point. In addition, it lacks the personal touch that is so essential.
Avoid it as much as you can.
 Telephonic Interview: the telephonic interview has been found a useful way of
getting the views of local people when you are very near press time, which perhaps
accounts for the extension in its use. For instance, suppose some restrictions on a
commodity were suddenly lifted, and you were told to get interviews for a local
angle story: you would need to contact the president or secretary of the association
concerned, one or two leading people and a house-wife. From them you should
obtain a pretty good variety of views some of them welcoming it, other fearing, that
the sudden lifting of the regulations would cause such a run on it that the
commodity would be virtually unobtainable and so on.
Thus, before ringing up these people, try to put yourself in their position: if you were
contacted by the ringing of a bell and asked for your views, would you have able to
give them on the spur of the moment? Even if you could, would you be prepared to
do so, knowing that whatever you said would be made public in the four corners of
your locality? Would you not prefer to have a few minutes in which to give a little
thought to the matter? These are points, which the thoughtful reporter will bear in
mind, and it may well be, as a result, that he will first ring up his people and ask
them if they would give their views when he brings up again in ten minutes time.
Many people are only too willing to assist, but they like to have a brief period for
reflection before committing themselves and they appreciate the friendly tip that you
want them to do so.
 Specialized Interviews: in the case of important individual interviews only a senior
reporter is generally given the assignment well in advance. He spends a few days in
studying the career of the great personality to be interviewed and frames the
questions to which he wants an answer. If the interview is to deal with a specific

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

82 Reporting and Writing for Media
subject and is not intended to be a general survey of the world or of the locality in
which the newspaper is published, the reporter must make certain that he has at
Notes least rudimentary ideas of the matters which he wishes his personality to talk about.
It is no good being ushered into the great man’s presence and then writing for
something to turn up.
The reporter would be well advised to utilize the resource fullness of the office
librarian, who can generally provide a host of ideas and cuttings, when he is told the
name of the man to be interviewed. The reporter is sometimes asked by the
personality to submit the receipt of the interview report and if time permits, he
should comply with the request and make the stipulation that when it is returned the
words ‘O.K.’ should appear on every sheet. There can then be no post-mortem
either on the interview or the reporter. But it must be made clear that the general
sense of the interview must not be altered and that in agreeing to the request for a
script, the desire is that the interview should be rounded off and that occasional
words should be altered if they do not entirely convey the intended meaning.
 Press Conference Interviews: there are frequently occasions for Press
Conferences at which ministers or leading figures in the world of ‘industry’ science,
entertainment, or sport wish to inform the newspapers of latest developments. Is
such cases, the editor of the newspaper gives instructions to the Public Relations
Officer to get the journalists together and hear the pronouncements if any. It is
generally left for the PRO or the news editor to decide whether he will make it a
‘free for all’ conference or a gathering limited for specialists or experts because he
realizes that knowledgeable and sensible questions will be put to him. There are
sometimes Press Conferences and interviews ‘which is simply a waste of time,
where the information could have been issued by the Public Relations Officer of the
Ministry concerned in the form of a ‘handout’.
In a news conference, one or more speakers may make a statement, which may be
followed by questions from reporters. Sometimes only questioning occurs;
sometimes there is a statement with no questions permitted. A government may
wish to open their proceedings for the media to witness events, such as the passing
of a piece of legislation from the government in parliament to the senate, via media
availability.
Television stations and networks especially value news conferences: because
today's TV news programs air for hours at a time, or even continuously, assignment
editors have a steady appetite for ever-larger quantities of footage.
News conferences are often held by politicians; by sports teams; by celebrities or
film studios; by commercial organizations to promote products; by attorneys to
promote lawsuits; and by almost anyone who finds benefit in the free publicity
afforded by media coverage. Some people, including many police chiefs, hold news
conferences reluctantly in order to avoid dealing with reporters individually.
A news conference is often announced by sending an advisory or news release to
assignment editors, preferably well in advance. Sometimes they are held
spontaneously when several reporters gather around a newsmaker. News
conferences can be held just about anywhere, in settings as formal or as informal
as the street in front of a crime scene. Hotel conference rooms and courthouses are
often used for news conferences.
 Interviews of Eminent Persons: one type of interview prevalent in a democratic
country like India or the United States is that with the President or the Prime
Minister or a foreign head of states visiting the country. The procedure here is that
written questions are submitted in advance to the PRO of the authority concerned,
and when the dignitary replies to them, he would indicate whether he could be
quoted for the information he was imparting or whether he is not to be quoted as the
source of the news, or whether he is speaking entirely off the record. If this eminent
personality has a particularly important statement to make, he will generally issue
copies of it at the close of the conference.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 83
News Reporting
News reports are classified into two broad types: Notes
1. Straight news reports
2. Investigative or interpretative reports
Straight news reports present what has happened in a straightforward, factual and
clear manner. They draw no conclusions, nor offer any opinions. There is no attempt to
probe deeper than the surface happenings, or they provide elaborate background
information, or even to examine claims made. The main sources are: Government
officials, elite groups, news agencies, eminent people, businessmen and others.
Both these types of news stories merely present the claims, without in any way
trying to question or rebut, or ask why. Investigative reports, on the other hand, would
make an effort to go behind the claims and see how valid they are. They report
happenings in depth, present fairly all sides of the picture in the context of the situation,
and generally, put some meaning into the news so that the reader is better able to
understand and analyze the event.
Disaster stories e.g. famines and floods get pride of place in the daily press, and
these provide many ‘human interest’ stories. Developments in science, industry and
agriculture are increasingly coming to be considered as interesting news, as also the
exposure of corruption in high places, the exploitation of the lower classes and workers,
and social injustice and inequalities resulting from the social, economic and political
structures. Of course, all the news reported is not news of the highest interest to
everybody. Politics interest some, sports others, crime still others. However, it is rare
that newspapers touch in the information needs and interests of the poorer sections of
the society.

Investigative or Interpretative Reporting

‘There is no more important contribution that we can make to society than strong,
publicly spirited investigative journalism’.
Investigative journalism is a kind of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate
a topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or some other scandal.
Investigative and interpretative reporting is not necessarily getting ‘scoops’ and
sensationalizing them but rather ‘situation reporting’ in place of event or personality
reporting. It is indeed a calm, restrained and detached manner of arriving at
conclusions. In short interpretive reporting is when a reporter, who is an expert in a
particular area, say finance and economics, gives meaning and relevancy for the reader
to information he has researched and gathered on a particular topic. This will usually
include some relevant history, interviews with experts, interviews with those of opposing
views, and an informed opinion about implications and trends.
An investigative report begins with a hunch that there is something more than
meets the eye. Many newspapers have carried investigative news reports like the
Indian Express carried four investigative reports in 1979 about the inside of Tihar jail.
Also news magazines like India Today, Outlook, Sunday and The Week have exposed
the Bhagalpur blinding, and other police atrocities in many parts of the country.
An investigative journalist may spend a considerable period researching and
preparing a report, sometimes months or years, whereas a typical daily or weekly news
reporter writes items concerning immediately available news. Most investigative
journalism is done by newspapers, wire services and freelance journalists. An
investigative journalist's final report may take the form of an exposé.
The investigation will often require an extensive number of interviews and travel;
other instances might call for the reporter to make use of activities such as surveillance
techniques, tedious analysis of documents, investigations of the performance of any
kind of equipment involved in an accident, patent medicine, scientific analysis, social

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

84 Reporting and Writing for Media
and legal issues, and the like. In short, investigative journalism requires a lot of scrutiny
of details, fact-finding, and physical effort. An investigative journalist must have an
Notes analytical and incisive mind with strong self-motivation to carry on when all doors are
closed, when facts are being covered up or falsified and so on.
Some of the means reporters can use for their fact-finding:
 studying neglected sources, such as archives, phone records, address books, tax
records and license records
 anonymous sources
 going undercover
Newspapers and news magazines are turning more and more to investigative and
interpretative reporting, as television, radio and the internet have a clear edge over
them in giving up-to-the minute development in news around the world. The morning
papers of course provide news in much greater detail, but it is all the same yesterday’s
news, which is in fact stale news. However, TV and radio cannot match the press in in-
depth reporting and critical analyses.
Investigative stories have to be done with the active support of the editor; else they
may be ‘killed’ at the last minute. That is because such stories could tread on many
toes, especially governmental and business. They often demand months of tedious
work, and when finally published can have dramatic effects. An offshoot of investigative
reporting is consumer reporting, which exposes business practices that exploit
consumers. Our newspapers have yet to take on big business in a big way. Occasional
reports have focused on drug and soft-drink companies, but without much dramatic
impact. The findings of consumer organizations and Consumer Redressal Courts are
rarely given wide publicity and ‘complaints’ columns in the press so not follow-up the
complaints made.
The daily newspaper is the result of a glorious team effort. The members of the
team are often a restless lot getting on each other’s nerves. But they share the ‘values’
of the same profession and belong to a team. Reporters, sub-editors, news editors,
assistant editors and editors belong to the editorial department of the newspaper.
Compositions, makeup men and printers form the printing or mechanical department.
Thus, the editorial team is the creative organ of the newspaper.
A reporter is one who observes the passing show in the widest sense of the word
and pictures its detail for the benefit of the whole society.
A reporter may be accurate, conscientious, a good citizen and take part in moulding
the views of other people, but he cannot play his part successfully unless he keeps his
eyes open and his mind attuned to the present, future as well as the past. He is a leader
of men in many senses of the word.
He must not express his own views in what he writes-he must know in most sets of
circumstances-but everything he writes must express his mind and its condition. He
holds up a mirror and how much clouded or clear it is, depends on the truth or a twist of
the truth which he makes in accordance with his nature and mental equipment.
A good reporter seldom sticks to a newspaper for long. Usually he passes on to
news agencies or gets promotion to look after other aspects of newspaper production
like a news editor or a chief correspondent.
A reporter's mind is like a sponge, paying a good deal of attention to purely
mundane things but learning something every day and cleaning his mind of matters not
upto the mark. He must organise his knowledge and codify it. He must understand the
principles of government in general and in some details.
He must know general history, particularly the history of his area. Though he can
pick up these things as he goes along his duty, it is better for him to supplement his
knowledge by a planned study.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 85
Duties of a Newspaper Reporter
A reporter is the gatherer of news, and as such performs an important function in a Notes
newspaper establishment. As he has to gather news, he is required to be on the move
most of the time usually within the area allotted to him.
He has to interview persons and attend public functions and meetings, press
conferences and law courts to investigate events of public interest, to collect news and
to ascertain news on contemporary events.
The nature of the job being such, an 'up-and -doing" type of person proves
successful in this line. Naturally, persons who prefer fixed working hours and regular
routine in daily life are unsuitable for this job.
His work changes daily; as such he should be prepared to handle any assignment
and move anywhere. He should have special knack of meeting all sorts of people in all
types of circumstances.
A person of snobbish, uppish and patronising temperament has little or no chance
of success in this line. A shy and a reserved type of young person is totally unfit to
become a successful reporter. He must possess abundant self-confidence, so as not to
be over-awed by the rank or position of an individual. He should be a man of initiative
and should not be easily disheartened or discouraged.
He should possess mental and physical perseverance. He should be able to grasp
the situation quickly and reduce it into writing in the shortest time and in a readable
form. But while reporting news he must be able to judge its authenticity and then report
the news so collected with absolute honesty. The narrative should be attractive so that
the readers should enjoy reading it.
He should be able to record the happenings and incidents in a condensed form, as
he has to take into account the space available in the newspaper for it. Suppose, he
has to write a report on some important meeting which lasted for over two hours. In
such a circumstance, he must have an eye for the important discussions/ decisions
which are to be included in the report, omitting all other unimportant/irrelevant matter.
He must be temperamentally so framed that he does not get irritated, even if at
times he has to wait for hours to meet an important person or come across an event.
When a news-worthy occasion does come he should be able to grasp it quickly, and
write it out with great speed.
Many reporters specialise in reporting particular types of news such as those
relating to political events, commerce or sports, theatre, etc. In large newspapers, there
is also a Chief Reporter responsible for allocating and coordinating work of different
reporters.
Reporters are people that no media organization can do without. For example
media all over the world rely on their reporters for their news contents. A reporter’s job
is therefore a very important one. A reporter is one who observes the passing show in
the widest sense of the word and pictures its detail for the benefit of the whole society.
A reporter is the gatherer of news, and as such performs an important function in a
newspaper establishment. A reporter may be accurate, conscientious, a good citizen
and take part in mouldings the views of other people, but he cannot play his part
successfully unless he keeps his eyes open and his mind attuned to the present, future
as well as the past. He is a leader or representatives of men in many senses of the
word.
News reporters or correspondents gather information, prepare stories, and make
broadcasts or publish that inform us about local, State, national, and international
events; present points of view on current issues; and report on the actions of public
officials, corporate executives, interest groups, and others who exercise power. News
reporters examine, interpret, and ready to publish or broadcast news received from
various sources.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

86 Reporting and Writing for Media
 Concept of Reporter: The people who collect or gather information and report it for
a medium, especially for newspaper, television or online media is called reporter.
Notes Reporters are the eyes and years for any news channel as they move around in
range of beats throughout the day and gather the news items from various sources
and make the news stories.
 Qualities of a Reporter: The reporter must have some desire qualities to
successes or to achieve the standard position of profession. The following are the
basic qualities of a reporter or rather a good reporter:
 Courageous and Confident: A good reporter should be courageous and confident.
Without courage and confidence it is difficult for a person to be a good reporter.
Timidity on the part of any reporter will get them nowhere. You need to be brave
enough to write the truth, no matter what the consequences. Sometimes it’s not
easy. You end up almost becoming friends with your sources over time, and then
one day you may be forced to write something negative about someone who
thought they were your friend. That’s just the nature of the business. Also,
sometimes you have to get mean with people who try to stonewall you and hide the
truth.
 Skepticism: A good journalist is one who doesn’t take things on face value. Press
releases or information given to them from people pushing for a certain agenda is
only a starting point for a good journalist. Good journalists question sources and are
always prepared to dig around until they get facts they are satisfied with.

Trustworthiness/credible
Credibility is something that every good reporter should have. In other words, a reporter
must exhibit characters and behaviors that make him or her to be believed and trusted
by people. Journalists interact with people from all walks of life who are often faced with
an extreme crisis in their lives. It is a good journalist’s duty to know what to ask and
when in the most appropriate manner. When people trust him enough to give him
confidential or private information, it is his duty as a journalist to not make that
information publicly available.\

Develop good writing skills

Wherever a journalist may work, whether in Print, Radio, TV or Online, they have to
write. Depending on the time constraints, a good journalist is one who writes
articulately, succinctly and quickly in an interesting and relevant way that appeals to
readers.

Persistence
Craziest thing, some people you have to write about don’t like you or don’t care about
you. You have to be able to call them over and over and follow them around like a
stalker sometimes to get the information you need.

Good at communicative skills

The reporter has to be able to communicate with people, interpret what information they
give you, and present it to others. The relationship of trust between information organs
and people is the foundation for every journalist’s job. To promote and maintain of this
relationship all journalists should be good at communication sectors. A journalist has to
respect, cultivate and defend the right to information of all people; for these reasons he
researches and diffuses every piece of information that he considers of public interest in
observance of truth and with a wide accuracy of it.

Inquisitive
A good journalist is one who is nosy. Where did the money for the project come from?
Why is this politician supporting this policy? Why are these construction workers not

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 87
wearing their head gear? A good journalist is one who is curious and burns with the
desire to know what is going on in the world.
Notes
Integrity
A journalist cannot accept benefits, favors or tasks that impair his autonomy and his
professional credibility. A journalist cannot omit facts or details essential for a complete
reconstruction of events. Titles, summaries, photos and subtitles must not either distort
reality or forge the contents of all articles and news. A journalist must not publish
images and photos of people involved in daily episodes which are particularly terrifying
or prejudicial to people’s dignity, nor may he dwell upon details of violence or brutality
unless for a prominent reason of social interest. He may not intervene in reality to
create artificial images.

News sense
News sense is the basic quality of newsmen. News sense is essential for a reporter. He
has to have news sense or nose for news to distinguish news from non-news. He is the
first reader of a copy and if he has made a mistake he has to correct it. A bad copy may
have the most important element of the story buried in the fourth paragraph. He should
be able to compare various news values and decide where to begin his story and
should not miss important details.

Clarity
A reporter should have clarity of mind and expression. A person who is confused
himself cannot tell a story to others. Only clarity of mind is not enough unless it is
accompanied by clarity of expression. Without clarity of expression clarity of mind has
no meaning. Reporter is the judge of clarity of the copy a good reporter will never allow
a copy escape him unless the meaning is crystal clear.

Alertness
A reporter should always be alert while dealing with his subjects. Many major news
breaks in the past were possible because of alertness of sources. A reporter has to be
alert while working on news-beat. Lack of alertness of a reporter can be seen by
readers in the morning for he will be leaving or introducing mistakes for everybody to
see.

Punctuality
It is a good habit. It is always better to be punctual and then wait than reach late and
ask others a rival may misinform you or hide some important information. At the beat
too punctuality pays. If a reporter is punctual he will be treated with respect by his co-
workers. If he is late he will irritate them and spoil the working atmosphere. Besides he
may have to face the problem of backlog of copy which he will have to clear under the
pressure of deadline.

Determined
A journalist knows the difficulty in finding information, especially when certain people
won’t agree to be interviewed. Nevertheless, they are determined to get over the
toughest hurdle and bring a difficult story out into the open. What may start off seeming
to be a simple news story can require hard work and determination?

Good general knowledge

A good journalist is one who knows something about everything. They are well-informed
news junkies especially in the area of politics, current affairs and law. There are plenty
of ways to improve one’s general knowledge, from watching TV quiz shows and doing
the newspaper quizzes to online searches, playing board games or even using your
local or school library to access things like atlases, dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

88 Reporting and Writing for Media
Cultivate accuracy

Notes A good journalist is one who double- and even triple-checks the spelling of names and
gives the correct details of the events that took place. Journalists need to have an eye
for detail and not be afraid to ask questions again and again to ensure accuracy.

Responsibility and fairness

A good journalist is one who is able to take personal responsibility for what they write.
They must keep in mind that there will be people who will be upset because they
disagree with the angle of the story or because they wanted their story to be given more
importance.

Motivated and enthusiastic/ curiosity

Curiosity is another very important quality of any good reporter. There is the need to be
curious all the time. The spirit of curiosity helps the reporter get good stories. It helps a
lot if a journalist has a skill or interest in something else. For instance journalists that
know a lot and have a lot of interest in a certain subject are usually valuable. A good
journalist is one who does not give up easily and one who has thick skin. There will be
times when a journalist won’t be able to find interesting stories to write up, or people
who are willing to talk to them. Regardless, a good journalist maintains a high level of
motivation whatever the situation may be.

Highly competitive
It is difficult to get a job in mainstream media as a journalist. The industry is highly
competitive and only few get selected. Nevertheless, there are many other opportunities
for journalists as long as they are determined, competitive and have the skills noted
above. Just make sure you get your foot in the media door. Some ways to start his
journalism career include blogging, making regular contributions to his school or
university newspapers, and volunteering at community radio stations. Keep in mind that
any extra experience he gets in any media field will place him one step ahead of
everyone else in the industry.

Hard working
A reporter should be able to work fast and enthusiastically on any given story. News
writing especially has a lot to do with deadlines. This therefore means that a good
reporter should be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines. If you can’t soak
the pressure then it is going to be hard to work as a reporter. The nature of the job
being such, an ‘up-and -doing” type of person proves successful in this line. Naturally,
persons who prefer fixed working hours and regular routine in daily life are unsuitable
for this job.

Power to make the right question

Must be good at ask the right questions at the right time. A good reporter must be able
to analyze and interpret information. He should have an ability to ask critical questions
to the source. A person of snobbish, uppish and patronizing temperament has little or
no chance of success in this line. A shy and a reserved type of young person are totally
unfit to become a successful reporter. He must possess abundant self-confidence, so
as not to be over-awed by the rank or position of an individual. He should be a man of
initiative and should not be easily disheartened or discouraged.

Maintain code of conduct

Either way, a journalist must be fair all the time and maintain a level of objectivity in
what they report. The best journalist is one who has strong ethical and moral codes of
conduct that help them determine what information to write and what to leave out.
Reporters are people that no media organization can do without. For example

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 89
newspapers all over the world rely on their reporters for their news contents. A
reporter’s job is therefore a very important one.
Notes
Self editing, correction and criticism power
A good reporter should have the habit of self-editing their copy before submitting it to
their editors. Reporters should be able to write well. By writing very well I mean writing
clear and well-focused stories that is easy to understand by everyone. Good spellings,
punctuations and grammar are also requirements. A good reporter should be able to
take corrections and criticisms in the course of performing their job. Comments,
opinions belong to the right of speech and of criticism and, therefore, they have to be
absolutely free from any obligation.

Eyes for indicating news story

A good reporter should have an eye for what is newsworthy and should be able to
produce new stories without being told. A good reporter should be able to gather facts
in a very careful and accurate way.

Capable to work with others and irregular hours

The work of news gathering is quite an unpredictable one. One might never know when
news will break or where it will happen. It is for this reason that a reporter should be
able and willing to work at irregular hours. A reporter should be a good team player and
be capable of working with other reporters, photographers and even editors. He should
have an ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines. The nature of the job being
such, an ‘up-and -doing” type of person proves successful in this line. Naturally,
persons who prefer fixed working hours and regular routine in daily life are unsuitable
for this job.
The above are some of the basic qualities that reporters should have regardless of
whatever medium they are working – print media or broadcast media. If they develop
these qualities, will be on the way to becoming a good reporters

Functions of reporter
Reporters are people that no media organization can do without. A reporter’s job is
therefore a very important one. The followings are the most common functions of a
reporter:

To gather news
A reporter is the gatherer of news, and as such performs an important function in a
newspaper establishment. As he has to gather news, he is required to be on the move
most of the time usually within the area allotted to him. He has to interview persons and
attend public functions and meetings, press conferences and law courts to investigate
events of public interest, to collect news and to ascertain news on contemporary events.

To observe
A reporter is one who observes the passing show in the widest sense of the word and
pictures its detail for the benefit of the whole society. He cannot play his part
successfully unless he keeps his eyes open and his mind attuned to the present, future
as well as the past. He must have the observation power to select news from the open
world.

Finding the angle

The angle of a news story is its most vital part. A news story is based on the angle it
takes. Once a reporter gets all the facts about a story, the choice of selecting the right
angle begins. The reporter has to decide it quickly because the story has to be reported
at the earliest. So every reporter faces this question of deciding the angle.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

90 Reporting and Writing for Media
To make the news reports

Notes By reporting, we mean collection or gathering of facts about current events or

background material required for a news story or feature. Reporters do it through
interviews, investigations and observation. Reporters are given directions by editors to
cover a particular event, known as assignments. They may be general assignments or
special ones. Reporters write the news stories, which are called copies. We call a news
report a news story. In a newspaper office, reporters are the ones who file stories. They
may be given different assignments. These may be on politics, economics, parliament,
the stock exchange, sports, courts or markets. The reporter’s job is to write the story as
quickly as possible with all the facts and figures.

To be an active listener as well as active person

A reporter can get good stories by listening to others. While traveling in a bus, the
reporter overhears the conversation between two passengers. “Did you go to the town
today? There was a terrible accident. A school bus overturned. Twenty children were
taken to hospital.”
By listening to this, the reporter gets a clue to a story. He now has to find out more
details of the accident. Which school bus was involved? How many children were
injured? In which hospital where they been admitted? The reporter goes to the accident
site to collect all this information. The reporter’s job does not end there. He has to
inform the photographer about the accident. The next day’s newspaper should also
carry some good photographs about the accident.

Covering events
PM visit Rangpur and hold a meeting, “India-Pakistan cricket Test in Mumbai”,
“Kumbhmela in Haridwar”, “ International Film Festival in Goa “, these are all events.
Reporters cover these events for their publications, channels or news bulletins. The
coverage depends upon the importance and magnitude of the event. A small local
government level meeting will be covered locally, whereas a state level function will get
wider coverage. If it is a national event, it will receive nationwide attention.

Go to press conference
A major source of news is the press conference. Leaders of political parties hold press
conferences regularly. Ministers also hold press conferences to announce various
programmes and policies of the government. Business houses arrange press
conferences to launch their new products. Organizations and Associations also held
press briefings.

To attend press briefing

These are other major sources of news items. Various commissions and committees
submit their reports to the Government which are a goldmine as far as news reporters
are concerned. Statements or press briefing by leaders and businessmen also make
news. The reporters should present in media briefing.

To move into respective beats

As he has to gather news, he is required to be on the move most of the time usually
within the area allotted to him. He has to interview persons and attend public functions
and meetings, press conferences and law courts to investigate events of public interest,
to collect news and to ascertain news on contemporary events. His work changes daily;
as such he should be prepared to handle any assignment and move anywhere. He
should have special knack of meeting all sorts of people in all types of circumstances.

To concern about parliament and assemblies

Parliament and state assemblies when in session generate lot of news. Questions in
both the houses of parliament, proceedings, calling attentions, zero-hour mentions,
Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education
Reporting 91
debates and various acts passed by the parliament also make news. The general
budget and railway budget are presented in parliament. State budgets are presented in
state assemblies. Notes
To have liaison
The reporters should have maintained liaison with different sources of news. Such as-
The police are in charge of law and order. So the police always maintain a close
vigil about various activities of citizens. Reporters get details about crime, accidents etc.
from police sources.

Interviewing
Interviewing people connected with an event or incident is a very common practice used
by reporters to get details. Television reporters take the opinion of people which are
called reactions. Occasionally, reporters of newspapers and channels conduct long
interviews with important people.

Rewrite a news story

Rewriting material needs that it flows or reads better and adheres to the house style of
a particular publication. Ensuring that, a story fits a particular word count by cutting or
expanding materials as necessary. Checking facts and stories to ensure they are
accurate, adhere to copyright laws, are not libelous or go against the publication’s
policy. Plan to ensure that the right stories appear in the correct place on each page. If
the reporter finds any mistakes in a copy he should correct the copy. If he think that the
story needs to add some information or develop the story then he should re-write the
story.

To make quick decision

He should be able to grasp the situation quickly and reduce it into writing in the shortest
time and in a readable form. But while reporting news he must be able to judge its
authenticity and then report the news so collected with absolute honesty. The narrative
should be attractive so that the readers should enjoy reading it. In such a circumstance,
he must have an eye for the important discussions/ decisions which are to be included
in the report, omitting all other unimportant/irrelevant matter.

To investigate information and report

The investigative journalist digs beneath the surface to help readers understand what’s
going on in a complex world. Reporters must write and research stories in designated
areas of expertise, or “beats.” This is more common at larger news organizations,
where journalists specialize in such specific topics as medicine, politics or sports. Small
city and town newspaper reporters are more likely to cover a wide range of subjects.
Editors assign specific topics, which reporters develop into stories from calling or
personally interviewing sources. Additional fact-checking may be needed if sources
don’t agree on basic details.

Watchdog of a society
A crucial duty of journalists is to serve the public interest by acting as a watchdog on
government, business, education, health, environment, safety and other institutions.
That duty is particularly important where agencies and institutions restrict the flow of
information. In any other case a journalist must always respect the principle of more
transparency of the sources of information, giving the readers or the audience the
maximum possible attention to them.

To be socially responsible
A journalist has to observe the maximum caution in spreading news, names and images
of accused people for minor offenses leading to mild punishments, except in cases of

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

92 Reporting and Writing for Media
particular social interest. A journalist must check all information obtained by his sources,
he must accept responsibility for and control the origins of what he says, and he must
Notes always safeguard the substantial truth of facts. A journalist cannot discriminate against
people on grounds of race, religion, mental and physical conditions or political opinions.

To maintain professional secrecy

In cases in which the sources require secrecy, a journalist has to respect the
professional secrecy and has to be able to inform the reader of such circumstance. A
journalist respects the right of secrecy of every person and he may not publish news
about someone’s private life, unless they are transparent and relevant to the public
interest, however, he must always make known his own identity and profession when
he gathers such news.
The names of victims of sexual violence can be neither published, nor can a
journalist give details that can lead to their identification unless it is required by the
victims themselves for relevant general interest.

To have time management

News is extremely time sensitive. The reader wants his news to be new. Based on the
idea that news is something you didn’t know before which is significant or interesting to
a group of readers, news items are basically timely or immediate. News is what new.
Reporting something that has just happened or is about to happen. An afternoon raid on
a minister house may warrant a live report during evening news. So the reporter must
maintain time management.

Follow press laws, ethics and code of conduct

Press freedom is a word that is commonly used. By this, we mean the right to publish
news without any restriction or control. But this does not mean that anything about
anybody can be published. There are certain rules of conduct or principles of morality
which we have to follow while reporting. The reporter should check and verify that the
news which he writes is correct, accurate, and factual. He should not write anything that
is misleading, inaccurate, defamatory, vulgar or obscene. Media should not intervene
into the privacy of individuals. Also media should not report anything that harms national
interest. If a report published in the paper defames the reputation of a person, that
individual can file a defamation case in the court of law. The editor, printer or publisher
is liable to be punished either individually or jointly.

Conclusion
It is not going to be easy that establish one’s as an efficient reporter. It requires a lot of
hard work and effort. It is achievable, thought. Just don’t give up, and take advantage of
any opportunity that comes one’s way. He must not express his own views in what he
writes-he must know in most sets of circumstances-but everything he writes must
express his mind and its condition. He holds up a mirror and how much clouded or clear
it is, depends on the truth or a twist of the truth which he makes in accordance with his
nature and mental equipment.
A reporter’s mind is like a sponge, paying a good deal of attention to purely
mundane things but learning something every day and cleaning his mind of matters not
up to the mark. He must organise his knowledge and codify it. He must understand the
principles of government in general and in some details. He must know general history,
particularly the history of his area. Though he can pick up these things as he goes along
his duty, it is better for him to supplement his knowledge by a planned study.
A good reporter seldom sticks to a vulnerable position for long. Usually he passes on to
news agencies or gets promotion to look after other aspects of newspaper production
like a news editor or a chief correspondent.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 93
Desired qualities that must be present in a reporter and sub-editor are listed below:
It is customary to describe desired qualities of a reporter and sub-editor separately, but Notes
as both of them deal with the same commodity, news, and their basic job is to
communicate effectively many of these qualities have to be common.

Qualities
1. News Sense: News sense is the basic quality of newsmen. Every reporter has to
have news sense or nose for news to distinguish news from non-news.
He should be able to compare various news values and decide where to begin his
story and should not miss important details.
News sense is essential for a sub-editor also. He is the first reader of a reporter’s
copy and if the reporter has made a mistake he has to correct it. A bad copy may
have the most important element of the story buried in the fourth paragraph. It will
be left to the sub-editor’s nose for news to bring that to the first paragraph.
2. Clarity: A reporter should have clarity of mind and expression. A person who is
confused himself cannot tell a story to others.
Only clarity of mind is not enough unless it is accompanied by clarity of expression.
Without clarity of expression clarity of mind has no meaning.
Sub-editor is the judge of clarity of the copy a good subeditor will never allow a copy
escape him unless the meaning is crystal clear. He has every right to make life
miserable for a reporter who is not clear and does not write in simple language.
3. Objectivity: Reporter and sub-editor should aim at objectivity while dealing with a
story. They should not allow their personal bias or ideas to creep into a story. They
should not take sides but try to cover all the different viewpoints to achieve balance
in the story.
4. Accuracy: A reporter should strive for accuracy. He should check and re-check his
facts till he is satisfied that he has them accurate. In this respect he should not take
any chance as accuracy is directly proportional to the credibility of a reporter and
his newspaper.
The role of a sub-editor is to check for accuracy. It is particularly important when
background is involved. In the case of dates and names the reporter may rely on his
memory but the sub-editor must check them from reference material available in the
newspaper office.
When there is a doubt he should leave it out—this is the golden rule of journalism. It
is better not to say a thing than to say it wrong.
5. Alertness: A reporter should always be alert while dealing with his subjects. Many
major news breaks in the past were possible because of alertness of reporters.
Scoops don’t walk into newspaper offices—alert reporters catch them in air and
pursue.
A sub-editor has to be alert while working on news-desk. Lack of alertness of a sub-
editor can be seen by readers in the morning for he will be leaving or introducing
mistakes for everybody to see.
6. Speed: In today’s world speed matters everywhere. A person who cannot work fast
cannot be a good reporter. While maintaining all other desirable qualities a reporter
should strive to work faster. He should think fast, decide fast and write or type fast
for he has to meet deadlines or may have to go to another assignment.
A sub-editor also has to work with speed. He cannot sit with a copy for long. He has
to do swiftly whatever is required of him for a lot more copy is waiting for him. A
slow sub-editor is a curse at the news desk and is treated with contempt. Some
people are misfits in the profession.
7. Calmness: Reporters and sub-editors often work in trying circumstances. They
have to remain calm and composed in most exciting and tragic circumstances.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

94 Reporting and Writing for Media
In many situations they have to be calm— devoid of hysterical actions or utterances
and apply appropriate mental and physical effort to write or edit the story.
Notes Reporters and sub-editors are human beings. They have emotions but they have to
stifle them in the face of disturbing influences—they have to develop resistance to
excitability. Being in the field, reporters face many such occasions when they have
to control their emotions.
Sub-editors should develop a temperament to work under pressure of deadlines.
They should not lose their cool if they are behind the clock for calm mind can work
faster.
8. Curiosity: Reporters and sub-editors should have an insatiable curiosity. For
reporters it is useful in developing lust for facts that may lead to better stories.
This characteristic will keep on improving a sub-editor for with every passing day a
curious subeditor will have a better background to do his job the next day.
Reporters and sub-editors should read as much as possible to constantly improve
their awareness level.
9. Scepticism: It is another necessary quality which a reporter and a subeditor should
cultivate. They should not take anything for granted. They should have an
unwavering posture of doubt until faced with undeniable proof.
Reporters should be more vigilant for many forces constantly try to use them, and
through them their paper.
Many people try to plant on reporters a wrong story for their own ends. Many a time
reporters’ fall into such traps in good faith. They should have enough scepticism to
avoid such plots.
Sub-editors should also be careful for some clever politicians, public relations men
and product advertisers keep on trying to take them for a ride.
They should not allow anything to go in news columns that should actually go as
advertisement. They should not fail to check even reporters, copy for such foul play.
10. Punctuality: It is a good habit. For reporters it is a must for if they are not punctual
they may miss something for which they may have to depend on secondary
sources. It is always better to be punctual and then wait than reach late and ask
others—a rival may misinform you or hide some important information.
At the desk too punctuality pays. If a sub-editor is punctual he will be treated with
respect by his co-workers.
If he is late he will irritate them and spoil the working atmosphere. Besides he may
have to face the problem of backlog of copy which he will have to clear under the
pressure of deadline.
11. Patience: It is a quality which helps a reporter in a big way for many a time almost
daily he has to test his patience, the voluntary self- control or restraint that helps
one to endure waiting, provocation, injustice, suffering or any of the unpleasant
vicissitudes of time and life.
Most of the time a reporter waits for someone or something and patience gives him
the willingness for wait without becoming disgruntled or anxious.
Many a time he has to tolerate other people’s shortcomings and has to remain
unperturbed by someone else’s slowness or other quirks.
Patience also helps sub-editors as they work long hours in trying conditions. They
have to put up with many annoying situations everyday vis-a-vis reporters, proof
readers or typesetters.
12. Imagination: This basic mental faculty helps reporters in writing better stories that
retain the reader’s interest.
For a sub-editor this creative faculty is very useful as he can add sparkle to
somebody else’s copy and make it lively. Besides, imaginative headlines attract the
reader and improve the quality of a newspaper.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 95
13. Farsightedness: An intelligent envisioning of the future helps newsmen in general.
The quality helps them in identifying processes and people who will be important in
future. Notes
Reporters can watch such processes and cultivate people who may become
important news sources in the future.
It helps reporters and sub-editors in determining the importance of an event. A
reporter with foresight can think ahead and prepare for eventualities.
With a little forethought sub-editors can plan their work so as to avoid tension and it
results in better functioning of the desk.
14. Self-discipline: One can achieve a degree of proficiency in sub-editing or reporting
by systematic effort and self-control. In this sense self- discipline suggests
dedication and firm commitment. It helps in journalism as in any other field.
15. Integrity: It is a virtue in itself and implies undeviating honesty and strict adherence
to a stern code of ethics. This human quality is important for journalists. It is more
important for reporters for they are more exposed to temptation as compared to
sub-editors.
16. Fearlessness and Frankness: These qualities help reporters in asking unpleasant
questions and taking risks to find out truth. Nobody gives a story on a platter.
The reporter will have to probe, question, authenticate and exercise his power of
deduction to get a good story.
17. Tactfulness: A reporter should be tactful. He should have the ability to handle
sensitive people and situations gracefully without causing hurt or angry feelings. He
should be considerate of others and should be careful not to embarrass, upset or
offend them.
A reporter should have flexible and sociable personality and should have a nature
that relishes variety of experiences.
He should have an understanding of human behaviour and emotions. This will help
him in developing contacts that are so essential for news gathering.
18. Initiative: A reporter who works in the field should have an outgoing nature with
initiative and drive. These qualities will help him get acquainted with news sources
and get stories from them. A meek, retiring or shy person is not fit for reporting.
He may be good at his desk. Reporters need a fair amount of assertiveness and
aggressiveness to be successful in their career.-
19. Mobility: A reporter should be mobile. He should enjoy moving around and should
not hesitate travelling distances to get stories when required.
He should go to his news sources as often as possible for such constant contacts
help him get news. A mobile reporter is seldom caught napping when a major story
breaks.
20. Diligence: Reporters and sub-editors should be diligent. Their jobs require
painstaking exertion of intense care and effort, alertness and dedication to the task
and wary watchfulness.
They have to make extremely fine distinctions while writing or editing copy a sub-
editor should insist on perfection and should lose his job for he can make or impair the
newspaper.
These qualities are basically qualities of good and efficient human beings. Good
and efficient human being makes good and efficient sub-editors and reporters.
All other things being equal reporters need additional qualities to deal effectively
with all sorts of people they meet in the field. Sub-editors should have better command
over language as they improve what reporters write.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

96 Reporting and Writing for Media
Qualities and responsibilities of a journalist

Notes The job of a reporter is to gather news and write it for his organization. Sub-editor
makes it fit to print. Reporters go out in the field while sub –editor’s work at the “News
desk” where all the news that comes, is selected, edited, each news story is given a
suitable headline and its place in the newspaper is decided.
Reporters can become senior reporters, correspondents, senior correspondents,
chief reporters, special correspondents and foreign corresponds, sub editors, chief sub
editor, deputy news editor and news editor. But the basic job of a reporter remains news
gathering and filling the reporter or “copy” to the news desk.
To be a good reporter or good sub-editor what one needs is common sense and
command over language. These two requirements in fact summarize the qualities of
newsman should have as other qualities flow from these two and the basic Human
values.
 News sense: It is the basic quality of news man. Every reporter has to have news
sense or nose for news to distinguish news from non-news. He should be able to
compare various news values and decide where to being his story and should not
miss important details.
 Clarity: A reporter should have clarity of mind and expression. A person who is
confused himself cannot tell a story to others. Only clarity of mind is not enough
unless it is accompanied by clarity of expression without clarity of mind has no
meaning.
 Objectivity: Reporter and sub- editor should aim at objectivity while dealing with a
story. They should not allow their personal bias or ideas to creep in to a story. They
should not take side but try covering all the different viewpoints to achieve balance
in the story.
 Accuracy: A reporter should strive for accuracy. He should check and recheck his
fact till he is satisfied that he has them accurate. In this respect he should not take
any chance as accuracy is directly proportional to the credibility of a reporter and
his newspaper.
 Alertness: A reporter should always be a last which dealing with his subjects. Many
major news breaks in the past were possible because of alertness of reporter.
Scoops don’t walk in to newspaper offices- alert reporters catch them in air and
pursue.
 Speed: In today’s world speed matters everywhere. A person who cannot work fast
cannot be a good reporter. While maintaining all other desirable qualities a reporter
should strive to work faster. He should think fast, write fast and write or type fast for
he has to meet deadlines or may have to go to another assignment. Calmness:
Reporter and sub editors often work in trying circumstances. They have to remain
calm and composed in most exciting and tragic circumstances. In many situations
they have to be calm devoid of hysterical actions or utterances and apply
appropriate mental and physical effort to write or edit the story.
 Curiosity: Reporters should have an unsuitable curiosity for reporters it is useful in
developing last for facts that may lead to better stories.
 Skepticism: It is another necessary quality which a reporter and sub editor should
cultivate. They should not take anything for granted. They should have an
unwavering posture of doubt until faced with undesirable posture of doubt until
faced with undesirable proof.
Reporters should be more vigilant for many forces constantly try to use them and
though them their paper. Many people try to plant on reporters fall in to such traps
in good faith. They should have enough skepticism to avoid such plots.
 Punctuality: It is a good habit for reporters it is a must for if they are not punctual
they may miss something for which they made have to depend on secondary

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 97
sources. It is always better to be punctual and then wait than reach late and ask
others – a rival may misinformation you or hide some important information.
 Patience: It is quality which helps a reporter in big a way for many a time almost
Notes
daily. He has to test his patience, the voluntary self control or resistant that helps
one to endure waiting, provocation, injustice, suffering or any of the unpleasant
vicissitudes of time and life. Most of the time a reporter waits for someone or
something and patience gives him the willingness to wait without becoming
dissented or anxious.
 Imagination: This basic mental faculty helps reporters in writing better stories that
retain readers interest creative faculty is very useful. Is he can add sparkle to
somebody else copy and make it lively. Besides, imagination headlines attract the
reader and improve the quality of a news paper.
 Farsightedness: An intelligent envisioning of the future helps news men in general.
The quality helps them identify processes and people who will be important in
future. Reporters can watch such processes and cultivate people who may become
important news sources in the future.
A reporter with foresight can think ahead and prepare for eventualities with a little
for thought sub-editors can plan their work so as to avoid tension and it results in
better functioning of the desk.
 Self Discipline: One can achieve a degree of proficiency in sub editing or reporting
by systematic effort and self control. In this sense self discipline suggests
dedication and firm commitment.
 Integrity: It is a virtue in itself and implies undeviating honesty and strict adherence
to a strong code of ethics. It is more important for a reporter for they are more
exposed to temptations.
 Fearlessness and Frankness: These qualities help reporters in asking unpleasant
questions and taking risks to find out truths. Nobody gives a story on a platter. The
reporter will help to probe, question and exercise his power of dedication to get a
good story.
 Tactfulness: A reporter should be fact full. He should have the ability to handle
sensitive people and situations gracefully without causing heart or angry feelings.
He should considerably of others and should be careful not to embrace upset or
offend them.
 Initiative: A reporter who works in the field should have an outgoing nature with
initiative and drive. These qualities will help him get acquainted with news sources
and get stories from them. A meet retiring or shy person is not fit for reporting. He
may be good at desk. Reporters need a fair amount assertiveness and
aggressiveness to be successful in their career.
 Mobility: A reporter should be mobile. He should enjoy moving around and should
not hesitate traveling distances to get stories when required. He should go to his
news sources as often as possible for such constant contacts help him get news.
 Diligence: Reporter and sub-editors should be diligent. Their jobs require
painstaking exertion of intense care and effort, alertness and dedication to the task
and very watchfulness. They have to make extremely fine distinctions while writing
or editing copy.

2.4 Role and Functions of a Copy Editor

Copy editing (also copy-editing or copyediting, sometimes abbreviated CE) is the
process of reviewing and correcting written material to improve accuracy, readability,
and fitness for its purpose, and to ensure that it is free of error, omission, inconsistency,
and repetition. In the context of publication in print, copy editing is done before
typesetting and again before proofreading, the final step in the editorial cycle.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

98 Reporting and Writing for Media
In the United States and Canada, an editor who does this work is called a copy
editor. An organization's highest-ranking copy editor, or the supervising editor of a
Notes group of copy editors, may be known as the copy chief, copy desk chief, or news editor.
In book publishing in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world that follow British
nomenclature, the term copy editor is used, but in newspaper and magazine publishing,
the term is subeditor (or sub-editor), commonly shortened to sub. The senior subeditor
of a publication is frequently called the chief subeditor. As the prefix sub suggests, copy
editors typically have less authority than regular editors.
In the context of the Internet, online copy refers to the text content of web pages.
Similar to print, online copy editing is the process of revising the raw or draft text of web
pages and reworking it to make it ready for publication.
Copy editing has three levels: light, medium, and heavy. Depending on the budget
and scheduling of the publication, the publisher will let the copy editor know what level
of editing to employ. The type of editing one chooses (light, medium, or heavy), will help
the copy editor prioritize their efforts.
Within copy editing, there is mechanical editing and substantive editing: Mechanical
editing is the process of making a text or manuscript follow editorial or house style. The
role of this particular type of editing is to keep the preferred style of publication
consistent across all content, as well as make sure that generally accepted grammar
rules are followed throughout. It refers to editing in terms of spelling, punctuation,
correct usage of grammatical symbols, along with reviewing special elements like
tables, charts, formatting footnotes, and endnotes. Content editing, also known as
substantive editing, is the editing of material, including its structure and organization. In
this type of editing, internal inconsistencies and discrepancies can be dealt with.
Content editing oftentimes can require heavy editing or rewriting as compared to
mechanical editing.
A copy editor is responsible for an initial round of proofreading to ensure that written
text is concise, consistent and both grammatically and factually correct. Those in this
position also ensure that each sentence is easy to read and that concepts expressed
are in a logical, sequential manner. The position typically involves working at a
magazine, newspaper, website, corporate communications department or advertising
agency. It is a key part of an editorial team comprised of writers and editors that may
also include proofreaders and fact-checkers. The job frequently requires working under
intense deadline pressure without compromising standards.

Follows Style Guidelines and Manuals

Copy editors scrupulously adhere to in-house style guides that include an organization's
preferred usage and the spelling of certain words. For example, those writing marketing
copy for a tea company may be asked to use the word "sip" as opposed to "drink." It's
the copy editor's responsibility to make the change if the writer does not comply. In
addition to the in-house guide, reference sources often include the Associated Press
Style Guide, and the Chicago Manual of Style.

Gives Suggestions
After reviewing copy -- whether it's on a soda can, in a newspaper story or a
commercial script -- the copy editor serves as the arbiter and makes adjustments as
needed. If copy is poorly constructed, he confers with the writer and asks for revisions.
In addition, the job involves writing headlines and reviewing photos to ensure captions
match the image -- most notably that they include the correct spelling of each name.
During staff meetings, copy editors are called to offer advice aimed at improving the
efficiency and accuracy of the overall editorial process.

Meet Deadlines
Making certain that deadlines are met is a daily duty of most copy editors. Production
schedules are set in advance. It is crucial that everyone involved in the process stays

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 99
on schedule to keep the work flow moving as planned. For example, if a copy editor
takes longer than the time allotted, the writer will need more time to make revisions.
Consequently, the production department may not have sufficient time to meet the Notes
deadline for shipping the completed project.

Checks Facts
Few organizations have designated fact-checkers, so it is the copy editor's responsibility
to ensure that all content is factually correct. This means paying particular attention to
small details like significant historical dates, state capitals and the attribution of famous
quotes. There may be an ample amount of reference material in books and online to
verify these facts, but looking up information takes time. A good copy editor simply
knows most of it off the top of his head.
Most people think of a copy editor as someone who primarily looks for typos.
However, in reality copy editors do a lot more than that and are indispensable to any
newspaper, magazine, or other publishing enterprise.
Copy editing involves changes made to a manuscript by the copy editor before it is
sent for printing or publishing. What are the five Cs of copy editing? Before I spell them
out let me tell that each C represents the job and skills required of any good copy editor.
The final edited copy must have the features represented by the Cs. The five Cs are:
 Clear copy
 Correct
 Concise
 Comprehensible
 Consistent
Before any manuscript is sent for proofreading the copy editor has to check for
many defects in it which may include functions like:
 Punctuation checking
 Spelling checks
 Correcting grammatical mistakes
 Remove semantic errors
 Check all terminologies used
 Check that the publishers “in house” style is being maintained
 Incorporate headers / footers etc
 Ensure there will be no legal problems after publishing
 Summarize or shorten text (abridgement)
A good copywriter has to have good fluency of the language and must also be fairly
knowledgeable in a wide range of topics. He must also have an eye for spotting errors
and inconsistencies in manuscripts. It is also necessary that he be able to work under
pressure and finish work within the given deadline. The growing online publications
requires more than just journalistic and language skills. As editor may have to publish
articles directly on the Internet, he should be also be good with computers and must
also have the required pagination and technical knowledge/skills.

Duties of an Editor
The eventual success of your organization's public and media relations efforts depends
mainly on how often your news releases are issued and, more importantly, how often
the news they contain is selected to run. The latter decision is in the hands of a person
whose title is usually editor. Understanding an editor's job will help you do your job
better.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

100 Reporting and Writing for Media
Can you name the editor of your local computer magazine or local newspaper? The
editor is a very important ally in public relations. The editor (whose title might also be
Notes managing editor or editor in chief) has overall responsibility for the publication's content.
Below him or her, depending on the periodical's size, are subject editors who are
assigned to specific beats (often called "departments"). These editors oversee the
content for their departments. Sometimes each editor has additional staff, such as
reporters, freelancer writers, photographers, copy writers, copy editors, etc.
The information contained in news releases is the primary source of information for
most editors. Newsworthy releases are selected and edited or worked into an article.
The selected releases are the lucky ones; most never see the light of day. When you
consider that the editor at a daily publication receives upwards of 500 news releases on
any given day, gauging the statistical possibility of an individual release being picked up
for coverage is easy.

Newspaper Editors
Newspapers don't mean just the regular daily newspapers targeted at the general
public. There are special-interest newspapers for business, computers, information
technology, telecommunications, and other fields. The specialty papers may run weekly
instead of daily, but, like their daily counterparts, they are primarily news-driven rather
than feature-driven (which is more the case with magazines).
Newspaper editors reject many more releases than they use. The larger the paper's
circulation or the more active the area being covered, the more releases the editor has
to sort through.
Most newspapers have a space budget, which is not to be confused with a financial
budget. The space budget consists of the total number of pages printed, divided
between advertising and news articles. Advertisements are the lifeblood of a
newspaper; ads consistently provide the largest portion of income. The ads must be
accommodated first, after which the issue's remaining space is allocated to specific
stories and departments by the key editors.
The selection of news releases to cover is based on the editor's personal and
professional judgment. The main factor in that judgment can be summed up in a single
word: "newsworthiness". Unfortunately, newsworthiness is defined by individual editor's
opinions. Newsworthy stories are generally those that offer the most information with
the most urgency to the most people.
If a news release issued on particular day is not covered in the following day's
paper, this does not mean the news will not appear at all. Releases not considered
newsworthy enough to appear in a weekday edition may be suitable for the weekend
paper, where there is more room and less emphasis on breaking news. Even if a news
item is selected for use, the article may still get pulled at the last minute. Perhaps an
advertiser cancelled a large insert just prior to deadline, necessitating a layout change,
or a big story emerged late in the day. When this happens, more expendable news is
sacrificed.
What happens to releases that aren't selected for immediate coverage? Some are
kept for future use, but more likely they are sent into the editor's trash can.

Magazine Editors
Magazines operate very much like newspapers, with departments, editors, space
budgets, and advertising, but magazines differ in a few important ways.
The potential lifespan of a news release is much longer for a magazine. A monthly
publication might not use your news for several months. Depending on the printing and
preparation schedule, your release could appear as soon as a week or two after you
send the release or as late as six-months later. The nice thing is that whenever your
news appears, the information remains in front of the reader for a full month instead of
just one day.
Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education
Reporting 101
The editorial focus and format of a magazine are usually more specialized than
those of newspapers. "Focus" refers to the subjects a magazine covers; for instance,
Linux Journal focuses on Linux in general while Computer World might focus on Linux Notes
in the enterprise. "Format" refers to the way in which a magazine's news and
information is presented, usually as a particular mix of regular columns, articles,
features (main stories), shorter pieces, and editorials (opinion pieces). Magazine stories
don't have to be as "newsy" as newspaper stories. To a greater degree, a magazine
researches and creates news rather than relying on current events.
General-interest magazines try to appeal to a large segment of the population.
(Examples are MacLean, Readers' Digest, and People.) Special-interest magazines
target a limited, well-defined community of readers who share a particular interest along
with associated activities and concerns. Special-interest magazines are good targets for
the Linux community, especially those focusing on Linux, operating systems, storage,
security, computers, and information technology.
Whether special interest or general interest, the closer your news release relates to
the audience of a publication and the greater the impact on that audience, the more
likely an editor will choose your news to publish. The key factors are editorial relevance
and appeal to the publication's target audience.
In the world of online content, copy editors are many things.
They’re the referees, the quality control, the champions of great writers, the seekers
of incredible topics, and the organizational force that keeps the entire thing running.
In many ways, copy editors make the internet go around, except that you’d never
see them doing it.
This is because copy editors work largely behind the scenes, and they only come
out at choice moments, like when they’re written up in The New Yorker and
congratulated for their lifetime of work, for which they’ve earned the title of “The Comma
Queen.”
This is rare, though, and copy editing is largely a thankless job.
That being said, though, it’s also a critically important one, and good copy editors
are worth their weight in gold.
With that in mind, I want to take today to talk about how to be a good copy editor.
It’s an essential skill, and even people who work in different sectors of online business
could stand to learn a thing or two from these powerhouse professionals.

Why Good Copy Editors Matter

If nobody was out there enforcing comma standards, the world as we know it would fall
to shambles.
Alright, while it may not be as dramatic as all of that, copy editors have an incredibly
important job: they make sure that the copy that gets to major publications, blogs, and
platforms in hundreds of industries is readable, relevant, and informational.
They act as quality control for thousands of pieces of content each year.
Imagine if the New York Times, the Washington Post, or CNN refused to hire copy
editors. High-brow journalism as we know it would change, and it would be exceedingly
difficult to control the quality of content in any publication.
With this in mind, it’s clear that copy editors do an important job every single day.
Now, let’s explore the traits that separate a great copy editor from a so-so one.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

102 Reporting and Writing for Media
How to be a Good Copy Editor: 5 Must-Have Traits

Notes While copy editors work in varying industries and specialties, each great copy editor
shares the following characteristics:
1. Passion for the industry and the content within it
You can’t be a copy editor without a real, authentic passion for the sector within
which you work.
If an editor doesn’t eat, breathe, and sleep copy, excelling at the job will be difficult,
and low-quality content will begin to seep in around the edges.
This is evident in the way Mary Norris, the copy editor for The New Yorker talks
about her position is a recent essay in the magazine itself:
“Then I was allowed to work on the copydesk. It changed the way I read prose—I
was paid to find mistakes, and it was a long time before I could once again read for
pleasure. I spontaneously copy-edited everything I laid eyes on. I had a paperback
edition of Faulkner’s ‘The Hamlet’ that was so riddled with typos that it almost
ruined Flem Snopes for me.”
Good copy editors do what they do almost compulsively, and they do it because
they love the quality of well-written, error-free content.
Without this deep-seated passion, it’s tough to integrate fully into the position.
2. Some type of formal training: While a copy editor doesn’t necessarily need an
English or Journalism degree, they do need some level of formal training in
grammar, spelling, writing, SEO, newspaper methods, reporting, computer science,
graphical programs, and more.
While much of this can be learned on the job, a copy editor’s job would be trial by
fire without at least a passing level of prior knowledge in these areas.
Since a copy editor’s job is to ensure published content fulfills the purpose it’s
meant to achieve, be that driving sales or informing readers, a broad knowledge of
all things writing is essential.
3. Creativity and a healthy willingness to think outside the box: Sometimes a
copy editor is given a piece that’s too long. Sometimes, a 500-word article doesn’t
get to the heart of the topic. Sometimes, a piece needs to be cut, but there’s no
right place to do it.
In these situations, being able to develop creative solutions is critical. While copy
editors are, first, professionals, they’re also artists who must know how to execute
surgical maneuvers on pieces of content every now and again.
Creativity is as important to editors as it is to writers, and the best copy editors out
there will understand how to integrate creativity with professionalism to create
outstanding content that leaves its mark on readers.
4. Ability to see the connections between things: If a piece is related to another
issue that’s recently come up in pop culture or current events, a copy editor must be
able to locate the connection.
If an article might perform better in a separate section of a publication, a copy editor
must be able to bridge the gap mentally and ensure that the content winds up
where it will make the most impact.
In other words, it’s critical for copy editors to have a keen sense of connections. In
addition to allowing the editor to make smart content decisions, this also helps
boost the editor’s efficiency and ensure that each piece of content published falls
into the greater web of things just as it should.
5. Flexibility and a willingness to bend: Copy editors work with dozens of moving
parts on a daily basis.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 103
Between the writers, the publishers, and the design team, there are dozens of
opinions, challenges, and conflicts to be navigated, and any copy editor who will
become successful in the business must be flexible and willing to adapt. Notes
Since each publication, writer, and editor has different expectations, guidelines, and
concerns, copy editors must be fluid enough to navigate the different crags and
outcroppings of the industry gracefully. Without these traits, the job is simply too
stressful, and few people can hack it.
This is yet another reason why great copy editors are so very rare, and so very,
very skilled.

How to Be a Good Copy Editor: Start With Love

At the end of the day, good copy editors love content, and they’re excited about putting
out good material. Without this foundational passion, it’s tough to get anywhere in the
business.
While many things make copy editors critical pieces of the content system, it’s their
love for the craft that truly sets them apart.
By honing, tweaking, finessing, and smoothing content in all industries and
specialties, copy editors play a critical role in delivering informative, exciting, relevant
content to audiences everywhere.

2.5 T.V. Reporting Techniques

Newsgathering
 Begin collecting articles on your subject.
 Talk to friends and associates about the subject.
 Contact any agencies or associations with interest or professional knowledge in the
area.
 Create a list of people you want to interview; cover both sides of the story by
interviewing people on both sides of the issue.
 Collect government statistics and reports on the subject get old press releases or
reports to use as background.

Interviewing do's and don'ts

 Be polite.
 Explain the ground rules of the interview to people unfamiliar with how the media
works - this means that you tell them the information they give you can and will be
published. If they do not want any part of what they say published, they need to tell
you it is "off the record."
 Tape the interview so if anyone comes back at you, you have the proof of what was
said.
 Build a relationship with the person being interviewed.
 Start with easy questions; end with difficult questions.
 Read the body language of the person you're interviewing and if they get defensive,
back away from the question you are asking and return later.
 Don't attack the source.
 Keep control of the interview; don't let the subject ramble or stray from the subject.
 On the other hand, don't let your "opinion" of what the story should be color the
interview. Always remember that the person you are talking with knows more about
the subject than you do.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

104 Reporting and Writing for Media
Organizing the information
 Gather your notes, interviews and research into a file.
Notes
 Review your notes.
 Look for a common theme.
 Search your notes for good quotes or interesting facts.
 Develop a focus.
Write the focus of the article down in two or three sentences.

Writing and Editing

 Remember you are the narrator, the storyteller.
 Don't be afraid to rewrite.
 Be as clear and concise in the writing as possible.
 Avoid run-on sentences.
 Be direct.
 Tell a good story.
 Tell the reader what you think they want to know.
 Always ask yourself what the story is about.
 Read the story out loud; listen carefully.

The main elements of News are:

Elements of news are what determine a story’s “newsworthiness”. There are 10
elements of news; however, a story only needs to have a few of these elements.
 Oddity: Strange incidents are news. News stories with an element of surprise will
create curiosity and will be in news. This is where the ‘man bites dog’ stories come
in along with other surprising, shocking or unusual events.
 Emotion: How do people feel about it? These news stories will be both bad news
and good news. Death, tragedy, is example of bad news. Positive news stories are
far more prevalent than is suggested by the cynical claim that only good news is
bad news.
 Consequence: What is the effect on the reader? News stories about issues,
groups and nations are perceived to be of relevance to the audience.
 Proximity: Where is the story from? What happens in and around your city
interests you more than what happened in a far-flung region. Therefore,
newspapers allocate greater space for local news coverage because of the
proximity factor.
 Drama: Dramatic Events of any kind would be an ideal subject for an interesting
news story.
 Human Interest: People doing interesting things or incidents having an emotional
element. These kinds of stories covers all the feelings that human beings have
including sympathy, happiness, sadness, anger, ambition, love, hate, etc. News
stories concerning entertainment, showbiz, drama, humorous treatment, witty
headlines, entertaining photographs will be of interest to most of the people.
 Prominence: Famous people make news! Virtually every action of famous people
is considered to be newsworthy. Stories concerning the elite, powerful individuals,
organizations or institutions are enough to create a news story. Celebrities are
always a subject for news and their every action is under the observation of the
media.
 Progress: Technological advance and new discoveries will always be the subject
for discussion and a readable news story.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 105
 Conflicts: Man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. machine, man vs. himself.
Conflict has an element of drama that gets attention and hence serves as a criterion
for news selection. Notes
 Timeliness: Its new so will be in news! Timeliness is the essence of news and is
understandably a criterion for news selection. An event that has just happened
makes a good news story, while events happened a few days ago are history.

Functions of News
News contains much that is new. ‘News is anything out of the ordinary.’ ‘News is
anything published in a newspaper which interests a large number of people’. The main
functions of news are:
1. News informs people about anything unusual that take place in the society.
Mysteries, small or big, interest people and so mysteries are news. Events that
affect people’s lives are news, the more people affected the bigger the news.
2. People learn something new every day through news they get from newspaper or
television. They read about things they have heard about and also would like to
read about.
3. News affects people and is capable of stirring widespread awareness. News
touches the deepest emotion of the people and appeals somehow to everyone.
Thus news affects the government as well as the common people.
4. Important messages and decisions of the government are conveyed to the people
through the medium of news. News broadcast carry important statements by
persons in authority to the people.
5. Conflicts between man to man and also between man and environment are carried
out as news. These affect us in one-way or other. Natural phenomena like violence,
calamities and disasters make us aware of the present situations and keep a check
on growing violence in our society.
6. New trends, events and ideas are the focus of soft news and thus grasp the
imagination of people in the society. This further brings about change and progress
for the country.
7. News focus on the economic, political and cultural aspects of a nation and people
throughout the world learn about other nation through news only. News forms an
image of a nation to the outside world.
8. Journalist may predict that something will happen thus forming a mental image of
an event and thus increase the curiosity of the audience making the news more and
more relevant.
9. Reference to persons in news makes them more popular and famous. Elite
personalities crave to remain in news to keep up with their image though negative
publicity too these days is seen as a medium of becoming famous.
10. Stories and pictures with the capacity to entertain or amuse an audience is always
the main function of news. Entertainment through news is done by carrying stories
relating to showbiz, drama, sex, and humorous treatment by use of photographs or
witty headlines.

Extracting Stories from outside copies

News Sources
‘One study after another comes up with essentially the same observation….the story of
journalism, on a day-to-day basis, is the story of the interaction of reporters and
officials.’- Michael Schudson
‘Sources of news are everywhere’. A journalist is surrounded by sources of potential
news stories ore features. A conversation with a friend, a poster on a wall, an
unexpected juxtaposition-all might result in a story if you keep your eyes, ears and mind

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

106 Reporting and Writing for Media
open. Some sources will be routine points of contact for journalists while others may be
one-offs, some will be proactive, approaching journalists because they want news
Notes access for their views or events, while other sources may not even be aware that they
are sources. A journalist should maintain a contact book having list of people
categorized and carrying vital information. Sources of news can be listless, some
sources are:
1. Academic journals: Research by academics, published in journals is a frequent
source of news stories. Here the journalist job is to spot a potential story among
qualifications and to render the story intelligibly to the readers.
2. Armed forces: in peacetime the armed forces can generate stories through
mysterious deaths or cases of bullying that comes to light. During times of conflict
military briefings become events in their own right.
3. Art groups: apart from providing information about forthcoming events, art groups
can generate rows about funding or controversial subject matter.
4. Campaigns: Campaigners who want to influence public opinion on subjects
ranging from animal rights to environment are likely to come up with opinions or
events that might generate news stories.
5. Commerce & Trade: Business organizations can be useful source of news stories
or comments about anything from interest rates, shares to shopping. Also,
consumer stories are a valuable source of information for evaluating the image of
an organization.
6. Council press offices: Local authorities employ teams of press officers. They react
to journalists’ queries, coming up with information, quotes and contacts while acting
as buffer between decision makers and journalists. Council press officers with an
eye for a good story should be able to get daily page leads in local evening
newspaper because they know what turns on the common people.
7. Court hearings: Court reporters dip in and out of several courtrooms looking for
cases that fit the news values. Hence, the importance of good contacts with court
staff, police, solicitors and others should be realized. Some reporters will also go
after background material like quotes from victims and their relatives.
8. Entertainment industry: It is an increasingly important source for today’s media
and celebrities gain immensely because of popularity through media coverage.
Films, serials and various other programmes gain only if media has been
highlighting them.
9. Government News Network: The government news network produces vast
numbers of news release on behalf of the government departments and agencies
on a regional and national basis. It also handles ministerial and royal visits.
10. Health authorities & hospitals: Outbreak of serious disease, funding crisis,
hospital closures and health promotion are all examples of news stories that arise
from health authorities. Hospitals are source of good news stories carrying news
about cures, new treatments and general triumph-over tragedy.
11. Libraries: Though it is hard to believe but the truth is that not everything is
available on the Internet. Libraries retain a useful role in providing access to
reference books, company reports, local history achieves, indexes of local societies,
community notice boards and so on.
12. News Agencies: They are the foot soldiers of journalism at a national and
international level, allowing media organizations to cover stories in areas where
they have few or no staff. Agencies keep a check on offices and local bodies and
look out for news stories here. Newspapers, radio, television, big news media
houses, depend largely on the news agencies for general news coverage. Some
famous news agencies are AP Associated press of America print, Reuters UK, PTI
Press Trust of India, etc.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 107
13. News Releases: News or press releases are point of reference for the journalists
while covering an event. Badly written press releases can be waste of time both for
the journalist as well as for the organization. Notes
14. Notice boards: Notices in shops, offices, libraries, colleges and elsewhere may
also become a source of news.
15. Other media: Newspaper monitors other papers plus TV, radio, news sites on the
web. And, in turn, each medium monitors other media.
16. People: Potential stories can be suggested by people you meet while at work, rest
and play. This can range from somebody mentioning that they have just seen a
police car parked in their street to other substantial information provided by the
common people.
17. Political parties: Contacts within parties can be a fruitful source of stories about
rows and splits, while party spokespeople will be keener to let you know about the
selection of candidates or launch of policy initiatives.
18. PR companies: This industry provides the journalists and us a peek into the media
world every day. So it is a major source for the journalists.
19. Press conferences: Press conferences are likely to be held to announce the
results of official inquiries or to unveil new appointments. Fewer press conferences
take place these days, as most journalists are too busy to go and collect information
that could be faxed or emailed.
20. Universities: Universities are a source of a huge range of stories, whether it is
ground breaking research, an unusual degree scheme or an ethical argument. They
are also where you will find experts in everything from aeronautics to the zodiac.

2.6 Summary
Business reporting or enterprise reporting is "the public reporting of operating and
financial data by a business enterprise," or "the regular provision of information to
decision-makers within an organization to support them in their work."
Reporting is a fundamental part of the larger movement towards improved business
intelligence and knowledge management. Often implementation involves extract,
transform, and load (ETL) procedures in coordination with a data warehouse and then
using one or more reporting tools. While reports can be distributed in print form or via
email, they are typically accessed via a corporate intranet.
With the dramatic expansion of information technology, and the desire for increased
competitiveness in corporations, there has been an increase in the use of computing
power to produce unified reports which join different views of the enterprise in one
place. This reporting process involves querying data sources with different logical
models to produce a human readable report—for example, a computer user has to
query the Human Resources databases and the Capital Improvements databases to
show how efficiently space is being used across an entire corporation.
Reporting can be used in another mean for verification and cross-checks. Audit
teams like FINRA and SEC adhere to reports for all business firms. Standard Business
Reporting is a group of international programs instigated by a number of governments
with the end of make business the centre when it comes to managing business-to-
government reporting obligations.

2.7 Check Your Progress

Multiple Choice Questions
1. ……………….. is a specific area in a newspaper office or a radio or TV station
where news is received, treated, processed and prepared for printing or
broadcasting.
(a) Editing room
Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education
108 Reporting and Writing for Media
(b) Newsroom
(c) Graphic room
Notes
(d) None of the above
2. Graham Bell was a citizen of ………………..
(a) America
(b) Canada
(c) China
(d) None of the above
3. An arranged gathering of media representatives to announce and explain a
significant and newsworthy subject or event is known as ………………..
(a) Discussion
(b) News Conference
(c) Interview
(d) Conversation
4. Breaking news requires ………………..
(a) Factual reporting
(b) Interpretative reporting
(c) Investigative reporting
(d) None of above
5. ……………….. is a device which converts electromagnetic waves into sound
waves.
(a) Computer
(b) Radio
(c) Television
(d) Telegraph
6. ……………….. is the peak point of the conflict.
(a) Best movement
(b) Climax
(c) High light
(d) Best part
7. In order to conduct a good interview, which one of the following points an
interviewer must keep in his mind?
(a) Specific and narrow topic
(b) Good, authentic and thorough research
(c) Clear objectives
(d) All of the above
8. ……………….. is the person who reads the news to the listeners on radio and
conducts interviews if needed.
(a) Commentator
(b) Anchor
(c) Newscaster
(d) None of the above
9. ……………….. is not necessary to be followed but pronunciation is something that
must not be compromised.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

Reporting 109
(a) Accent
(b) Spelling
Notes
(c) Voice
(d) None of the above
10. When notes producing concord sound one after the other, the effect is called
(a) Melody
(b) Tune
(c) Jingle
(d) Ring

2.8 Questions and Exercises

1. Define reporting.
2. Explain the Structure of News Report.
3. Briefly explain the Inverted Pyramid
4. Write any five Qualities of a reporter.
5. Explain the responsibility of a reporter
6. What are the different Role of a copy editor
7. Explain the various functions of a copy editor
8. What do you mean by T.V. reporting techniques

2.9 Key Terms

 ABC: Audit Bureau of Circulation, which has the task of certifying, audited statistics
on the circulation of a publication. This is highly respected watchdog body.
 Add: additions of any kind to news story. If copy sent down to the printing has to be
supplemented by additional material, this is done by marking the news copy with
the connotation ‘add to’
 AP: Associated press
 Assignment: A particular job given to reporters by editors. Sometimes reporters
suggest their own assignments, but they must get an editor's approval before
beginning work.
 Advertisement: A public notice or announcement usually paid for, about things for
sale.

Check Your Progress: Answers

1. (a) Editing room
2. (b) Canada
3. (c) Interview
4. (c) Investigative reporting
5. (d) Telegraph
6. (a) Best movement
7. (c) Clear objectives
8. (d) None of the above
9. (c) Voice
10. (c) Jingle

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

110 Reporting and Writing for Media

2.10 Further Readings

Notes  Writing and Reporting for the Media, John R. Bender, Lucinda Davenport, Michael
W. Drager - 2016.
 News Reporting and Writing, Missouri Group - 2013.
 Convergence Journalism: Writing and Reporting across the News Media, Janet
Kolodzy – 2006.
 The Mas Media: Reporting Writing Editing, William L. Rivers – 1975.
 Sports Journalism: An Introduction to Reporting and Writing, Kathryn T. Stofer,
James Schaffer, Brian A. Rosenthal – 2009.

Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education