JOURNALISM

Journalism: Definition and meaning

Journalism is that part of social activity, which is concerned, with the dissemination of news and
views about the society. Modern journalism feeds five departments of mass communication. (1)
Newspaper and periodicals, (2) Radio, (3) Television, (4) Films and (5) Advertising.
Journalism is the systematic and reliable dissemination of public information, public opinion and
public entertainment by modern mass media of communication.
In modern societies, journalism has become the media of mass education providing
supplementary education to students at all stages and to the general masses - educated and
uneducated.
 
All activities concerned with the communication of mass media is not journalism but the part of
that activity involving writing, preparation and production of the communication messages is
journalism.  Thus, essentially journalists are writers, authors, reporters, correspondents, editors,
sub editors, interviewers, storywriters, scriptwriters, scenario editors and allied specialists.
Principles of modern journalism

The main function of journalism is to bring to light to the people what its members feel and think
journalist are therefore supposed to possess a good deal of intelligence, knowledge and
experience as well as natural and trained powers of observation and reasoning.  A journalist has
the same obligations as a teacher or interpreter as an educationist has. A journalist who misuses
his power for any selfish or unworthy purpose is to a high trust. While the freedom of the press
needs to be guarded as a vital right of humankind, it has to suffer certain explicit restrictions to
subserve social needs. Freedom of the press does not imply promotion of any private interest of
the journalist contrary to the general welfare. That is the way the so-called news communications
from sundry sources are not published by sensible journalists without substantiating their value
as news both in form and substance.
In addition, partisanship in editorial comments, which is knowingly based on a lie, does violence
to the best spirit of journalism.
 
Rules to be followed by a journalist
1. Study the field and have an estimate of what type of articles is published in newspapers,
magazines, books etc.
2. Look ideas
3. Develop the idea
4. Keep an unbiased mind
 5. Write clearly and meaningfully
6. Remember the people to whom the articles are written
7. Write with a purpose
8. Write on timely subjects
9. Keep in touch with editors
10. Watch out for important events/occasions
11. Establish credibility, politeness and do not assume familiarity
12. Understand the communication process and the elements of communication.
Agricultural journalism

Agricultural journalism is a specialized branch of journalism which deals with the techniques of
receiving, writing, editing and reporting from information through the media like newspapers,
periodicals, radio, TV, advertising etc. and the management processes connected with such
production.

It is the timely reporting and editing with words and photography of agricultural news and
information for newspaper, magazine, radio and television.

Importance
The mass media are capable of reaching vast widespread audiences, thanks to fast moving
newspapers/radio broadcasts, TV telecast and the celluloid films. A single broadcasting network
today can reach millions of people at the same time. The world stands of the threshold of new
communication systems which enable large number of citizens to regularly and effectively
interact with each other. To make full use of the interactive information systems made possible
by the computer technology, citizens can remain so well informed that they will be able to
perform their duty adequately and efficiently and accelerate the process of development in
different social fields.
        Modern communication systems reflect the philosophy and achievements of society in all
spheres by fast flow and pave the way for the homogeneity of culture-not only with in its
geographical unit but also beyond.
        Journalism is the publication of news and views on various aspects of human activities in
newspapers and periodicals. Ina broader sense, the functions of journalism are to convey national
policies to the public and to keep the governments at local state and central levels, informed of
public needs. It also brings to the notice of the government public reaction to government
policies and decisions. In addition, it keeps the public and the government informed of events
and happenings at home and abroad.
       
On one hand, it performs the utilitarian purpose of information and on the other, it provides
entertainment to its readers by publishing short stories, poems, sports, cinema, features, etc. A
clever journalism by his penmanship creates interest in day-to-day political happenings. He
presents the drop events and incidents in an artistic way, which provides the reader information

       In modern times, the horizon of journalism has widened and it has transcended the limits of
mere reporting of political as well as entertainment. And economic news. As it is a vehicle of
mass-communications, it is performing the function of social intercourse between the people
having identical interests. Hence, we find literary, political, economic and scientific magazines
as also household or industrial magazines, which cater to the interests of their respective readers.

Scope
The farmers are information hungry and present public extension system is not able to meet the
demand of the farmers for information. The farmer and extension worker ratio is widening. On
the other side, communication tools development is enormous. Private extension is also coming
into picture. Today, journalism in India has got lot of scope with media barons opening new
channels or newspapers or publishing houses on a regular basis. The competition is so rife that
each channel or newspaper tires to produce something exclusive, which in turn has given the
audience a great deal of variety.
Sources of News
1. Result demonstrations
2. Research Stations
3. Research publications – Annual reports, highlights
4. Kisan melas
5. Farmers’ fields
6. Agricultural Universities / State Departments
7. Other extension activities like field days/training programmes, rythu sadassus etc
8. Plan estimates related to agriculture and allied activities
9. Agriculture finance institutions
10. Agriculture input agencies
11. Agriculture Market committees
12. Electricity and irrigation sectors
13. Farmers committees and associations
14. NGOs etc.

Types of News
 Before and after event stories
 Experience and success stories
  New development – such as pest outbreaks, scientific discoveries, weather and crop
conditions, progress made on plans
 Predictions – such as long range crop and livestock report economic outlook information,
long range weather forecasts
 Subject matter - when tied to an event, situation, development or problem
Purposes of Journalism
 They may inform, disseminate news and miscellaneous non-news items.
 They may influence, giving the public either a social or commercial message.
 They may be entertaining, presenting features, fiction, humour, comics and similar
methods.
Functions of Journalism

1. News function

The primary function of press is to inform. Examining the glut of public occurrences, ideas and
situation, newspapermen must determine which will interest the public. Apart from factual
presentation of news, for the complex situation the interpretation and explanation are also
required.

2. The opinion function

Modern man frequently finds himself in the midst of confusion which product to purchase? What
decision to take? Whom to vote? He requires a medium of communication, which will guide him
to understand the positive and negative points of the situations because of logical arguments. 
Thus, the modern press has to be both a daily teacher and a daily tribute. Therefore, the editorial
is the only means of building public opinion.

3. The Entertainment function

Entertaining the public is the function and a business too. Since it is too big a job for the local
staff, newspaper relies upon syndicated materials. Entertainment is where you find it. It pops up
in human-interest stories and news features. Public interest in various features, comics in
particular sometimes determine the choice of a newspaper.

Principles of Farm Journalism

Our purpose in writing is to communicate information. Therefore, our first consideration is our
reader audience. If you were writing for a scientific paper, you would use a vocabulary and style
different from what you would use when writing for the general public. How clearly you
communicate information to average readers depends on how well you select, sift and sort your
facts
1. Select Facts
a. Suitable subject matter. Does it meet a need? Is it timely? Is it of current interest? Does it 
b. Readers: Who are the people you want to reach? What are their problem, interests
and educational levels, do they have the environment and capacity to make use of the
information?
c. Purpose of Publication: What do you want it to teach and accomplish? Do you want to
stimulate interest in a programme or do you want to influence the people to do something?

(2) Sift Facts

1. Sift essential facts necessary to give information clearly.
2. Screen out difficult concepts, which are beyond reader's experience or understanding
(e.g.) pH value, calorific value.
3. Give layman an application of subject rather than a detailed explanation.
4. Express highlights.
5. Do not try to impress the lay reader with all you know.
6. Do not document everything.
(3) Sort Facts
1. Arrange facts in logical order
2. Set out important points in 1-2-3 order(step by step)
3. Guide reader with attractive subheads and suitable illustrations and pictures.
(4) ABC's of Journalism

Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity which are fundamentals of good writing.

(5) Adopt the following Tips for Readability

1. Short sentences, clear in meaning, simple in construction with few prepositional phrases
and dependent clauses.
2. Simple words which are familiar and concrete words.
3. Personal or human - interest words.

Photo-Journalism
It is a process of creating a mental picture through the combined use of visual and verbal
medium that could come about on the printed page.

Elements of photo-journalism
1. Possesses a visual impact
2. Defines life in the picture form
3. It represents reality.