Reaction

Not exactly the most entertaining, that is to be expected with non-fiction.  Very informative, helped open my eyes a bit to see what the business is all about.  Thanks for the suggestion Ms. Whitney!

Chapter Seven

This last chapter touches on what is the projected future.  Many key points, majority of print publications will no longer print hard copies, all other media may be changing too, people will want news on demand, news will become more focused and more personalized (facebook browser---interesting concept), multitasking will be the norm, people still want trusted websites, people will still make news.  What does this mean for journalists?  The world is changing and you best be changing with it.

Chapter Six

Chapter six is about the laws and ethics of journalism.  There are a few essential ethics, those being no plagiarism, no fabrication, no manipulation, respect privacy, have involvement with your sources.  There are also a few areas of law that journalists should understand.  Prior restraint, censorship, shield laws, and trespassing.

Chapter Five

This chapter is all about creating good reporting through broadcasting or internet.  Going from print to broadcasting calls for a few new dimensions that must be considered.  In essence, pictures tell the story on television and sounds tell the story on radio.  Your main goal in writing for broadcasting is to let the pictures and sounds do the work.  No flowery writing.  Don't use whole sentences when one word will work.  Make sure to be clever with puns and play on words.  There are only a few internet only news sites but that will be the next medium of news.  (that's my plan, to make my own internet news site to apply to teens.  2 birds with one stone, make a great site and teens are ACTUALLY informed about the news).

Chapter Four

This chapter is about the words.  Creating good reports to put on print.  This can be one of the hardest steps because you are trying to take raw information and turn it into a great story.  There are five standards that must always be met.  Ask yourself,  was I accurate, was it relevant, was I fair, have I been logical, and did I use the right language.  The rest of the chapter is all about different approaches to writing "hard news".  Brokaw has a good quote, "It's all about storytelling, you know.  That's what journalism is all about."

Chapter Three

This chapter is all about "the art of the interview".  Good description of interviewing, calling it the "lifeblood of journalism."  every story is as good as the interview.  Mike Wallace describes interviews as negotiations, both  parties want something.  Basically an interview can go either way, it all depends on how you ask the questions. Sometimes it doesn't and the interview turns sour but you have to go with it.  All part of the job.

Chapter Two

This chapter is more about finding a story and being able to research on the topic.  They talk about deciding what's newsworthy.  Not something that just happens, it has to be something significant.  Scott Pelley talks about his five-level filter, that is one of his tools that he uses to help him decide what actually is or isn't newsworthy.  Editors and Reporters consider six factors; proximity, impact, timeliness, conflict, prominence, buzz.  A good quote by Bob Woodward (Gotta love all the quotes!!!), " The central dilemma in journalism is that you don't know what you don't know."