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TOPIC 1

1.0 CHANGING CONCEPTS OF NEWS

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Peter M. Zollman, founding principal of Advanced Interactive Media Group in Florida,

As the 21st century began, convergence took a different form. Media organizations
weren’t just merging the different technologies in the same story; they were merging with
other companies that could provide the audio and video for their online sites. Consider
convergence more like a marriage or partnership where each type of media retains a
distinct identity, but instead of competing with each other, the different media cooperate
and contribute to the total product.

While most editors in convergent newsrooms praise the partnerships, the marriages are
not without problems. Janet Weaver, executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in
Florida, which is a partner with cable television SNN6 (Six News Now), said staff
turnover was fairly high when the newspaper began its partnership with TV. The totally
digital television operation is in a converted conference room off the side of the
newsroom.

“There was enthusiasm among some people and resistance among others,” Weaver said.
One print reporter who was initially reluctant to go on TV later relented. “I don’t think
he felt his soul was eternally damned,” she said.

Even as the media continue to converge, it’s likely that all types of media will continue to
survive in their distinct forms for many years.

1.1.1 CHANGING DELIVERY OF NEWS

Constant changes in technology have spawned an alphabet soup of new terms related to
forms of delivering news. Almost all news Websites offer to deliver information via e-
mail or to an iPod, a portable media player. Here are some terms that describe the
changing forms of new delivery:

Blogs: The term “blog” is short for “weblog” because blogs are posted on the Web,
particularly in free social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace. A blog can be
a personal journal or brief commentary about any topic and can include audio or video.
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Podcast: This is digital media information in audio or video form distributed over the
Internet for use on a portable media player such as an iPod, an instrument developed by
Apple Inc., or an MP3 player. Pod is an abbreviation for “portable on demand”. You
don’t need an iPod to hear or view a podcast; you can receive it on your computer with
the use of software.

RSS: These letters stand for “Really Simple Syndication”, which is probably simpler to
use than to define. If you want to receive certain blogs or podcasts regularly, you can
subscribe to a site using a Web feed reader called an “aggregator” that will compile them
and deliver them to you. You insert a link to the site into the aggregator software (see
next item). Search engines such as Google or Yahoo! offer to deliver automatic updates
of news via RSS feeds. These feeds, delivered to your e-mail, contain headlines,
summaries and links to the articles.

Aggregator: This is a software that compiles or collects certain Web sites that you want
delivered to you regularly and pushes them to you via e-mail or automatically downloads
them to you into a portable media player. The aggregator is also known as a feed reader
because it “reads” the sites it will “feed” to you. It checks them for new material and
downloads updates to your computer or portable media device.

1.1.2 ECONOMIC CHANGES IN MEDIA

The changing face of the media isn’t just in the content and delivery of news; it is in the
economics. Journalists who got into the business years ago with the idealistic notion that
the primary concern of media companies was content became disillusioned by the
emphasis on economics; and several editors at major newspapers like the Los Angeles
Times quit in protest. The times were changing and the news business was just that – a
business that was supposed to make a profit.

1.1.3 CONVERGENT MEDIA WRITING

The study, “The Future of News”, conducted by Bob Papper, a professor at Hofstra
University, says that while people expressed support for traditional media in the study,
“they also made clear they want a whole range of new media type options. In particular,
they want news and information on demand and many want to interact with that news…
People want their news to be right up-to-the-minute. More than 90% of those surveyed
say it is very or somewhat important, and the figure is even higher for young adults.”

The research also suggests that news departments that survive into the future will have to
operate on many technological platform at the same time, Papper wrote.

That concept is precisely why the Garnett Company Inc. the largest company in the U.S.,
revamped its news strategy in 2006 and renamed its newsrooms, “information centers”.
In a memo to Garnett employees, Craig Dubow, the company’s chief executive officer,
explained the concept: “The Information Center, frankly, is the newsroom of the future.”
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1.1.4 HARD NEWS AND FEATURES

News falls into two basic categories: hard news and soft news.

Hard News – includes stories of a timely nature about events or conflicts that have just
happened or are about to happen, such as crimes, fires, meetings, demonstrations,
speeches and court cases. The hard approach is basically an account of what happened,
why it happened, and how readers will be affected. These stories have immediacy.

Soft News – news that entertains or informs, with an emphasis on human interest and
novelty and less immediacy than hard news. For example, a profile or a diet story. It
can also focus on people, places or issues that affect readers’ lives. These types of
stories are called “feature stories”.

1.1.5 QUALITIES OF NEWS STORIES

Definitions of news are changing. The following are some traditional qualities of both
hard and soft news stories:

i. Timeliness

An event that happened the day or the day before publication or an event that is due to
happen in the immediate future is considered timely. This story is timely because it is
published the day after the incident.

ii. Proximity

An event may be of interest to local readers because it happened in or close to the

iii. Unusual Nature

Out-of-the-ordinary events, a bizarre or rare occurrence, or people engaged in unusual

iv. Celebrities

People who are well-known for their accomplishments – primarily entertainers, athletes
or people who have gained fame for achievements, good or bad – attract a lot of attention.

v. Human Interest

People like stories about people who have special problems, achievements or
experiences. These stories can be profiles or unusual stories about people that make
readers care about their plight.
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vi. Conflict

Stories involving conflicts people have with government or other people are often
newsworthy, especially when the conflict reflects local problems.

vii. Impact

Reaction stories to news events or news angles that effect readers have impact, especially
when major national news stories or tragedies occur in any community.

viii. Helpfulness

Consumer, health and other how-to stories help readers cope with their lives.

ix. Entertainment

Stories that amuse readers, make them feel good or help them to enjoy their leisure time
have entertainment value. In a broad sense, many of the news features in sports and
lifestyle sections can be classified as entertainment.

x. Issues or Problems In The Community

These stories usually include community activities etc.

xi. Trends

Stories may indicate patterns or shifts in issues that influence readers’ lives, such as
increased in crime, social issues and other forces in society.

1.1.6. CURIOSITY AND OBSERVATION

a. CURIOSITY

A good reporter also possesses curiosity. To show, you need to observe. To show and
tell, you need to be curious. You need to ask questions the reader will want answered in
the story.

The Basics

WHO : Get the full names of people involved, complete with middle initials and
always check the spelling.

WHAT: Get an account of what happened. In some stories, especially police

have to write the story chronologically, but you need to understand

WHEN: Note the day and time of the event.

WHERE: Get the location. Describe the scene.

WHY: Understand what caused the event. What was the conflict and the
resolution, if any ?

HOW: Seek more information about what happened. How did it occur?
In what order did events unfold?

SO WHAT: What impact did this even have on the participants? What impact
could it have on readers?

b. OBSERVATION

Nothing prepares the reader to see, think and care about a story as well as details. They
help a writer show and tell. Good writers must be a good reporter first. And good
reporters show and tell by observing and gathering details with all their senses: sight,
sound, smell, and less often, taste and touch.

Fact vs. Opinion

You need to use your senses to gather the information but you should not express your
opinions about what you saw. In news stories, all opinions, judgments and accusations
must be attributed to a source. Reporters should keep their views out of the story.
Observations are factual – evidence of conditions that anyone on the scene could have
observed. The writers let the readers form their own opinions.

1.2 WAYS TO FIND STORY IDEAS

i. Brainstorm

Discuss ideas for stories (interests) with other reporters, editors and with people in the
community.

ii. Check Databases

Check clip files (newspaper cuttings) or computer databases of other stories.

iii. Talk To People

Ask your friends. Eavesdrop to find out what people are talking about.

iv. Check Directories

List of personnel or departments or even the Yellow Pages.

v. Read Local Newspapers

Sometimes a story can come out of a story that have been published.

vi. Read Classified Advertisements

Look for unusual items.

vii. Localize National News

Get a local angle from a national or even international story.

viii. Track Programs and Events

A campus program or a calendar program.

ix. Rewrite Press Releases

Press releases often contain ideas for features.

x. Be Curious and Concerned

These qualities will lead you to good stories.

1.3 THE INTERNET

The Internet has exerted a profound influence on the way reporters and editors in all
media are gathering story ideas. Discussion groups on the Internet are another venue for
gathering story ideas. Search engines can generate ideas, angles and background for
stories. The Internet also provides access to thousands of online news sites. By surfing
through other news sites, you can gain story ideas about issues that you can tailor to your
community.

1.4 IDEA BUDGETS

Some story ideas are assigned by editors but most editors expect reporters to provide their
own story ideas, especially if the reporter covers a beat. The primary way to get story
ideas, especially if you are assigned to a beat, is to contact your sources regularly and ask
them what is going on in their workplace. Locally, reporters check the assignment book
before they leave the office for the day.