chapter 2

lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. It’s a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers” (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters). But it’s a history full of roes, too: men and men risking their lives tell stories of war and agedy, risking prisonment to defend ee speech. And as you n see here, reports have come beloved characters p culture, too, turning up movies, comics and TV ows as if guided by an cult hand.

Every culture seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip. In ancient times, news was written on clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters compiled by correspondents and handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages. Them came ink on paper. Voices on airwaves. Newsreels, Web sites, And 24-hour cable news networks. Thus when scholars analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progress—for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses. Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one that’s

constantly evolving, reflecting and shaping its culture. Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, an endless power struggle between Authority (trying to control information) and the People (trying to learn the truth). Which brings to mind the words of A.J. Liefling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to htose who own one.” In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600 years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to hypertext: the media, the message and the politics. Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. It was a century of change, and newspapers changed

dramatically. The typi newspaper of 1800 wa undisciplined mishma legislative proceedinglong-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jourhad become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were becmore entertaining and essential than ever, wmost of the features w expect today: Snappy headlines, Ads, Comic Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” sty writing that made stori tighter and newsier. Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly. Why? Well yourself: Which did yo

Inside ReportingTim Harrower

Inside ReportingTim Harrower

How newsrooms workHow newsrooms work

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How newsrooms workHow newsrooms work

What is news? What readers want How the news comes together Who’s who in the newsroom What it’s called Tools, talent & temperament

What is news? What readers want How the news comes together Who’s who in the newsroom What it’s called Tools, talent & temperament

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What is news?What is news?

News judgment –ability to determine which stories are most interesting and important to readersEditors decide where stories run and what stories do not run

News judgment –ability to determine which stories are most interesting and important to readersEditors decide where stories run and what stories do not run

Editors, reporters and readers ask, “What is news?”

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A tragedy involving a police officer always leads…Oceana is

responsible for 12,000 local jobs

Dick Cheney’s chief of staff indicted. Wow…

Promos to other stories

When the president visits your city it’s a big deal. But…

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Major Criteria for Determining News ValueMajor Criteria for

Determining News ValueRelevanceUsefulnessInterest

RelevanceUsefulnessInterest

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The Metropolitan Daily Lots of pages to fill with range of topics

Local to global

The Metropolitan Daily Lots of pages to fill with range of topics

Local to global

News depends on the newspaper

Storm warning Print itCounty fair Print itTuition hike Print itVolleyball bill Kill it

Flu shots Print it

Maybe

Maybe

Hold it

Hold it

Mexico bus crash

Girl Scout cookiesLottery winner

Eminem sex change

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The Community WeeklyLimited spaceTight regional focus

The Community WeeklyLimited spaceTight regional focus


Storm warning Kill it

County fair Print itTuition hike Kill it

Volleyball bill Kill it

Flu shots Print it

Kill it

Print itKill it

Kill it

Mexico bus crash


Eminem sex change

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The Communicator (SFCC’s bi-weekly student paper)Space very tight (8-12 pages, including ads)Stories focus on campus events and culture

The Communicator (SFCC’s bi-weekly student paper)Space very tight (8-12 pages, including ads)Stories focus on campus events and culture


Storm warning Kill it

County fair Kill it

Tuition hike Print itVolleyball bill Kill it

Flu shots Maybe

Kill it

Kill it

Print itKill it

Mexico bus crash


Eminem sex change

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ImpactImmediacyProximityProminenceNoveltyConflictEmotions

ImpactImmediacyProximityProminenceNoveltyConflictEmotions

What makes a story interesting?

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What readers wantWhat readers want

Some journalists dismiss “pandering” to readers.

Smart journalists adjustTo tastes.To reading habits.To news appetites.

Some journalists dismiss “pandering” to readers.

Smart journalists adjustTo tastes.To reading habits.To news appetites.

You might write terrific stories, but they’re worthless if nobody reads them

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We ask them.We watch them.

Focus groupsPhone, mail and Web surveys

Monitoring devices

We ask them.We watch them.

Focus groupsPhone, mail and Web surveys

Monitoring devices

So how do we know what readers read?

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Readers are in a hurry.

Readers have short attention spans.

Readers want stories that connect.

Readers are in a hurry.

Readers have short attention spans.

Readers want stories that connect.

Things every reporter needs to remember about readers

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• Readers want stories told in a compelling way.• There’s more than just one type of reader.

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Spend 90% of time chasing a story, and 10% writing it.

Not everything a reporter hears makes it into the finished story.

Spend 90% of time chasing a story, and 10% writing it.

Not everything a reporter hears makes it into the finished story.

How a story gets written

• Not everything is as it seems.

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Major divisionsEditorial DepartmentAdvertising departmentProduction departmentCirculation department

How the news comes together

How the news comes together

Reporters and editors

Copy editors and presentation

Business staffPhoto and graphics

Reporters and editors

Copy editors and presentation

Business staffPhoto and graphics

Inside a typical newsroom

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Who’s who in the newsroom


At most papers, writers are either:General assignment reporters – cover wide range of stories.

Beat reporters – covera specific topic.

At most papers, writers are either:General assignment reporters – cover wide range of stories.

Beat reporters – covera specific topic.

Clear lines of authority avoid chaos

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Publisher• Ultimate boss; presides over all departments to ensure profitability.

Production Manager• Oversees staff and equipment.

Publisher• Ultimate boss; presides over all departments to ensure profitability.

Production Manager• Oversees staff and equipment.

The organization Circulation Manager

Supervises distribution of newspaper.

Advertising Manager

Coordinates sales and production of classified and display ads.

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EditorRuns the newsroom; has final say in story selection and news philosophy.

Managing EditorRuns day-to-day operation; resolves staffing issues.

EditorRuns the newsroom; has final say in story selection and news philosophy.

Managing EditorRuns day-to-day operation; resolves staffing issues.

The organization

Photo Editor• Coordinates photo assignments; chooses images.• Manages photographers and graphic artists.

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Online EditorWorks with other editors and reporters to develop material for Web site.

Manages team of reporters and editors.

Online EditorWorks with other editors and reporters to develop material for Web site.

Manages team of reporters and editors.

The organization

Copy Desk ChiefOversees editing and (many times) layout.Manages copy editors.

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Features EditorAssigns and edits stories for features section.

Manages feature writers and reviewers.

Features EditorAssigns and edits stories for features section.

Manages feature writers and reviewers.

The organization

Sports Editor• Assigns and edits all stories running in the sports section.• Manages sports reporters.

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City EditorAssigns and edits most local “hard news” stories.

Manages news reporters.

City EditorAssigns and edits most local “hard news” stories.

Manages news reporters.

The organization

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What it’s calledWhat it’s called

Daily – printed every day.

Weekly – printed once a week.

Newsletter – printed once a month.

Daily – printed every day.

Weekly – printed once a week.

Newsletter – printed once a month.

Talk the talk

Mainstream newspaper (The New York Times, The Spokesman-Review)Alternative press (The Village Voice, The Inlander)Specialty publication (Fur & Feather Magazine)Trade publication (American Candy Industry Monthly)

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Broadsheet – large format page

Tabloid – half the size of a broadsheet

Broadsheet – large format page

Tabloid – half the size of a broadsheet

Talk the TalkStories can be spiked or killed.Editors can trim or cut a few graphs and butcher or bury stories.Photogs, inches, copy, head, subhead

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Parts of a story

Photo

Byline

Dateline

Lead

Quote

Attribution

Photo credit

Liftout quote

Tagline

Headline

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FlagName of paper set in special type.

Never changes.

Pullout quoteA quote from the interview placed in a breakout box for special emphasis.

FlagName of paper set in special type.

Never changes.

Pullout quoteA quote from the interview placed in a breakout box for special emphasis.

The parts of a page

Infographic (Breakout Box)

Informational graphics.Display key facts.

DeckSubhead.Written by copy editors.

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TextStory measured in inches.

Jump lineTells readers where story continues, or jumps.

TextStory measured in inches.

Jump lineTells readers where story continues, or jumps.

The parts of a page

• CutlineCaption.Written by copy editors or reporters.

• TeaserPromo or skybox.Captures readers’ attention to highlight story in issue.

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ReferAlerts readers to another story related to topic.

Wire storyStory written by reporter working for another paper or national wire service such as the Associated Press or Reuters.

ReferAlerts readers to another story related to topic.

Wire storyStory written by reporter working for another paper or national wire service such as the Associated Press or Reuters.

The parts of a page

• Mug shotCloseup photo of someone’s face.Usually small.

• CenterpieceLead story.

chapter 2

Documents

news judgment ability

hour cable news networks

years of journalism

rich history of journalism

new style of journalism

stories of war

new information

typi newspaper