Block-3

Journalism and Society

BLOCK 3: JOURNALISM AND SOCIETY
Media plays a crucial role as a fourth pillar in a democracy. This role brings a considerable
responsibility for the news organisations to support the democratic processes. Watchdog
and gatekeeping are considered the significant roles news outlets perform objectively
to strengthen the performance of various public institutions and bring transparency in
decision-making. You can understand the importance of news organisations’ role in
society through these roles. Media is considered a powerful institution; it is prone to
influence by the various power centres besides its commercial operations. Bias,
subjectivity, hidden agendas, and favouritism are some significant criticisms. Regular
news readers should be familiar with the entire news operation. This block will take
you through the nuances of news operations.
Unit 11: What Makes News?
News is essential information that is deemed timely, significant, and relevant to a
particular audience. It informs, educates, and engages the public in current events and
issues. Specific criteria are applied to determine what qualifies as news, including novelty,
impact, proximity, prominence, and human interest. Facts and verification are paramount
in news reporting, maintaining objectivity and non-partisanship. However, limitations,
such as time constraints, editing differences, and varying mediums, impact the news-
making process.
Additionally, the rapid pace of news production in the digital age has raised questions
about accuracy and verification. The constant assessment of news involves evaluating
its “news factor,” considering its impact, significance, and relevance to the audience.
Shaping news requires thoughtful consideration of how the information is presented,
ensuring accuracy and objectivity.
In this unit, we delve into the concepts, criteria, and challenges that underpin the news-
making process, shedding light on how information becomes news in a dynamic and
evolving media landscape.
Unit 12: The News Development Process
The process of news-making is a complex and dynamic journey that involves identifying
news, recognising compelling stories, and bringing them to the public in various forms
of media. It comprises a series of stages, from pre-production research to post-
production editing and dissemination. Key players in this process include journalists,
editors, photographers, videographers, and producers who collaborate to ensure
accurate and engaging news content. Each media platform, whether TV, radio, print,
or digital, has unique production methods and challenges.
News production has become more immediate and interactive in this digital age, allowing
for real-time updates and audience engagement. However, this fast-paced environment
also raises concerns about accuracy and the spread of misinformation. Quality control
and review are critical steps in news-making, where editorial standards are upheld,
and stories are fact-checked and verified. This unit helps you explore the intricate
world of news production, exploring its stages, key players, and the evolving landscape
in various media formats.
Unit 13: News Reporting and The Power of The Image
News reporting has transformed in the digital age, distinguishing between traditional
and new media platforms. Irrespective of the platform, adherence to good reporting
Journalism and Society practices remains paramount, involving accuracy, impartiality, and ethical considerations.
One of the most potent tools in news reporting is the power of images. Visual storytelling
can convey emotions, provide context, and enhance the impact of a news story. Images
can capture the essence of an event or issue in a way that words alone often cannot.
Learning the attributes of news reporting involves honing skills in writing, interviewing,
fact-checking, and understanding ethical responsibilities. It also entails adapting to the
evolving landscape of new media, where information is disseminated rapidly and
interactively. This unit explores the news reporting process and images’ influential role,
emphasising the importance of ethical practices and evolving skills in journalism.
After completing these units, the next time you read or watch any news, you should be
able to decipher all the meanings of given news presentations. More importantly, based
on this critical understanding, you should be able to make informed decisions for your
personal and professional circumstances.

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 What Makes News
UNIT 11 WHAT MAKES NEWS?
Structure
11.0 Introduction
11.1 Learning Outcomes
11.2 What is News: Concept and Definition
11.3 Criteria for Information to Become News
11.3.1 News Factor as a Constant for Assessment of News
11.3.2 Considerations While Shaping News
11.3.3 Thoughts on Making a Judgement About News
11.4 The five W’s and one H’s of Newsgathering
11.4.1 News Value and Its Important Attributes
11.4.2 Facts and Verifications
11.4.3 Objectivity and Non-Partisanship
11.5 Limitations in the News Making Process
11.5.1 Inherent Restrictions of Time and Money
11.5.2 Difference in Editing and Reporting
11.5.3 Differences in Medium
11.5.4 Importance of News in Our Life
11.6 Pedagogical Approaches
11.7 Let Us Sum Up
11.8 Keywords
11.9 Further Readings
11.10 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers

11.0 INTRODUCTION
In the previous units of this course, we have discussed media and information literacy,
communication and information, technology, media and society. Based on the topics
discussed, we would like to progress to the most important subject of news and its
making. Nevertheless, before we start discussing this topic, we must pay a short visit
to this subject and its relevance in today’s time when there is an overdose of every
piece of information coming our way, courtesy – new media and its various subsidiaries
that also constitutes the vast landscape of social media.
Before revisiting some famous and frequently used news descriptions worldwide, let
us take this opportunity to share our understanding of news in the traditional sense. In
this age of news being treated more like a commodity than a service, one can easily
assume it to be something associated with the business of selling information. However-
while taking a deeper dive to understand its importance and gradual inroads in our
daily lives, we can describe News as the constant on which modern human settlement
has survived and thrived for decades. We can also say that the survival and evolution
of modern human settlement and innumerable socio-cultural practices across the globe
would not have been possible without the contribution of news in our day-to-day lives.
191
Journalism and Society In this unit, we will try to understand the concept of news in one of the most accessible
and comprehensible manners; let us start this process with the most used definition of
News. According to a popular theory, the letters in the word “NEWS” come from the
four directions listed below: North, East, West and South. This illustrates how news
can originate from anywhere. News is information on recent events occurring, as well
as a report on a current event that was previously unknown.
Another famous phrase concerning the news given by New York Sun Editor John B
Bogart between (1841 and 1921), was, “When a dog bites a man, that is not news
because it happens so often. However, if a man bites a dog, that is news.” The quote
is also attributed to Charles Anderson Dana (1819–1897). 1
This could be partially true in some sense, but then, let us think of the recent incident
where a pet Pitbull dog had mauled its owner, an older woman, in her own house, and
she died on the spot of the injuries. This was an incident covered extensively by every
media, and it raised concerns among the general people and the news value of the
incident.2
This illustrates how news can originate from anywhere. It is a report on a recent incident
that was not previously known or information or knowledge on current incidents and
occurrences in our surroundings. However, though what John Bogart had said about
news a century ago was true, in the same way, we could also say that an incident like
a dog biting a woman/man also makes news vis-à-vis the above-cited incident from
Lucknow.
Thus making it more pertinent for everyone, especially teachers and educators, to
revisit and understand the evolving concept of news.

11.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES

After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 define News;
 describe the process of making news;
 explain the core concepts of news making;
 identify the do’s and don’ts of news making;
 state the five W’s and one ‘H’ of the news; and
 critically analyse the role of news in our lives.

11.2 WHAT IS NEWS: CONCEPT AND DEFINITION

Information about current affairs is known as news. Word-of-mouth, printing, postal
services, broadcasting, technological communication, or the testimonies of observers
and witnesses to events are just a few of the various mediums that may be used to
provide this information. To distinguish news from soft media, some people use the

1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_bites_dog
2
https://www.indiatoday.in/newsmo/video/lucknow-woman-mauled-to-death-by-her-pet-pitbull-
192 dog-1975667-2022-07-14
term “hard news”. As a unique use of the plural “new” form, the English term “news” What Makes News
emerged in the 14th century. Like the French Nouvelles and the German Neues, the
Middle English corresponding term was news.
“News,” as its name suggests, often refers to disseminating brand-new information.3
News differs from the more meticulous studies of history or other scholarly fields
because it is fresh and unpredictable.4 Even though the most crucial details of a news
story have already happened or are anticipated to happen in the future, news prominently
portrays the world in the present or recent past.5
The definition of news is allegedly elusive. However, the news will always be something
that readers, listeners, and viewers find surprising and hard to believe. However, here
are some of its definitions:
 When a dog bites a man, that is not news, but when a man bites a dog, that is
news. (Charles Anderson Dana, American journalist, 1819-1897)
 News is what somebody somewhere wants to suppress; all the rest is
advertising. (Lord Northcliffe, British publisher 1865-1922)
 Well, the news is anything interesting that relates to what is happening in the
world and what is happening in the culture that interests your audience. (Kurt
Loder, American journalist, b. 1945)
 What you see is news, what you know is background, and what you feel is
opinion. (Lester Markel, American journalist, 1894-1977)
 It is hardly news that catches readers. Features hold them. (Lord Northcliffe,
British publisher 1865-1922)
 To a journalist, the good news is often not news at all. (Phil Donahue, American
entertainer, b. 1935)
 No news is good news. (Ludovic Halevy, French author, 1834-1908)
 [News is] a first rough draft of history. (Philip L. Graham, American publisher,
1915-1963)
 For most folks, no news is good news; for the press, the good news is not
news. (Gloria Borger, American journalist, b. 1952)
 The real news is bad. (Marshall McLuhan, Canadian communications theorist,
1911-1980)
It would help if you now better understood the broad definitions of news provided
above. However, it might be challenging to define “news” precisely. Any information
must be truthful, novel, and engaging to be properly called “news.” Reporting on facts
is necessary since news is impossible without them. The reader, listener, audience or
spectator must learn these things for the first time to accept it as news. The definition of
news has been repeated more than often: it is information published in newspapers and
magazines’ news sections, aired on radio and televised by television networks, or
made available online and nowadays also shared on Social Media. News also covers
3
Stephens, History of News (1988), p. 13.
4
Smith, The Newspaper: An International History (1979)
5
Park, “News as a Form of Knowledge” (1940), pp. 675–676. 193
Journalism and Society the personal affairs, relationships, and scandals of the well-known, wealthy, and
infamous.
The communication networks that convey the news have always been connected to
how quickly it spreads. This also means that the speed at which a piece of news
spreads directly relates to that area’s network system. As a result, the routes via which
news may spread or expand have traditionally been controlled, extended, and regulated
by governmental, religious, and commercial interests. Maintaining political influence
over a sizable region has been tightly linked to that area’s postal or communication
services for a very long time.6 7
Even when we consider the future of journalism in the digital era, the deceptively
fundamental question “What is news?” still holds. Asked how they define news,
journalists sometimes reply: “I know it when I see it.” Pressed on why something has
been deemed newsworthy, a typical response is: “Because it just is!” (Brighton & Foy,
2007, p. 147).8 Nevertheless, as journalists and citizens expected to be media literate
in modern times, we must test our understanding and acceptance of any information as
news. For this, you need to develop an understanding of news through a rigorous and
consistent study of news as a subject flowing in our surroundings. To test the
understanding of News, Harcup and O’Neil decided to revisit one of the most read
and cited seminal academic works of Galtung and Ruge’s “What is news? Galtung and
Ruge revisited” (Harcup & O’Neill, 2001).9 Furthermore- this created a chord between
their understanding of News vis-à-vis what was discussed in this research article. So,
now I would like to list those points here for you to have a better and more precise
understanding of the News. You can go through these summarised points below.
1. The power elite: Narratives about influential people, groups, or organisations.
2. Celebrity: Information about persons who are already well-known.
3. Entertainment: Stories that feature sex, the entertainment industry, human
interest, animals, a developing drama, or that provide the potential for hilarious
treatment, amusing images, or clever headlines.
4. Surprise: Narratives that have a surprise or contrast aspect.
5. Stories with dark undertones, like war or tragedy, are bad news.
6. Good news: Narratives have exceptionally upbeat undertones, such as rescues
and cures.
7. Relevance: Stories about topics, people, or countries the audience considers
relevant.
8. Follow-up: Articles regarding newsworthy topics.
9. News agenda: Articles that follow or complement the news organisation’s
The summary shared above clarifies the standard concept and idea of News practised
and followed everywhere in the world. Newsrooms could be different, and so could
6
Fang, History of Mass Communication (1997), pp. 14–15.
7
Stephens, History of News (1988), p. 27
8
Brighton, P., & Dennis Foy. (2007). News Values. London: Sage. [Crossref], [Google Scholar]
9
Harcup, T., & Deirdre O’Neill. (2001). “What is News? Galtung and Ruge Revisited.” Journalism
194 Studies 2 (2): 261–280. DOI: 10.1080/14616700118449, [Google Scholar]
be their standard mode of operations, but certain elements hold ground in every What Makes News
newsroom while dealing with news, which has been discussed for all of you.

11.3 CRITERIA FOR INFORMATION TO BECOME

NEWS
What qualifies as news in terms of information? What factors may be considered when
choosing what information to report as news?
1. Timeliness: Newsworthy information and events are immediate and recent
since they have just happened or taken place/occurred. Because it is something
that is ‘new’, it is newsworthy.
2. Closeness: Incidents that occur near our surroundings or in proximity are
news because they impact the people living in our neighbourhood and nearby
areas; local information and events are always noteworthy to people residing
in and around that area, compared to those that happen far away. For example,
an earthquake in Delhi will generate more interest and curiosity among the
people living in and around the national capital than in Indonesia or Dubai.
3. Impact: The number of people impacted by the narrative is very significant,
as that signifies the importance of news. For example – The death of millions
of people in the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide harmed humankind.
4. Prominence: Under their fame, renowned persons receive greater media
attention, and thus, they play an essential part in newsmaking. For example –
the death of actors Sushant Singh Rajput and Irrfan Khan.
5. Weird: Anything that can shock the audience will have a news value. The
bizarre creates an audience. For example, There was a nude photoshoot by
actor Ranveer Singh.
6. Conflict: Fighting is an essential part of our lives. We naturally seek out
confrontation now and then because conflict validates us. For example—
elections, the Russia-Ukraine war, etc. A battle is always easy to cover, and
we also get compelled to predict the winner in every case.
7. Human Interest: One of the most inclusive categories — and one of my
favourites — is this. These tales reveal something about the state of the human
race, from rags to riches tales, experience pieces, something extraordinary
that defies the existing boundary of our day-to-day life and its struggle. These
stories of grit, grandeur, willpower, love and humanity can evoke powerful
feelings in us. They make us grin, cry, be happy, laugh, and find meaning in our
lives.

11.3.1 News Factor as a Constant for Assessment of News

Conceptually, news factors are assumed to be a text’s qualities rather than an event’s
inherent characteristics. The media apply them to heighten the legitimacy of an event
becoming news (Bednarek & Caple, 2014).
They are factors that affect the newsworthiness quality of any information made public
for the consumption of the general audience. In other words, we can say that News
195
Journalism and Society elements are technical and editorial finesse employed by the media to increase the
validity of an event becoming news; conceptually, they are thought of as features of a
text or visuals or treatment of the content rather than the intrinsic attributes of an event
itself.
A manual examination of news stories from print, web, and television shows that the
length of a story and its chance of making the front page or serving as the first item on
a newscast positively correlates with the overall number of new components in that
story.
According to Cotter (2010),10 News elements are considered “from the beginning to
the conclusion of the reporting and editing process” (p. 74). As a result, they affect
both the selection of news and the choice of how well-known a story should be. After
all, prominence indicates how much weight journalists and/or editors have given anything
(newsworthiness, Schulz,1982) 11
From the functional viewpoint, an event is not inherently noteworthy; instead, it is given
that status by attributing or adding news characteristics through language, image, and
typography to present it as news to an audience. The media employ news elements to
increase the validity of an event or information becoming news. They are conceptually
understood to be text qualities rather than the event’s intrinsic traits. However, contrary
to this - under the causal model, news factors are inherent qualities of a story that
determine the treatment journalists give to the story in the newsroom.
However, in both models, a story is assumed to be more newsworthy when it has
more news components. Moreover, there is a greater possibility that the event will be
covered extensively by notable media.

Figure 1: Information characteristics that affect the news judgement of journalists

(Elder, 2006)

Elders (2006) 12 discovered seven news characteristics that consistently affect journalists’
assessments of any information’s newsworthiness, namely — negativity (damage; the
bad elements of an event or issue), continuity (frequency; having been in the news
previously), proximity (cultural, geographical, and/or economic “nearness”), eliteness
(presence of persons, organisations, or nations of elite rank participating in an event),
impact and relevance (the significance and consequence/influence of an event in terms
of current events).
10
Cotter, C (2010). News Talk: Investigating the Language of Journalism. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
11
Schulz, W. (1982). News Structure and People’s Awareness of Political Events. Gazette (Leiden,
Netherlands), 30(3), 139-153. DOI: 10.1177/001654928203000301
12
Elders, C. (2006). News factors and news decisions. Theoretical and methodological advances
196 in Germany. Communications, 31(1). DOI: 10.1515/commun.2006.002
11.3.2 Considerations While Shaping News What Makes News

News is information on recent happenings. This can be communicated in various ways,

including oral communication, writing, mailing, broadcasting, technological
communication, or the testimonies of observers and witnesses to the occurrences. The
news is occasionally called “hard news “ to distinguish it from soft media.” However –
making and shaping news content involves some essential and significant considerations.
Let us have a brief familiarity with them.
Truth and Accuracy — Even if journalists cannot always guarantee “truth,” getting
the facts correctly is the fundamental tenet of journalism. Along with:
Independence — Journalists must be unbiased; They should not speak up for particular
political, business, or cultural interests in any official or informal capacity.
Fairness and Impartiality — Most stories have two or more sides to them. While it
is not required to include all perspectives in every piece, stories should be fair and
provide background information. Although objectivity is not always feasible or desirable
(in the face of, for instance, cruelty or inhumanity), unbiased reporting fosters confidence.
Humanity — Journalists need to act responsibly. Even when the information they
print or broadcast may be harmful, they must be mindful that their actions and words
can affect other people’s lives.
Accountability — The capacity for self-restraint is the hallmark of professionalism
and ethical journalism. When journalists make mistakes, they need to fix them and
show genuine and not fake regret. They needed to listen to what our audiences had to
say. They may not be able to change the opinions or writings of their readers or viewers,
but they can always give a patient hearing to their grievances and provide solutions if
they find their actions wrong.

11.3.3 Thoughts on Making a Judgment About News

What is a good news judgment? Or what is that judgement which brings out the good
news to the fore?
As a process, news judgment involves making wise decisions, conducting thorough
research, communicating, and meaningfully sharing and displaying information. It lies in
the undefined intersection of moral insight, well-honed intuition, and ethical reasoning.
When searching for a good story or project, many weak signals are available during
the news-collecting process. Finding the mega stories — the powerful signals — and
searching for threads within them has proven to be the most effective approach to
judging the news. I am telling this with my experience of two decades in the newsroom.
Focusing on the news peg of the day or moment is one of the most used and successful
patterns in an excellent news judgment. Although it is a perfect spot, the newsroom’s
perspective often restricts journalists’ efforts. Therefore, it becomes essential for them
to use their judgement to broaden their perspective and explain to readers a point that
cannot be adequately expressed to people easily.
However – there are nine elements on which news judgments should be made, and
they are as follows:
 Timeliness/Relevance
 Proximity 197
Journalism and Society  Impact/Consequence
 Prominence
 Conflict
 Human interest
 Currency
 Extremes/Superlatives
 Novelty.

Activity - 1
Take a list of 15-20 headlines, then ask yourself the following:
 What are the important stories?
 If you have space/airtime for only five, which ones would you choose? Please
give reasons for your selection.
 If you are from (a) a TV news channel, (b) a broadsheet, (c) a tabloid, (d) a
radio news program, or (e) an international news agency, which stories would
you choose? Pick only five.

Check Your Progress: 1

Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. What is news?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What factors may be considered when choosing what information to report as
news?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
3. What are the considerations while shaping news?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................

11.4 THE FIVE W’S AND ONE H’S OF NEWS

GATHERING
The Five Ws, Five Ws and one H, or Six Ws, are inquiries whose responses are seen
as fundamental in acquiring information. They include Who, What, When, Where, and
Why. The five Ws are frequently referred to in journalism (see news style), research,
and police investigations. They make up a method for discovering all the facts about a
198
subject. According to the Five W’s concept, a report is only deemed complete if it What Makes News
responds to the following queries beginning with an interrogative word:
 It is about whom?
 What happened?
 When did it happen?
 Where did it happen?
 What caused it, and why?
A good news story should always have clear information regarding the who, what,
when, where, and why. Some authors would include a sixth question, too: “How,”
even though “How” can also be answered by the answers to the previous four questions.
For example- How did it take place?
Here, we must remember that each query must have a factual response; these facts
must be present for the report to be accurate and complete. It is worth noting that none
of these queries can be answered with “yes” or “no.” It has to have a reason behind it.

11.4.1 News Value and Its Important Attributes

What are news values, and how significant are they?
Every phase of the news process involves the conscious or unconscious use of news
values, which guides decision-making.
News values, or the characteristics that constitute a news article “newsworthy,” are
ingrained in texts and guide behaviour. News values “shape texts” because they limit
the range of possibilities by offering decision-making criteria. A group of specific criteria,
or “news values,” that includes proximity, impact, change, prominence, conflict,
timeliness, utility, and the unexpected, are used to judge newsworthiness. At every
stage of the news process, consciously or unconsciously, news values guide decision-
making. One of the most significant practice-based and ideological variables in
determining the subject and format of news articles, as well as the choices made by
journalists, is the news value of the news item. News value is important because it
propagates the whole idea of newsworthiness.
A few of the guiding elements that decide whether a story is newsworthy or not are
listed below:
These elements decide whether a story is newsworthy: impact, currency, prominence,
closeness, weirdness, conflict, significance and human interest.
Understanding this list of news values can help you land those important news
placements.

Activity - 2
Identify the value-driving news. Focus on the following questions:
 Identify the lead article or main headline story of a particular issue of a print
or online news platform
 Identify the news values that have driven the article. Explain how you identified
each.
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Journalism and Society
 Are there multiple values? Does the presence of more drivers make the story
more important or more interesting?
 Analyse the newsworthiness of the article. Do you think it should have been
published? Why or why not?

11.4.2 Facts and Verifications

What are facts, and what is verification of news?
A fact is said to have occurred or is believed to be true. However, before presenting
claims as facts, you must determine their credibility as a journalist. This affects how
you convey things to your readers or listeners. You will encounter three types of facts
in your work as a journalist. Some facts have been demonstrated to be real, truths that
are likely to be assumed as accurate despite the lack of proof, and things that may be
true yet seem false. So, to get clarity in such a situation, a journalist typically uses his
verification skills.
“Verification is the editorial technique used by journalists — including fact-checkers
— to verify the accuracy of a statement,” says Bill Adair, the founder of PolitiFact and
currently the Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism Public Policy at Duke
University.13
At the core of journalism is the discipline of verification, which is also being used by
other professions.
In journalism, fact-checking is a particular use or part of verification applied while
verifying any fact. Adair points out that verification is a crucial activity that makes fact-
checking possible.
In their book, “The Elements of Journalism”, Tom Rosenstiel and Bill Kovach write,
“The essence of journalism is a discipline of verification.” That discipline is “a scientific-
like approach to getting the facts and the right facts.”14
This is a helpful explanation of what verification is. Additionally, it also assists in
describing the methodology used by fact-checkers to do their task. You must engage
in verification exercises to be a fact-checker. However, many people who are not fact-
checkers or journalists engage in verification.
Thanks to the growth of social media and user-generated material, the importance of
verification has returned to the forefront of journalism and assumed a new urgency for
civil groups like human rights activists and law enforcement bodies.
What is the importance of verification?
The whole process of verification is important not only for the journalist or the news
outlet but also for the audience because he/she is then able to evaluate the veracity of
the information, the method by which the information was obtained, and the motivations
and prejudices of the journalist who provided it. Transparency in the whole process
13
https://datajournalism.com/read/handbook/verification-1/additional-materials/verification-and-
fact-checking
14
Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T. (2021). The Elements of Journalism, Revised and Updated 4th
Edition: What Newspeople Should Know, and the Public Should Expect. Crown Publishing
200 Group (NY).
shows the viewers that the journalist respects their audience and does not take them What Makes News
for granted. Transparency is, therefore, the strongest defence against mistakes if,
unfortunately, source deceit takes place.
In order to construct a brand, verification is crucial for journalists since it brings in the
reader’s confidence. If there is inaccuracy or disinformation, a journalist’s ideal course
of action is to fix their error swiftly with proper facts. This will increase the reader’s
confidence in him/her, demonstrating the journalist’s dedication while disseminating
information. Being the first to break the news is less essential than getting it right. Thus,
journalists should put more significant pressure on themselves to get it right than to
break it first.

Activity - 3
The learners can access a series of news items from digital communications
companies and conduct exercises on the following:
 How to tell if the news is from a trusted source?
 What are trusted sources of news? Why are they trusted?
 Is the news real or fabricated but disguised in the genre of news? How can
you tell?
 Do social media platforms benefit from false information? What about search
engines?
 To what extent should digital communications companies be responsible for
managing false information on their platforms?

11.4.3 Objectivity and Non-Partisanship

Journalistic objectivity is at the forefront when we talk about key ideas related to
professionalism in a journalistic career. Fairness, objectivity, factuality, and non-
partisanship are all possible definitions of journalistic objectivity. It has been customary
and practice for years to report with less responsibility and credit a spokesperson, the
media, or other sources for the information circulated. Media outlets refrain from forming
opinions, stay clear of uncertainty, and avoid making overtly biased judgments. The
intellectual foundation of every journalistic endeavour is objectivity or generally accepted
neutrality.
According to Social Scientist Michael Schudson, “the belief in objectivity is a faith in
‘facts,’ a distrust in ‘values,’ and a commitment to their segregation”.15 Objectivity also
outlines an institutional role for journalists as a fourth estate, a body that exists apart
from the government and large interest groups.16 These five terms — neutral,
disinterested, nonpartisan, impartial and independent — are perhaps not exact
synonyms, but they come close to describing objectivity. We can picture these phrases
being incorporated into the wall of a journalism institute of the bygone era. The ability
to remain impartial, just, and unaffected by one’s feelings, prejudices, or preferences is

15
Carey, J. (1982). The Discovery of ObjectivityDiscovering the News: A Social History of
American Newspapers.Michael Schudson. American Journal of Sociology, 87(5), 1182–1188.
DOI: 10.1086/227565
16
Carey, J. (1982). The Discovery of ObjectivityDiscovering the News: A Social History of
American Newspapers.Michael Schudson. American Journal of Sociology, 87(5), 1182–1188.
DOI: 10.1086/227565 201
Journalism and Society known as objectivity. It prevents social scientists, journalists and professionals in the
public domain from interfering with or tampering with the data collecting and processing
processes.
For example – Suppose you are a practising journalist, and there is an election in your
constituency; you can motivate people in your area to go to the polling booth and cast
their vote, but you cannot ask them to vote for any particular candidate.
You can demonstrate objectivity in three basic ways:
 By being emotionless and showing no signs of being upset or anxious.
 Looking at things as they are rather than from a personal point of view.
 Being impartial and cognizant of both sides of perspectives.
Much like objectivity, nonpartisanship is the other important side of the coin in making
news. Nonpartisan refers to something neither biased nor affiliated with any political
party or power centre. It also means that one is neither backed nor governed by any
political party or a particular interest group. It could be expressed as untouched,
uninvolved, uninfluenced, unprejudiced and unimplicated by any interest group.
The nonpartisan approach of journalism is based on the convention that politics should
be covered as though both parties are equally responsible for all transgressions. No
one should be exempt from criticism and calling them out unequivocally. Tata Tea and
Janaagraha in India launched the nonpartisan ‘Jaago Re One Billion Votes’ campaign
to motivate people to cast their votes 2009 general election. Anal Saha was the
campaign’s founder, and it was a nonpartisan effort.17
Check Your Progress: 2
Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. What are the 5Ws and 1Hs in the news-gathering process?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What is verification of news?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
3. What is journalistic objectivity?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................

11.5 LIMITATIONS IN THE NEWS MAKING PROCESS

The newsmaking process occurs in the newsroom of a news media institution, home to
many other players in the news industry. Namely, the marketing, advertising, monitoring,
17
202 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonpartisanism
and editorial teams. Thus- the news media could be seen as an institution with a process What Makes News
that offers a useful framework for examining news information more carefully. News
information comes in numerous forms and is influenced by various factors. Various
stakeholders handle information before it reaches the media, and many of them are
motivated more by political, professional, or financial interests than by the event’s
objective journalistic value. Such material is transferred via editorial channels controlled
by several “gatekeepers” inside media institutions before being altered, modified, or
eliminated. Gatekeepers who assess the relative worth of news content are one of the
several professional and peculiar influences in determining what will be produced and
circulated. These inherent stakeholders, along with infrastructural factors, sometimes
pose limitations to the whole newsmaking process.
Some of the structural and functional limitations faced in the newsmaking process are
as follows:
 Absence of trust transparency.
 Different communication philosophies.
 Working-place disputes.
 Language and cultural differences.
 Selective demography of news gathering.
 Lack of creativity.
 Limited lifespan of the news item, and
 Credibility diminished because of the misuse of the medium.

11.5.1 Inherent Restrictions of Time and Money

Television, radio, movies, newspapers, magazines, and Internet-based Websites/
portals are just a few of the various forms of mass media that make up the Indian
media industry. In the late 18th century, we saw the beginning of the Indian media. In
India, print media first appeared in 1780; in 1927, the first radio broadcasts were
made. One of the earliest forms of media is found in India, even before the time of King
Ashoka, when it is said to have existed. Today, large businesses that profit from
advertising, membership fees, and selling content granted copyright dominate many
media outlets.
The largest newspaper market in the world, with more than 100 million copies sold
each day, is found in India, which has 70,000 newspapers and more than 500 satellite
channels, more than 80 of which are news broadcasters. However – the more diverse
and dynamic we get in terms of media outlets, the more complicated it becomes in
terms of their functioning, infrastructure and logistics. Today, any piece of obscure
news or information is bound to make it to the newsroom via television, radio, print,
and online. All of these work in an altogether distinct, different indigenous landscape,
which means that they all have limitations in terms of money and time.18 Nevertheless,
despite being different in nature and treatment, journalism as a tenet has creative
limitations in all its forms and is cursed with a short life. Not forgetting is the question of

18
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_of_India 203
Journalism and Society credibility due to abuse of the medium. Here, I would list a few of the many limitations
that each of these industries is facing in current times:

Limitations in Print/Newspapers Limitations in Television

 Limited lifespan  Limited shelf life of content
 Competing messages item  Cannot provide details of news
 High cost of paper  High production costs
 High Printing Cost  Scarcity of skilled staff
 Lack of advertisements  Urban centric
 Layoffs and shutting down of editions  The huge number of advertisements
Limitations in Radio Limitations in Digital/Online
 The short span of life  A subsidiary of a TV channel/
newspaper
 Demographic ambiguity  No independent chain of reporters
 Extensive lead time needed  Fierce competition among advertisers
 The only sound, no visual  Credibility issues
 Selective audience  Young and urban audience
 Declining reach  Fake news
 Mostly infotainment  Amateur language of presentation
 Monetarily less profitable  Undertrained workers

11.5.2 Difference in Editing and Reporting

Journalists are professionals who include editors, TV hosts, reporters, and
photographers. Reporting, editing and presenting would be considered subsets of the
journalism universe. Therefore, by this definition, reporting and editing are undoubtedly
important components of journalism. An editor sorts through the material and makes it
relevant for the audience while the reporter gathers information on the ground. Editing
refers to preparing a print, broadcast, or television news report. A report is read,
revised, changed, added value to, polished, enhanced and made better for publishing
throughout the editing process. Editing also includes condensing.
An individual who conducts all the investigation, writing, and interviewing is a reporter.
Their primary duty is to locate a story and compile all the information. Both aim to
provide the public with trustworthy news or information. In order to enlighten the
reader, he or she compiles information about a public event and then provides it.
Reporters are expected to offer unbiased analysis of stories that editors find newsworthy.
Reporters are frequently given “beats” or specialised subjects, such as business, politics,
economy, the environment, or education. Sometimes, journalists need to write the
articles they cover. For instance, to meet the deadline for the article, occasionally, a
reporter at the scene of a story would telephonically or otherwise communicate the
material to another writer or editor in the newsroom. Both adhere to a defined format
when creating newsworthy material.
204
While both writer/editor and reporter/editor write a fair amount, their daily activities What Makes News
are very different. Editors oversee, examine, and rewrite the material while reporters
create and gather original data. Both are crucial to producing written content to enlighten,
persuade, or entertain readers. However, editors’ tasks need more insight and analysis
because they have to oversee the management and effective publishing of a specific
work or set of works. Here is when their working methods or differences in reporting
and editing becomes apparent, and despite their effort complement each other’s work,
it is more than not that the end product or piece of news either loses the tonality of the
reporter’s copy or comes out as a better and different version of what the reporter has
filed.
It is considered both the plus and minus-point of the whole process of news making
but – cannot be avoided or bypassed.

11.5.3 Differences in Medium

Print media, broadcast media, and online news sources are the three primary categories
of news media. There are three major categories into which the news media may be
divided: Print (newspaper/magazine), Electronic (TV/Radio — which includes traditional
radio, telephone, and television broadcasts), and the Internet (online news portals/
websites — digital computer-mediated communication, computer networking, and
telegraphy) are the three main media at work in today’s time. There are now several
types of mass media, including social media platforms and streaming services. Old
Media refers to the more conventional formats, including print, cinema, television, and
radio, whereas New Media mainly comprises computer technology, the Internet, and
smartphones.19
In mass media, A medium is a verbal or nonverbal communication tool. The word
“medium” (or “media”) refers to a wide range of resources and instruments that authors,
speakers, and other knowledge producers utilise to create, preserve, and transmit
messages. In contrast, a news channel is a channel for transmission or dissemination.
The amount of information sent to the audience—readers, listeners, or viewers—directly
depends on the medium through which the news is provided. Therefore, presenting the
news can influence how the audience perceives the reported events. The primary purpose
of media, with the aid of a suitable medium, is to send and share information.
As we have all heard, the popular proverb ‘medium is the message; here, I would like
to emphasise that it holds for every country and each communication that is taking
place across the globe through any kind of mass media that half the communication is
done while choosing the platform through which communication is established with the
audience. For example, we want to raise awareness about the childbearing rights of
women in our country and choose Twitter and Facebook as our communication medium.
In that case, we will end up creating a failed communication project. Our target audience
or stakeholders, in this case, would be women from rural and poor backgrounds. With
the massive digital divide discussion taking place globally- this would mean a half-
hearted and thwarted mass communication effort.
Could a community radio initiative have been the most effective medium for this
project?
If you answer yes, you understand the medium’s importance in mass communication.

19
https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2000/10/31/differences-in-medium/ 205
Journalism and Society 11.5.4 Importance of News in Our Life
News is that aspect of communication that informs us about evolving events, problems,
and people in the outside world. The primary purpose of news is to inform the public,
even though it may also be engaging or entertaining. A civilised society needs news for
various reasons, primarily to inform the public about situations that may impact them
locally. You may build an open and critical mind by reading the news. Reading the
news may slow down your ageing and learn something new daily. Reading the news
can help you tell facts from fiction. Your creativity may improve after reading the news.
In society, newspapers have a significant impact. They function as a tool for forming
opinions, a platform for public discussion and debate, and a mechanism to safeguard
the public and make them aware of wrongdoing (Martin & Copeland, 2003).20 The
public becomes more informed thanks to the news. In India, there are two different
kinds of newspapers. While some newspapers exclusively focus on local State concerns,
others cover news from the whole county. News is intended to inform and enlighten
readers about current affairs and happenings. They are utilised to give kids the knowledge
they desire or need to know about the world around them. News outlets work hard to
provide as much information as possible while publishing or broadcasting news. Suppose
a journalist writes on an ongoing case. However, little information may be accessible to
him at a particular moment. In this scenario, the journalist may speak with people
involved in the case or attempt to gather background material to assist their audience in
learning more.
Politics and the political viewpoints of journalists, editors, and even magazine owners
may significantly impact the reliability spectrum by influencing the tone of their stories.
Whether you were requested to inform, educate, or convince, your evaluation brief
will define where your work falls on the spectrum. Write with objectivity, being unbiased,
and keeping your opinions out of your writing if you are writing to inform. Be careful
not to fabricate or create fake news when assigned to write an article (false or misleading
information presented as news). Do use a formal, professional tone while writing or
producing news.
The democratic promise of news must be taken seriously, and we must work to fulfil it.21
It would help if you worked to present views of democratic citizenship in more upbeat
and optimistic ways. That is the only way we as a country could contribute little to
making news daily.
Check Your Progress: 3
Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. What are the structural and functional limitations of the newsmaking process?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What is the difference between editing and reporting of news?

20
Martin, S. E., & Copeland, D. A. (2003). The function of newspapers in society: A global
perspective. Praeger.
21
Lewis, J. (2006). News and the empowerment of citizens. European Journal of Cultural Studies,
206 9(3), 303
 ....................................................................................................................... What Makes News

.......................................................................................................................

11.6 PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES

(Instructions for the course counsellers)
Various pedagogical approaches are possible in the realm of this unit. However, most
of the pedagogical approaches here are application-based in nature.
I. The first pedagogical approach can be undertaken by conducting a textual
analysis. Here, the educators analyse the newsworthiness of each of the front-
page stories of a major newspaper (or its online edition) based on the criteria
for assessing the news value of a story. This typically includes such factors as:
 Timeliness
 Impact and importance
 Prominence
 Proximity
 Conflict
 Human Interest
 Necessity
 Unusualness/Oddity
Besides these normative attributes, news is often selected for its dramatic and even
entertainment value. It is also chosen based on implicit ideas about what is ‘important
for whom’ and what is the likely ’impact on whom’.
They then analyse the stories based on the factors to consider in making news judgments
or shaping the news. These are:
 Truthfulness: accuracy (getting the facts right) and coherence (making sense
of the facts)
 Dedication to the public interest
 Informing, rather than manipulating, the public
 Completeness/comprehensiveness
 Diversity (inclusion of news of all communities, not just targeted audiences)
These normative factors can be seen in the extent to which news items identify their
sources, reveal verification used (e.g., triangulation of sources), and transparency of
journalists’ views that affect what they do- such as to what facts and voices are most
salient for them, and why. Attention should also be paid to the placement of articles,
headlines, font size, photographs, and captions.
II. The second pedagogical approach for this unit can be undertaken by learners in
the form of a contextual analysis. Here, the educator reviews the coverage of a
media organisation of choice/relevance on a particular topic and particular day
and compares and contrasts the angling (i.e., selling of a particular point of view or 207
Journalism and Society perspective) and treatment (i.e., information performed, sources acknowledged,
interviews done, any visual support of news stories) of at least two broadcasters’
coverages.

11.7 LET US SUM UP

During this unit, you were allowed to examine how news is produced in India and
internationally. News is a fabricated phenomenon that is generated to influence us in
various ways. It was emphasised that because we live in a mediated environment, we
need to learn more about media and educate ourselves on how these messages in the
form of news are produced and distributed. This unit covered the necessity, goal, and
process of news production. It was mentioned that news creation is a form of education
that cultivates critical thinking, competence, and literacy among a wide range of
audiences from various socioeconomic classes, age groups, and societal backgrounds,
empowering them to become active members of their nation. To assist you in assessing
the reliability of information from various sources, the three Indian media outlets were
looked at. It also explained how to dissect a media message from the standpoint of the
platform. There was a description of the distinctions between media, medium, and
messages and instructions on interpreting these differences and deciphering the messages
sent by various media tools. The conversation will help you find your way through the
newsmaking process in diverse newsroom messaging and acquire information from
various sources. After studying this chapter, you can assess the media’s implicit and
explicit messages with your interpretations. You can investigate how news items are
formed and generated in various media platforms (print, verbal, visual, or multimedia).

11.8 KEYWORDS
News : News refers to disseminating brand-new information
News factor : They are factors that affect the newsworthiness quality of any
information made public for the consumption of the general
audience
News judgment : News judgment, as a process, involves making wise decisions,
conducting thorough research, communicating, and meaningfully
sharing and displaying information.
News value : News values are the characteristics that constitute a news article
“newsworthy,” are ingrained in texts and guide behaviour
Fact : A fact is said to have occurred or is believed to be true.
Verification : Verification is the editorial technique used by journalists —
including fact-checkers — to verify the accuracy of a statement.

11.9 FURTHER READINGS

1. Roshco, B. (1975). Newsmaking.
2. Matthews, J. (2009). “Making It Our Own” BBC Newsround Professionals and
Their Efforts to Build a News Agenda for the Young. Television & New
208 Media, 10(6), 546–563.
3. Gant, C., & Dimmick, J. (2000). Making local news: A holistic analysis of sources, What Makes News
selection criteria, and topics. Journalism & Mass Communication
Quarterly, 77(3), 628–638.
4. Donohew, L. (1967). Newspaper gatekeepers and forces in the news
channel. Public Opinion Quarterly, 31(1), 61–68.

11.10 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: POSSIBLE

ANSWERS
Check Your Progress: 1
1. “News,” as its name suggests, often refers to disseminating brand-new
information. News differs from the more meticulous studies of history or other
scholarly fields because it is fresh and unpredictable. Even though the most
crucial details of a news story have already happened or are anticipated to
happen in the future, news prominently portrays the world in the present or
recent past.
2. The following points can be considered as criteria for information to become
news:
 Timeliness
 Closeness
 Impact
 Prominence
 Weird
 Conflict
 Human Interest
3. The following are the considerations for shaping news:
 Truth and Accuracy
 Independence
 Fairness and Impartiality
 Humanity
 Accountability
Check Your Progress: 2
1. The Five Ws, Five Ws and one H, or Six Ws, are inquiries whose responses
are seen as fundamental in acquiring information. They include Who, What,
When, Where, and Why. The five Ws are frequently referred to in journalism
(see news style), research, and police investigations. They make up a method
for discovering all the facts about a subject. According to the Five Ws concept,
a report is only deemed complete if it responds to the following queries
beginning with an interrogative word:
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Journalism and Society  It is about whom?
 What happened?
 When did it happen?
 Where did it happen?
 What caused it, and why?
A good news story should always have clear information regarding the who,
what, when, where, and why. Some authors would include a sixth question,
too: “How,” even though “How” can also be answered by the answers to the
previous four questions.
2. In the field of journalism, fact-checking is a particular use or part of verification
which is applied while verifying any fact. Adair points out that verification is a
crucial activity that makes fact-checking possible. In their book, “The Elements
of Journalism”, Tom Rosenstiel and Bill Kovach write, “The essence of
journalism is a discipline of verification.” That discipline is “a scientific-like
approach to getting the facts and the right facts.”
3. According to Social Scientist Michael Schudson, “the belief in objectivity is a
faith in ‘facts,’ a distrust in ‘values,’ and a commitment to their segregation”.
Objectivity also outlines an institutional role for journalists as a fourth estate, a
body that exists apart from the government and large interest groups.
Therefore, the ability to remain impartial, just, and unaffected by one’s feelings,
prejudices, or preferences is known as objectivity. It prevents social scientists,
journalists and professionals in the public domain from interfering with or
tampering with the data collecting and processing processes.
Check Your Progress: 3
1. Some of the structural and functional limitations faced in the newsmaking
process are as follows:
 Absence of trust transparency.
 Different communication philosophies.
 Working-place disputes.
 Language and cultural differences.
 Selective demography of news gathering.
 Lack of creativity.
 Limited lifespan of the news item, and
 Credibility diminished because of the misuse of the medium.
2. On the one hand, an editor sorts through the material and makes it relevant
for the audience while the reporter gathers information on the ground. Editing
refers to preparing a print, broadcast, or television news report. A report is
read, revised, changed, added value to, polished, enhanced and made better
210
for publishing throughout the editing process. Editing also includes condensing. What Makes News
On the other hand, an individual who conducts all the investigation, writing,
and interviewing is a reporter. Their primary duty is to locate a story and
compile all the information. Both aim to provide the public with trustworthy
news or information.

211
Journalism and Society
UNIT 12 THE NEWS DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
Structure
12.0 Introduction
12.1 Learning Outcomes
12.2 Identifying News and Recognising a Story
12.2.1 Developing a News Story Idea
12.2.2 Going Beyond the 5 W’s and 1 ‘H’
12.3 News Production: Concept and Definition
12.3.1 Stages of News Production (Pre to Post-Production)
12.3.2 Key Players in the Process
12.3.3 Comparing News Production in TV/Radio/Print and Digital
12.4 The Television Production Team
12.4.1 News/Data Gathering to News Writing
12.4.2 Discipline of Verification, Independence and Accountability
12.5 Quality Control and Review
12.5.1 Influences on News Production
12.5.2 Conflict of Interests
12.5.3 The End Product
12.5.4 Circulation and Dissemination
12.6 Pedagogical Approaches
12.7 Let Us Sum Up
12.8 Keywords
12.9 Further Readings
12.10 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers

12.0 INTRODUCTION
We have discussed and completed eleven units of this course, encompassing several
MIL-related topics. This ranged from understanding media and information literacy to
civic participation and right to information and learning theories and enabling environment
for MIL along with the national and global audience, their freedom, ethics and social
accountability, etc.
In Unit 11, the previous unit of this curriculum, we dealt with the newsmaking process,
or we can also say that we tried to find out the five Ws and one ‘H’ of the newsmaking
process. While doing so, and through the brainstorming we went through, we touched
upon various stages and components of newsmaking. This included discussing news
factors as a constant, considerations and thoughts while making judgments about news,
news value, the difference between facts and verifications, objectivity and non-
partisanship in the newsroom, limitations and inherent restrictions while churning out
news for the audience and last, importance of news in our life.
212
In this unit, we’ll be moving a step further in this direction. Since you have understood The News Development
Process
the components that constitute news, we’ll now discuss the news development process
within the newsroom without differentiating between the newsrooms. This means that
we’ll have a broader spectrum of discussion, which will have TV, Newspaper, Radio
and Digital newsrooms as main subjects.
The process of producing newspapers/news bulletins or broadcasting news from a
radio station is a process that begins with the collection of news items, articles, editorials,
advertorials, and advertising and ends with the printing and folding of the physical
copy, airing of news bulletin through radio broadcasts and telecasting news from news
channels or publishing online through a digital platform. Pre-press, press, and post-
press are the three stages of the production process. The audio-visual medium consists
of primarily three stages: pre-production, production, and post-production. However,
we should not forget that the production process starts only when news/content gathering
is done in advance, so in practice, it has four stages. Therefore, it is important to
distinguish between the terms “production process” and “manufacturing” since,
practically in every nation, the “production process” is where many taxes are assessed
and collected. Manufacturing also refers to the phases of packaging and packing because
it is at this step that the product becomes marketable, especially in the Print sector
where news pieces are often printed in newspapers.
It is possible to think of news production as the process of turning occurrences into
news that can be published or aired in one of the many media outlets based on a set of
standardised and accepted criteria. It is defined as an activity where “news workers/
journalists are engaged in the production of the written, visual, or auditory materials
classified as news and information.”
Therefore, from here, we start our quest to learn about the news development process
in this unit, which is specially dedicated and carved for the purpose.

12.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES

After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 describe the process of development of news;
 developing a news story idea;
 four stages of news production;
 fact-checking methods; and
 influences and conflict of interests.

12.2 IDENTIFYING NEWS AND RECOGNISING

A STORY
Whether a story is newsworthy or not depends on the five main fundamental criteria.
However, knowing that a good narrative should include at least two people is important.
It’s critical to remember that, even if a story is noteworthy, it will likely not be able to
compete with breaking news content like a royal engagement, an international disaster
or some major political development.
213
Journalism and Society 1. Timeliness: Newsworthy subjects are those that are currently happening.
Customers/readers/viewers value immediate updates and ignore outdated,
unrelated content. What occurred last week is no longer fascinating; what
happened today is news.
2. Inferring: A noteworthy tale has a large social impact. The media will pay
greater attention to a fire that forced the evacuation of a whole apartment at a
big posh colony/complex than a single home or JJ cluster in a slum area.
3. Proximity: Local stories will be more relevant and get more publicity if they
are closer to the action. Distance between locations is only one aspect of
proximity; it also involves interpersonal connections. News about the northeast
may not be as important for people residing in Delhi or Mumbai, but it would
definitely be important for residents of Kolkata or Darjeeling.
4. Prominence: In every society, celebrity status naturally gives a person more
media attention.
5. Human Interest: This is one such feature of newsworthiness that ignores
some of the other comparatively important requirements. Human-interest tales
arouse feelings and provoke reactions. These stories frequently do not pass
away in front of us and cannot significantly impact many or many individuals.
These fascinating or unusual stories are frequently featured in a separate section
of publications and broadcasts but are considered to be most read and relatable
by the audience.
So, next time you read a newspaper or read news online, try to determine what made
the story intriguing to you that made you read the newspaper; it would surely fit into
one of the categories we have discussed here in this section.

12.2.1 Developing a News Story Idea

The creation of story ideas is a collaborative effort between editors and reporters in
any and every newsroom. Reporters should make thorough submissions to editors
rather than expecting them to accept every clumsy idea. Editors are supposed to assist
journalists in crafting, concentrating, and delivering stories. Before you even determine
if and how to pursue a new and challenging story, particularly one that will take some
time to complete, you may need to do a lot of reporting and writing.
Some advice for news professionals:
 Write down your thoughts: Write a comprehensive proposal for a significant
business narrative, especially a project concept. This provides the editor with
additional in-depth material to think about and discuss with other team members
and editors. A written request necessitates thought and action. Writing also
gets you started on narrowing your effort and creating the narrative. Sometimes,
a strong proposal may serve as the foundation for a series summary or a
story’s beginning.
 Offer relevant news items: Newsworthy, current stories should and will
surely attract your editors. The same goes for projects. Be sure to mention
the potential news value of your suggestion. Should it be used before, following,
or during a forthcoming event? Would a birthday, holiday, or hearing serve as
a time marker? Has the matter become more urgent due to a recent report or
214
 decision? An editor or channel head might properly remark that the story The News Development
Process
could be done at any moment if a reporter suggests an “evergreen” story that
could be completed at any time, frequently indicating that there are more
urgent matters to deal with. If your article seems timeless, explain to the editor
why it is still relevant today. Find a new perspective while reviving an old
idea.
 Make detailed and persuasive suggestions: Don’t suggest a thorough
investigation. The editor may quickly acquire a sense of the story you want to
convey and start experiencing the reporter’s joy because of the narrow focus
on the story idea. Describe in your note why readers will care about this
article. Even if you believe that the relevance or significance of the story is
quite obvious, explain to your editor why readers should care about it and
how you plan to make that relation obvious in the narrative. Bring clarity to
the table.
 Take a look at earlier reporting: Check out the coverage in other
publications/channels. If your publication or another paper covered this topic
a few months or years ago, explain how the situation has evolved in this period
or how this particular story will vary now from before. Describe how you
plan to investigate the problems the competition has overlooked. Share your
knowledge. The more you understand, the more persuasively you can express
your desire to learn. Your chances of hearing that the story would be worth
pursuing “some other day” increase when it looks more hypothetical or
speculative in nature. Inform your editor of your expected discoveries from
the coverage. Although you don’t require all the details in your proposal, you
must have enough information to convince your editor.
 Try not to give up quickly: Ask your editor why they don’t want to write a
certain article if you think they should not miss it. Determine precisely what is
missing from your proposal. Keep in mind that the editor might be correct.
The notion may have delighted you that you lost perspective on it. Alternatively,
it’s also possible that you left out some crucial details from your proposal.
You might need to conduct extra study to persuade your editor of the local
impact. You may also have overlooked adding a news peg to the proposal. If
the editor makes reasonable arguments that you can answer, you could decide
to continue with the narrative further.

12.2.2 Going Beyond the 5 W’s and 1 ‘H’

Everyone is familiar with the standard “5 W” inquiries that journalists ask: who, what,
where, when, and why (with an added “how”). But in addition to those foundational
inquiries, you should consider the following six questions. Although they are centred on
the process of storytelling, they are, in essence, information given by journalists. Your
responses to these queries can go through a change during the consumption process of
news. It’s perfectly fine. The aim is to make a creative investment at the start of your
watching or reading an article or news capsule that will guide you till the finish of it.
What is the central query of the story?
You may be familiar with composing key statements or asking questions while watching/
reading the news. However, questions are always better than assertions. A question
provides the audience with a task or a challenge to complete. The report or news 215
Journalism and Society creates a journey for the listener or reader while focusing on the process and ways
through which that question is addressed. (For instance, “Why are sports person voting
against their team members in an election?”)
One needs to be careful while consuming news since there could be more than one
story if you have multiple inquiries about a news item. You need to choose one and
respond fully to it to find answers to your questions.
What does the story not concern?
Journalists often take too much load in one story that they file, which is too frequent.
This makes sense for them as media professionals, and they feel obligated to be thorough
in their work and worry about the repercussions of missing out on a detail. However,
the fact remains that no tale/story — not even a one-hour documentary or a lengthy
piece of 2500 words in The Times of India — can cover the entirety of a subject.
It’s their primary responsibility to provide information memorably and straightforwardly,
but you, as a news consumer, must outline the possible angles, inquiries, and contexts
in the news item. Compare them to your driving query. Do they help you in getting your
query answered? Or did it divert or disperse the attention from the main topic? After
that, decide whether the content is worth watching or reading.
How do we ensure that the news item is accurate in representation?
The first step is to check the story’s transparency in the first place. Does it explicitly
state that there are several opinions, even if it doesn’t explore them?
Second, look for tension. One-sided stories frequently lack the tension that makes for
a gripping tale. Therefore, consider where the conflict is, even if your attention is on a
single individual or circumstance. (There would be no story without conflict, suspense,
or anything important at risk.)
Finally, as an audience, we should not forget that equity or fairness across coverage is
possible in every situation. Although no single article can fairly represent every point of
view, a thorough coverage can do it.
What components make a perfect recipe for news?
A reporter/presenter prepares their story’s elements in advance as it aids them in
conceiving the story and its coverage planning.
However, the onus lies on us as viewers/readers to know who the crucial voices in our
society are. What difficult situation requires explanation in a report? Which statement
best answers your central query? What connection will unite different parts of the story
or incident? What characterises it?
Pondering and thinking about all this will give you an understanding of the whole idea
of new development in the newsroom or a news professional’s mind, further empowering
your understanding of news.
Do not think the solutions to these issues are just out there, waiting for you to understand
them. Not at all. You must make decisions when responding to these questions and
tackle them efficiently. You need to free yourself from preconceived notions to create
them independently. This will enable you to explore news beyond the five Ws and
one H.
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 The News Development
Activity - 1 Process

Create an issue plan for the next publication/programme for a newspaper or

television news bulletin. The issue plan must include the lineup of articles or stories
to be written or produced based on their inclusion, the story’s scope, and the
possible angle or treatment of each story.

Check Your Progress: 1

Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of the unit
1. What are the five criteria for a story to be newsworthy?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What are the key questions to ask after the 5Ws and 1H in a news story?
.......................................................................................................................
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12.3 NEWS PRODUCTION: CONCEPT AND

DEFINITION
By portraying the news as a practice, the International Encyclopaedia of Communication
describes news as ‘the product of teamwork in media outlets’ (Nossek, 2008).
However, by taking into account specific characteristics, such as tasks, structures,
procedures, routines, and impacts on the news, the concept of “news creation” goes
beyond this.
News production can be seen as transforming events through systematic criteria into
news that is publishable in the media. News production tasks are activities ‘where
news workers/journalists produced the written, visual, or audio texts designated as
news and information appearing in print media and on broadcast and cable television,
radio, and the Internet’ (Ettema, 2008).
The major duties of these news professionals are to “report, investigate, write, and edit
stories as well as develop and combine visual pictures and the graphic formats for
news and information.” Editors, producers, and news directors participate at a higher
level of news production in the selection of news, which frequently involves a process
outside the control of news employees. News production is described by Weischenberg
and Matuschek (2008) as ‘the process where in the modern newsroom, a journalist
controls everything – the electronic gathering of information (e.g., through an online
news ticker), the text processing software, the layout, and the printing which in essence
is the description of the process for the news production.’
The majority of news is created within the restrictions of news organisations. The
editorial hierarchy typically has three layers of decision-making authority: The lowest
category of journalists comprises reporters with little autonomy. The news and information
are gathered and produced by these journalists, who often have little to no editorial
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Journalism and Society responsibility. “junior managers” are at the intermediate level in the editorial structure.
These journalists have operational power, and they regularly make operational choices.
They are often in charge of the newsroom’s smaller departments, such as a beat, a
desk, or a bureau. Senior or executive management holds the last level of strategic
power in the newsroom. They can shape the strategic objectives of their news
organisations.
Regarding the organisational design of newsrooms, it can be said that division of labour
is a common feature. Reporters, editors, and news commentators are the three roles
that newsrooms commonly divide their staff into (columnists). For journalists, news
routines are “repeated techniques and patterns that facilitate job completion and assure
immediacy in an unpredictable environment while working under production restrictions”
(Lowrey, 2008). There are several kinds of news routines, such as those for news
collection, selection, writing, editing, layout/design, fact-checking, and editorial
coordination and administration. Influences on news creation come from various levels,
including the level of the person, media routines, organisation, extra-media level, and
ideological level. (Shoemaker & Reese, 1996). According to comparative research
on journalists’ views of these factors, political, economic, organisational, professional,
procedural, and reference groups were identified as the six main levels of impact
(Hanitzsch et al., 2010). It was believed that organisational, institutional, and operational
impacts were more potent than political and fiscal pressures.
As we all know, information on recent events is generally known as news. This can be
expressed in several ways, such as by spoken communication, writing, mailing,
broadcasting, electronic communication, or even through eyewitness and other third-
party witness testimony. The term “hard news” is often used to distinguish news from
soft media. A news producer is a professional journalist who chooses and supervises
the stories and topics the news will cover. They work with journalists, editors, desk
staff and directors to meet deadlines and offer consistent time slots while ensuring that
the material is produced efficiently. The production of news by an army of news
producers, as well as entertainment-related video and audio content for diverse audiences
to consume on a variety of digital and online phones, social networking sites, and
broadcast media, including radio, is primarily known as mass communication and is an
intrinsic and most important part of news journalism.
A Producer is expected to be able to properly time the newscast while working with
the studio staff, anchors, input and output team, reporters and stringers in the field and
various other office support staff, including the ingest, assignment and team of video
editors. A producer must be able to write swiftly and proficiently and make sound
judgments about the news. Content generation, pre-press, press and postpress are the
stages of the production process. The producer must understand the difference between
the process of manufacturing and manufacturing as an independent exercise. The process
of manufacturing news while coordinating with the whole team, from those who are
based in the newsroom to those who are working from the field, is actually the process
or effort taken towards producing news.
When we/work as news producers, compiling information diligently is equally crucial
while generating a news report. It’s normally the producer only who, with the passage
of time, is promoted to the desk/shift editor. Thus, he or she must learn to choose news
items while keeping the listeners’ interests in mind. Therefore, he or she must also be
aware of these skills. A news producer should know to organise the news story in
decreasing order of interest and significance in the rundown of the news bulletin. This
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is described as the bunching of the elements, where the most significant and engaging The News Development
Process
information should appear at the top of the bulletin, and the least significant information
should appear at the bottom. The goal is to keep the audience’s interest for the longest
amount of time. When significant news is unavailable on a particular day, sports and
weather stories are given prominence. If there is a hurricane that hits some locations, if
Indian athletes win a major competition, or if there are other significant sporting events,
the scenario will change. News from the nation, the world, and your region is covered
via national bulletins. Regional bulletins concentrate on local news and developments.

12.3.1 Stages of News Production (Pre to Post-Production)

Content gathering, pre-press, press, and post-press are the four stages that make up
the entire production process, and this is also known as production hierarchy. It could
be news, a newspaper, a media production or even a radio programme.
Every stage has a purpose and a set of objectives, and each must be accomplished
before moving on to the next. There are four main stages to it, and the fifth one is
added at last in a way we can say, to sum up, the whole pre and post-production
exercise, which is called the distribution or dissemination of produced news or
production property.
 The first stage of news production, as mentioned above, is content gathering,
which falls into the story planning category. While planning the story only, the
producer ideates the story, the concept, and the subject as the target audience.
Once there is clarity on these points, content is gathered from diverse
perspectives to dig deeper into the subject.
 Once the planning is done, the next stage is the pre-press stage, where a lot of
time is spent researching the subject/topic of the production. All background
information, questions that must be addressed, facts, draft, framework, initial
script, etc., are prepared. But, even while doing so, you as a producer have
to be prepared for the unexpected at the last moment. The pre-press stage
also includes the availability of the logistics. The guest lineup, the machines,
the edit bays, the camera, the vehicle, the interviewee, equipment, permission
of the editor, etc.

Figure 1: News production hierarchy

 From the pre-press stage, one moves towards the ‘PRESS’ stage of the
production process. This is the actual stage where all planning is put into
action, and while doing so, you also have to take care of the quality control of
the production, the hygiene, and the order of the production process. All
materials gathered for the production are being put to use, news angles are
covered, HDL, body and summary of the story are devised, angels developed,
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Journalism and Society and facts and ethics are cross-checked; all this is done to ensure that whatever
has been produced by you as producer makes sense, is not confusing and fits
the bill of an impartial and objective news item.
 The final stage is the post-production stage. Here, editing moderation of the
produced product/story is done to suit the availability of time and space is
adjusted and aligned. The producer ensures that the available resources are
used in the best possible manner. It is clear and not confusing in its final form;
it will inform and educate the audience and may give way to a public debate
but won’t make unnecessary noise. The post-production stage is also the last
opportunity for you as a producer to mend if any mistake has been made
unknowingly or because of a lack of knowledge and experience. It also
apprised the producer of his work and its effect on the audience. Did you do
well or made some mistakes? All this and many more queries are addressed
in the final and last stage of the post-production, the most important of which
is whether the whole exercise was rewarding in professional terms.

12.3.2 Key Players in the Process

In this unit, we are discussing the development process of news, and till now, we have
discussed in detail the various stages of news production. Now that we have gained a
fairly good idea about the various stages through which news is produced, we would
like to delve slightly into the subject of key players in this whole process. But there is a
catch to this; for some of you, the term key players could mean human beings or
human minds involved in this whole process, which is correct, but- for some people,
who could be called media professionals or media creators, key-players in the production
process could entirely mean different things. They could carry altogether different and
distinct connotations. Let’s discuss in brief what or who are those key players:
1. Headline: The heading or the title of the news piece is the headline and easily
the most important key player of any piece of news, irrespective of the medium.
2. The byline or reporter’s sign-off is the next important player in the news
development process. This line reveals the author of the piece or despatch
news capsule, along with their location. Start of the piece.
3. Lead Paragraph/Opening, shot, or opening voice-over is another important
ingredient that makes a piece of news more credible; it lends authenticity to
the whole product because it takes the audience to the location from where
the story is filmed.
4. Supporting Paragraph or body of the story: this is the premise on which the
story is built. It also gives space to the second version of the whole story,
making the story objective and unbiased.
Having said all the above points, let’s not forget to mention some intangible key-playing
elements in the news development process, which come to the fore or seek validation
through the journalists involved in news production.
A journalist normally has to play four types of journalistic roles while being on the job
or while dealing with news items they are — normative, cognitive, practised, and narrated
— which correspond to conceptually separate ideas: What journalists should do, what
they aspire to do, what they do in practice, and what they believe they are doing are
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some important thoughts that invisibly guide this whole process. Look at the figure The News Development
Process
below, where this idea is explained through pictures.

Figure 2: Professional Identity and Roles of Journalists; Oxford research

Just go through the terms written on this image, and you will get a glimpse of the
various stakeholders competing with each other via the news production staff to get a
place in this process. Think about it; this will eventually give you better clarity of the
whole picture.

Activity - 2 How is News Produced?

Visit a television news organisation and interview the following on their respective
duties and accountability:
 Editors- Central desk (Radio, Online, TV)
 Reporters- Assigned according to beats
 Segment producers
 Camerapersons- Field and Studio
 Video Editors
 Executive producer
 Supervising producer
 Anchors- Read from the prompter
 Others: character generator operator, researchers, engineering and personnel

12.3.3 Comparing News Production in TV/Radio/Print and

Digital
The opening topic of this unit delved into detail with the whole idea of news production.
We have till now discussed news story ideas, news production, key players and various
stages of news production in totality. Now, we will have an insightful discussion on the
differences in news production for different media through which news dissemination
occurs. Or to understand the difference in the news production process for different
news outlets, which means TV, Radio, Print/Digital.
Let’s start with the Print media or Newspaper.
1. Newspaper : One is probably more interested in the headlines when they
pick up the morning newspaper from their doorstep than in making it. Even 221
Journalism and Society though every newspaper is slightly different, the manufacturing steps are
surprisingly simple. Before the paper reaches your hands, several people play
various roles.
The various steps involved in news production in a newspaper are as follows:
Newsgathering begins with reporters travelling to their specific beats to find
articles and cover events, as well as the marketing section acquiring
advertisements. Every newspaper relies heavily on news collection. After the
stories were gathered, the sub-editor used a red pen to make corrections to
the copies that the reporters supplied. The chief sub-editor then used a blue/
white editor and a green pen to make the final edits.
Pre-Press: After editing stories, the editor and other sub-editors will convene
an editorial conference to decide what will appear in the paper for the day.
Pre-press is where photos are edited, advertisements are created and
compared, and newspaper pages are laid out and designed. Page planning,
which simulates the final look of each newspaper, is how the newspaper is
planned on a mock-up sheet. The newspaper pages are assembled with pre-
press text using graphics, cut lines, colours, and images.
Press: The primary phase in creating a newspaper is the printing procedure.
The pillars in creating and processing print products are efficiency, dependability,
and reasonable production.

2. Radio: Radio production entails all duties associated with the audio content
and operation of all programs to be broadcast on radio, including
conceptualising the radio show, planning every aspect of it (such as scheduling,
sourcing, and guest confirmation), supervising presenters, content producers,
assistants, and other crew members, using various broadcast techniques like
soundboards and editing/production software, and editing interviews/reports/
conversations.
Radio Production: What is it?
The process of creating and delivering content for radio, the internet, or other
streaming and mobile platforms is known as radio production. Planning a
news show or episode concept is the first step, followed by coordinating and
carrying out every single task necessary to produce that show. The radio
producer is the one who must take the helm of this creatively and
organizationally complex process.
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 A radio producer works “behind the scenes,” and their main duty is to ensure The News Development
Process
that all programs are broadcast according to the established schedule and
that the program content is current and well-researched. Radio producers
are important when creating a great radio broadcast, even though, as listeners,
we may only be familiar with radio jockeys. The field of radio production is
perfect for you if you enjoy listening to the radio and are amazed by the
exciting, fascinating, and fantastic stuff that is broadcast on it.

Figure 3:(Mark D. Plumbley uploaded this figure; A Contextual Study of Semantic Speech
Editing in Radio Production Article Mar 2018)

3. Television: A production is known as a “video production” if it is meant to

be broadcast on any form of television, which includes but isn’t limited to
Free Television, Pay Television, and Pay-Per-View. An artistically commercial
production is not a television production. There are three different kinds of
live television production. Live, live-to-tape and pre-produced.
The top abilities required to be a successful TV producer are as follows:
Task delegation, planning, prioritisation, flexibility, analytical abilities, working
in a fast-paced environment, and analytical skills. The producer has to work
in different capacities, which are devised according to the five stages of TV
production:
Stage 1: The idea, also known as project development.
Stage 2: The Plan, sometimes referred to as Pre-production
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Journalism and Society Stage 3: The Shoot, or the production itself.
Stage 4: The Completed Work or Post-Production
Stage 5: Constitutes the steps involved in wrapping up and broadcasting the
news item.
The showrunner, executive producers, and editors get things done with the assistance
of producers. The script has to be revised or updated as their initial duty. Whether
you’re recording a television series, a TV news bulletin, a current affairs program,
an instructional video, or a 15-second advertisement, editing is probably the most
crucial part of any production. Effective editing takes the raw elements and produces
a coherent, interesting final product. The thrilling aspect of the entire process is
when a newscast is broadcast, which is a really difficult task. Today, creating a
newscast isn’t just restricted to television; You can also use YouTube or construct
your news website to broadcast a daily story. Remember that broadcast journalism
is a storytelling profession rather than just reporting facts if you are committed to
doing one.

Figure 4: (Rundown of a News bulletin. Image credit: Sean Thorp)

Figure 5: (Television live studio with news anchors, floor director, and
camera operators | Images credit: TV5)

Check Your Progress: 2

Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers

224 2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of the unit
1. What are the three levels of decision-making authority in the editorial hierarchy of The News Development
Process
a newsroom?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What are the stages of news production?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
3. Which are key players in a news report?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................

12.4 THE TELEVISION PRODUCTION TEAM

Personnel working in TV production are typically divided into two groups: above-the-
line and below-the-line. Technical staff members such as camera, audio, TD, VTR,
grip, and gaffer are categorised as below-the-line. In contrast, creative staff members
such as producers, writers, directors, and actors are categorised as above-the-line.
The staff in the pre-production phase are the casting director, costume designer, director,
location manager, makeup artist, researcher, scriptwriter, set designer, and television
producer.
The production’s visual presentation is the responsibility of the production designer.
They create, plan, coordinate, and arrange set design, equipment accessibility, and
production appearance on screen. The set designer or scenic designer are other names
for the production designer. They hold Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in scenic
design, making them skilled professionals. The set designer works with the studio
director to build the production’s setting, exchanging information about this environment
with the technical/studio director. The stage’s appearance and technical assembly are
designed by the set designer under the direction of the art/studio director. The formation
of an internal or external field studio for a specific project is planned and managed by
the studio director, who may also serve as the production manager.
A person who manages one or more parts of video production for a television program
is known as a television producer. Some producers play a more executive role in
developing and presenting new shows to television networks. Still, after they are picked
up, they concentrate on business issues like contracts and budgets. The daily operations
are handled by other producers, who take part in tasks including screenwriting, set
design, casting, and directing.
A professional operating a film camera or video camera as a film crew member is
known as a camera operator or, depending on the situation, a cameraman or camera
person. Depending on the situation and technology, a camera operator in a video
production may also be referred to as a videographer, television camera operator, or
video camera operator. They typically use a professional video camera.
A producer of on-air still and motion graphics is known as a graphics coordinator,
abbreviated as GC or font assist, and they typically work on television programs. A full
page (a graphic that fills the entire screen) or a lower third are only two examples of 225
Journalism and Society how the graphics coordinator chooses what information should be shown on-air (a bar
graphic appearing in the lower third of the screen).
A video control operator, sometimes identified as a video engineer or operator, manages
the video console in addition to the more common video control. This content includes
test patterns as well as live and recorded telecasts. Operators of the video console use
dials to adjust the contrast, framing, brilliance, colour balance, and integrity of the
transmitted image while keeping an eye on the activity on the set through video monitors
and set switches. They keep an eye on the show to verify that it is being transmitted in
a technically sound manner, and they examine it to make sure the signal is working
properly and prepared for timely broadcasting.
Post-production is a step in creating films, videos, audio recordings, and photographs.
All production activities which take place after the main shoot or after recording specific
program parts are referred to as post-production. Post-production is the umbrella
term for a variety of processes. Editing, video editing, colour grading, sound editing,
animation and visual effects insertions, screening, and the beginning of the airing process
are all post-production stages in television.
An expert team is needed to make a televised news broadcast. The entire show’s
planning, from budgeting to scheduling, is the responsibility of a production crew. A
program’s financing is arranged by an executive producer, who also usually decides on
advertising, material selection, and segment length. They also supervise the production
staff. To keep newscasts on schedule and within the executive producer’s allotted
budget, line producers keep an eye on them. Travelling to the scene of breaking news
stories, news reporters speak with people and gather information that news writers
then use to create reports. The audience is given access to the news reports by news
anchors who operate in a studio. During the broadcast segment featuring a new anchor,
a reporter appears on camera to provide extra information.

12.4.1 News/Data Gathering to News Writing

Newsgathering: Observation, dialogue, interviews, and research are the four main
approaches that journalists employ to acquire their news. Collecting newsworthy
information is known as news gathering. Spreading news information is known as
news reporting. The terms “journalist” and “reporter” are interchangeable and have the
same meaning. They are people in charge of news gathering and reporting. Observation,
discussions with informants, desk and web research, and interviews are the main
approaches for acquiring news. A journalist should be able to combine the facts from
there to produce reliable reporting. As they transform information into news, reporters
often follow a set process. The processes are 1) discovery, 2) information collection,
3) impact judgement, 4) focusing on key components, 5) organising, and 6) successfully
employing language. In the media, news collecting or documenting is a distinct activity,
particularly at the start of the communication process. The process of exchanging
information can be used to collect data. Interaction and interactivity are made possible
via virtual communication. When we examine news stories, we can see that they are
based on information from various sources, including tangible sources like books, files,
and records, the reporter’s observations, source interviews, and online sources.
News Writing: News has a lot of potential to be fascinating or even amusing, but its
main purpose is to inform people and give them power. Thus, journalism aims to give
the public the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for their own lives,
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social groups, societies, and governments. Newspapers, radio, and television all employ The News Development
Process
journalism, sometimes known as news writing, to report stories. The ABCs of news
writing—Accuracy, Brevity, and Clarity—must be adhered to while writing in a
journalistic style. These three components must be considered in addition to the audience
and tone of the story. News articles aim to inform and enlighten readers about current
issues and happenings. They are employed to give readers knowledge about the outside
world that they require or desire. The purpose of news stories is to keep readers up to
date on current affairs and events. They are used to give readers knowledge about the
world they need or want to know. The following are the key guidelines for creating
effective news stories: First, keep things straightforward and avoid jargon. Get right to
the point. The main plot point should be presented in the first paragraph and be
captivating enough to draw the reader in. Always answer the questions of who, what,
why, where, when, and how.

12.4.2 Discipline of Verification, Independence and

Accountability
Quality journalism is characterised by verification, independence, and accountability.
It involves determining whether a particular information is reliable and true or not. To
present the most accurate account of events, journalists gather data. They consult
sources, conduct extensive research, and present reliable documentation to substantiate
their claims. Three key ideas — creativity, humility, and transparency — form the
philosophical cornerstone of the discipline of verification. Transparency implies presenting
your evidence so that readers can determine whether or not to accept it. What is ethical
journalism? It is news that a dependable, independent organisation has backed up.
Independence consists of impartiality mixed with freedom from authority or influence.
Along with independence come objectivity, justice, and balance. Media independence
is the absence of outside influence or control over a media organisation or person. It
distinguishes between independent and state media based on their ability to “make
decisions and behave according to their rationale.
Accountability is the action of accepting accountability for the reporting. The names of
news organisations and the contact information for journalists should be readily available.
The ability to acknowledge mistakes when they are made is perhaps most vital for any
news organisation or journalist. Accountability journalism, often known as “watchdog”
or “investigative” journalism, concentrates on the needs of the public and frequently
reveals facts that could be damaging to an advertiser. To achieve this, one should
emphasise the four pillars of accountability: people, purpose, performance, and
progression.

Activity - 3 Analysis of Information Sources

Identify a subject or story available in a print or online news story and a public
social media post. Consider the following questions:
 Based on the journalistic process of verification, independence and
accountability, is there a difference between the two? Explain.
 Did the article and social media post follow the verification process? How
can you tell?
 Is the source independent and/or authoritative? Why?
 Is there accountability on the part of the source? Explain.
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Journalism and Society Check Your Progress: 3
Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of the unit
1. How is the personnel in TV news production divided?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. Explain the process of news gathering and writing for television.
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
3. What are the characteristics of quality journalism?
.......................................................................................................................
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12.5 QUALITY CONTROL AND REVIEW

Since the advent of commercial journalism, the news industry has undergone some of
the most significant disruptions, making the subject of what makes for high-quality
journalism more urgent than ever. The news is no longer the only domain of a small
number of specialised institutions that only sporadically share the same ideals or
professional standards. The increasing ability of the public to select the news they want
and to participate as both producers and consumers has increased the significance of
audience preference in determining quality. The debate over how to instil civic and
news literacy in young people has gained fresh traction due to the audience’s expanding
power.
When discussing journalism and its quality, it is useful to specify the level. For example,
source diversity is often cited as a goal for quality journalism (Napoli 1999; 2003), but
the term “source” will vary with the level. An individual story may, for instance, not
contain much diversity in sources, but diversity could exist among all the stories available
that day about a given event or trend. Thus, the diversity available to a community
would be greater if all the journalism products in the market were evaluated. (Lacy and
Rosenstiel, 2015).
In addition to being vital for its own sake, high-quality news has political repercussions.
However, defining, operationalising, and assessing the quality of news media is
challenging because the standards for evaluation depend on ideas about the ideal society,
which are fundamentally debatable. Despite agreement on the importance of news
media quality for society, much confusion exists regarding defining, operationalising,
and measuring the construct. Perhaps the most common view is that the news media is
getting worse in the era of digitisation.
Media organisations are experiencing unprecedented technological, financial, and
technological pressures, which have exposed them to severe public scrutiny and put
their management practices in the spotlight. In many democratic contexts, media
228
practitioners have responded to these public pressures by instituting quality control The News Development
Process
measures to gain public support and forestalling government interference.
If quality is seen to be a measure of a journalist’s capacity to carry out their duties, then
raising the standard of journalism would increase the public’s capacity to use it to
make wiser judgments and act as a deterrent to abuse and misconduct by those in
positions of authority. Quality journalism will mean different things to different people.
Still, because of socialising, ideas are much more likely to be exchanged by members
of the group who have some kind of similar experience. Finding these shared meanings
inside and between groups is key to establishing quality journalism. Broadly, there is
more common meaning within groups than between groups.

12.5.1 Influences on News Production

The topic of who the individuals or groups attempting to sway or influence news are
has long been relevant. According to several different sources, the government, interest
groups, advertising, and other media are the most important factors that affect journalism
or news coverage. This influence results from how much of an impact the media has on
our personal and professional lives. The “media effect,” or mass media, impacts many
facets of daily life, including voting behaviour, personal opinions and beliefs, and how
someone learns about a subject after receiving erroneous information.
Influences from outside the News circle or external influences include The government,
advertisers or commercials, interest group organisations, different media or mediums
of mass communication and local interests. In the modern world, the media’s ever-
increasing supply of news and information shapes public opinion. The decision to publish
a piece of news can be influenced by political pressure, target rating points (TRPs),
and editorial prejudice. Several things influence the decision of what to broadcast or
print. First and foremost, following media house policy, the majority of news editors
compete for the greatest TRPs, which directly translates into enormous ad earnings. In
addition, political pressure may exert pressure on an editor’s judgement and force
them to publish news that furthers a certain political objective. News articles promoting
extreme political beliefs can bring mass public unrest in a nation. Last, a news editor’s
personal convictions and viewpoints or adherence to the “house style” can provide a
news item with a unique perspective. Many media outlets are either pro- or anti-
government, pro- or anti-military, and as a result, news editors are forced to follow a
specific policy, which in turn influences news.
Having listed some prominent external factors affecting news production in any media
house, we should not forget some very common and inherent circumstances within
these news structures that influence news production in a very subtle and invisible
manner. They could be summed up as – time/deadline, speed/competition while
delivering news earlier than others, lack of space or airtime, profit/revenue and last but
not least, the predominant bias within the newsroom.

12.5.2 Conflict of Interests

The term “conflict of interest” refers to situations in which unspoken duties or allegiances
may conceivably intervene between journalists, journalism organisations, and the
audience they primarily serve. Conflicts of interest can take many forms, from writing
about close friends or relatives to receiving complimentary media copies for review.
When journalists establish sides on political or social problems, confrontations also
occur. 229
Journalism and Society Conflict of interest has developed into a structural ethical issue for journalism that is
integrated into the processes of creating content. Before the advent of digital media,
journalists, publishers, and broadcasters recognised it as a challenge that must be
addressed. Today, it is purposefully incorporated into journalists’ daily tasks. According
to Wasserman (2009: 229-241), ‘Conflict of interest comprises a variety of instances
where undeclared obligations or loyalties exist that might plausibly intervene between
journalists and journalism organisations and the public they principally serve.’
Dependence on sponsors by news organisations is a huge conflict of interest in journalism.
News organisations must uphold their owners’loyalty, another massive conflict of interest
in journalism. Conflict of interest is “a clash between a person’s self-interest and
professional interest or public interest” (Business Dictionary, 2016). Any activity that
could endanger the interests of their organisation or the objectivity of communication
experts should be avoided. That includes keeping personal objectives apart from those
of the company.
However, there are six strategies for averting disputes which can lead to a conflict of
interest and land anyone in a problem.
 Keep away from sources who offer you freebies or gifts.
 Never give money to political or activist organisations.
 Avoid getting involved in politics.
 Keep your friendships with the people you cover at a minimum.
 Family and friends should not be covered.
 Stay away from financial disputes.
These are a few small but day-to-day strategies through which one can not only avoid
challenges related to conflict of interest while working as a news producer and a field
reporter but what matters, in the end, is that this problem will not end anytime soon.

12.5.3 The End Product

How would you describe the final piece of content you produce?
Designing a news magazine, newspaper, or television news program is artistic. However,
news articles and products must be produced swiftly and effectively since they are
commodities. Instead of worrying about the production and delivery of your stories or
news capsules, you should concentrate on the art of delivering them.
Few things can compare to the satisfaction of a well-timed, well-executed broadcast,
which is why producers spend numerous hours planning and creating their programs.
When the program performs at its peak, a producer may feel excitement in the control
room. The flow of a good newscast makes it enjoyable to watch. Although it takes a
team to make something, the producer is the team leader, bringing the many pieces
together and creating a strategy that turns the initial data into a finished good. Despite
this, it is important to note that several of the finest news shows are those in which the
team reacts to big news rather than following a script or rundown. Producing when
you’re on the run and knowing that you’ve pushed yourself and your team to their
absolute boundaries to win the big story is the most exhilarating feeling.
Countless news and information programs are available on radio, television, and the
230 Internet; your newscast must compete with them. In addition to expanding the variety
of news sources, technology has also made it simpler for viewers to skip commercial The News Development
Process
interruptions. A lot of research has been done to find out what listeners expect from a
broadcast, and generally speaking, some aspects of the program are more appealing.
We’ve talked about how the network’s capabilities significantly impact news coverage.
One resource type is technical resources like cameras, recorders, and live trucks.
Human resources like correspondents, videographers, editors, and others are another.
Utilising these tools to create the greatest newscast possible is one of the main
responsibilities of a producer. Using all of the resources at our disposal to report far
more news is what is meant by “pushing the envelope.” Producers often choose to
take the safe route and handle things quickly. But in a time of heightened competition
and expanded news options, being safe is not necessarily a good idea.

12.5.4 Circulation and Dissemination

The number of copies circulated of a specific publication is measured by its circulation.
A publication’s viewership is an estimation of its audience. It includes managing
grievances, handling new customers and renewals over the counter and by mail,
instructing an administrative staff to keep records, alerting customers when their
memberships need to be renewed, and more. The circulation department is responsible
for circulating and distributing the news product, which is the main source of revenue
for the news organisation. It’s also the department’s responsibility to deliver the news
at the right places, like selling the media product, delivering it to the retailer, and collecting
data from the subscribers. Circulation managers’ role also impacts the survival of media
outlets, irrespective of whether they belong to print, digital or electronic media. In
today’s time, the circulation job is also substituted by digital media and advertising
managers. Any media organisation would be successful in its ability to sell its product
to the audience, viewers or readers along with producing quality products. As we all
know no p, product is produced or manufactured for oneself, but it is for the audience.
Thus, any media product’s success is directly related to its successful penetration into
the audience. It should be able to satisfy the needs of its readers/viewers and be accepted
by them. All this comes under the circulation department.
News dissemination refers to the entire process by which specific contents are
articulated, selected, transformed into news, and received by audiences. News
dissemination is the complete process by which certain materials are expressed, chosen,
turned into news, and received by news audiences. Instead of being sequential,
disseminating news is continuous, dynamic, and synchronically self-referential. The
reintroduction of values, meanings, and intents that the public and political actors have
acquired leads to a process in which news discourse continually replicates itself from
its past in an uncertain way. The dissemination of news content guarantees that the
advantages of the work are shared with everyone and that it is put to optimal use,
making it a crucial part of the production process. The likelihood that someone will
receive and accept information after it has been delivered from a news source is known
as an effective information dissemination possibility. To minimise losses and guarantee
the safety of humans and subjects alone, it is crucial to understand how different media
disseminate information and to have an effective plan for doing so in pre-crisis situations.
Check Your Progress: 4
Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of the unit 231
Journalism and Society 1. What are some of the influences on the news production process?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What are the strategies for averting a conflict of interest in news production?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
3. What is the role of the news circulation department?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................

12.6 PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES

(Instructions for the course counsellers)
Various pedagogical approaches are possible for this unit. However, the most apt
pedagogical approach can entail using textual analysis. The learner can analyse
newspaper accounts of a major issue or event and examine the information provided.
The learner then explains the assessment, considering the factors and process in
“identifying news and recognising the story”:
 Elements of the news (5Ws and 1H: Who? What? When? Where? How?)
and redefining them: news is data with meaning (who is the character, what is
the plot, when is time, where is the setting, why is motivation or causation,
how is narrative)
 The notion of news has expanded over the years to include the questions: “So
what?” meaning that the significance should be explained; “What’s the solution?”
meaning that news can go beyond the important function of exposing problems
and give exposure to the range of possible solutions.
 Journalism is “storytelling with a purpose”: finding the information people need
to live good lives and presenting the information in a meaningful, relevant and
engaging way.
 Is it possible to assess if the news includes answers to the questions “So
what?” and “Is the solution to the problem being reported?”. While not all
news can include these elements, there is a general drive to ensure that more
new stories do so.
The learner should also check for verifiability based on the core principles of verification:
do not add; do not deceive the audience; be as transparent as possible about methods
and motives; rely on your original reporting; and exercise humility.
The learner should also apply at least one technique of verification: sceptical editing,
accuracy checklist, method of verifying presumed facts, and rules on anonymous sources.
A reference that can be used is The Elements of Journalism by Kovach and Rosenstiel.

12.7 LET US SUM UP

In this unit, the main emphasis was to acquaint you with the news development process.
232 Since we all live in a multimedia-centric news production and consumption environment
today, it was important to give an insight into the news development procedure across The News Development
Process
all three newsrooms. In the previous unit, what is News, I tried to explain the concept
of news and its various branches. However, in this unit, topics dealt with in detail are
developing news story ideas, news production (pre to post), production team, data/
information gathering, quality control and review of news content, influences and conflict
of interests. This is done with the hope that it will help you all understand the news
development process in any news organisation. I’ve tried to comprehensively
accommodate the subject in a manner that will clarify all three media - TV, radio, print
and multimedia. After going through this unit, we think it will be easier for you to
navigate the varied newsroom systems employed to gather information and develop a
news item. After reading this chapter, you can evaluate the implicit and visible messages
in media using your interpretations.

12.8 KEYWORDS
News Production : News production can be seen as transforming events through
systematic criteria into published news in the media.
Pre-Press Phase : Pre-Press is where photos are edited, advertisements are
created and compared, and all the newspaper pages are
laid out and designed.
Radio Production : The process of creating and delivering content for radio, the
internet, or other streaming and mobile platforms is known
as radio production.
Post-Production : Post-production is the umbrella term for a variety of
processes. Editing, video editing, colour grading, sound
editing, animation and visual effects insertions, screening, and
the beginning of the airing process are all post-production
stages in television.
Accountability : Accountability journalism, often known as “watchdog” or
Journalism “investigative” journalism, concentrates on the needs of the
public and frequently reveals facts that could be damaging
to an advertiser.
Conflict of Interest : The term “conflict of interest” refers to situations in which
unspoken duties or allegiances may intervene between
journalists, journalism organisations, and the audience they
primarily serve.
News Dissemination : News dissemination refers to the entire process by which
specific contents are articulated, selected, transformed into
news, and received by news audiences.

12.9 FURTHER READINGS

1. Lacy, S., & Rosenstiel, T. (2015, March 30). Defining and Measuring Quality
Journalism. Retrieved December 29, 2022, from https://www.issuelab.org/
resources/31212/31212.pdf
233
Journalism and Society 2. Obuya, J. (2020). Quality Control in journalism: The management of Media
Accountability in newsrooms in Kenya [Abstract]. International Journal
on Media Management, 22(3-4), 134-143. doi:10.1080/
14241277.2021.1872153
3. Bachmann, P., Eisenegger, M., & Ingenhoff, D. (2021). Defining and measuring
news media quality: Comparing the content and audience perspectives. The
International Journal of Press/Politics, 27(1), 9-37. doi:10.1177/
1940161221999666
4. Kelly, M. P., Martin, N., Dillenburger, K., Kelly, A. N., & Miller, M. M.
(2018). Spreading the news: History, successes, challenges and the ethics of
effective dissemination. Behaviour Analysis in Practice, 12(2), 440-451.
doi:10.1007/s40617-018-0238-8
5. Katakis, I., Tsoumakas, G., Banos, E., Bassiliades, N., & Vlahavas, I. (2008).
An adaptive, personalised news dissemination system [Abstract]. Journal of
Intelligent Information Systems, 32(2), 191-212. doi:10.1007/s10844-008-
0053-8

12.10 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: POSSIBLE

ANSWERS
Check Your Progress: 1
1. The five criteria for checking if a story is newsworthy or not are:
 Timeliness
 Inferring
 Proximity
 Prominence
 Human Interest
2. The key questions to ask after the 5Ws and 1H in a news story are:
 What is the central query of the story?
 What does the story not concern?
 How do we ensure that the news item is accurate in representation?
 What components make a perfect recipe for news?
Check Your Progress: 2
1. The editorial hierarchy typically has three layers of decision-making authority:
The lowest category of journalists comprises reporters with little autonomy.
The news and information are gathered and produced by these journalists,
who often have little to no editorial responsibility. “junior managers” are at the
intermediate level in the editorial structure. These journalists have operational
power, and they regularly make operational choices. They are often in charge
of the newsroom’s smaller departments, such as a beat, a desk, or a bureau.
234
 Senior or executive management holds the last level of strategic power in the The News Development
Process
newsroom. They can shape the strategic objectives of their news organisations.
2. The five stages of news production are:
 Content Gathering Stage
 Pre-Press Stage
 Press Stage
 Post-Production Stage
 Distribution or Dissemination Stage
3. The key players in the news development process are:
 Headline
 Byline or reporter’s sign-off
 Lead Paragraph/Opening shot or opening voice-over
 Supporting Paragraph or body of the story
Check Your Progress: 3
1. Personnel working in TV production are typically divided into two groups:
above-the-line and below-the-line. Technical staff members such as camera,
audio, TD, VTR, grip, and gaffer are categorised as below-the-line. In contrast,
creative staff members such as producers, writers, directors, and actors are
categorised as above-the-line. The staff in the pre-production phase are the
casting director, costume designer, director, location manager, makeup artist,
researcher, scriptwriter, set designer, and television producer.
2. Journalists or Reporters are in charge of news gathering and reporting.
Observation, discussions with informants, desk and web research, and
interviews are the main approaches for acquiring news. A journalist should be
able to combine the facts from there to produce reliable reporting. As they
transform information into news, reporters often follow a set process. The
processes are: 1) discovery, 2) information collection, 3) impact judgement,
4) focusing on key components, 5) organising, and 6) successfully employing
language.
3. Quality journalism is characterised by verification, independence, and
accountability. It involves determining whether a particular information is
reliable and true or not.
Check Your Progress: 4
1. Influences from outside the News circle or external influences consist of - The
government, advertisers or commercials, interest group organisations, different
media or mediums of mass communication and local interests. Moreover, the
internal influences could be summed up as – time/deadline, speed/competition
while delivering news earlier than others, lack of space or airtime, profit/revenue
and last but not least, the predominant bias within the newsroom.
2. There are six strategies for averting disputes which can lead to a conflict of
interest and land anyone in a problem. 235
Journalism and Society  Keep away from sources who offer you freebies or gifts.
 Never give money to political or activist organisations.
 Avoid getting involved in politics.
 Keep your friendships with the people you cover at a minimum.
 Family and friends should not be covered.
 Stay away from financial disputes.
3. The circulation department is responsible for circulating and distributing the
news product, which is the main source of revenue for the news organisation.
It’s also the department’s responsibility to deliver the news at the right places,
which is like selling the media product, delivering it to the retailer, and collecting
data from the subscribers. Circulation managers’ role also impacts the survival
of media outlets, irrespective of whether they belong to print, digital or electronic
media.

236
 The News Development
UNIT 13 NEWS REPORTING AND THE Process

POWER OF THE IMAGE

Structure
13.0 Introduction
13.1 Learning Outcomes
13.2 News Reporting for Traditional Versus New Media
13.2.1 The Immediacy of Breaking News
13.2.2 News Reporting for Newspapers and Magazines
13.2.3 News Reporting for TV News Channels and Radio
13.2.4 News Reporting for Online Digital and Multimedia Platforms
13.3 Good Practices of News Reporting
13.3.1 On-site Reporting
13.3.2 Sourcing and Citation of Information
13.3.3 Authenticity and Credibility
13.3.4 Cross-Checking and Double-Checking Facts and Figures
13.3.5 Non-Prejudicial
13.3.6 Privacy and Confidentiality
13.4 The Power of Image in News Reporting
13.4.1 Visuals and Photographs: Impacts and Response
13.4.2 Reporting for Audio and Visual Media
13.4.3 Writing for Visual Media
13.4.4 Leveraging the Visual Quotients
13.5 Learning Attributes of News Reporting
13.6 Pedagogical Approaches
13.7 Let Us Sum Up
13.8 Keywords
13.9 Further Readings
13.10 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers

13.0 INTRODUCTION
As you learned in the earlier Units, the role of media is to inform, educate and entertain
people. Among the three roles, informing is important, made possible by news gathering
and news reporting by journalists and media houses. The role of providing news or
information has, however, undergone a significant change since the first newspaper
came into existence. As you know, news reporting is both a science and an art, and
technological changes have altered how news is gathered and the tools used in the
process. Because of the above changes, news content has also been transformed.
Earlier, news reporting was a monolithic and linear process, with reporters reporting
on facts and events. Now, news reporting claims to probe news or the truth behind the
news, making news reporting the art of investigative journalism or sting operation as it 237
MIL, Society and Ethics has come to be called in the late 20th and 21st centuries. It means news reporting is no
longer confined to chronicling the events but has begun to ask fundamental questions.
The earlier questions of the 5 Ws – who, what, when, where and why- now emphasize
the investigation part. As news reporting often deals with people in power, social
hierarchy and political control, the role of media has been further magnified with the
advent of new media, which has begun questioning the earlier paradigm.
We all know that media and journalists are not stand-alone identities but derive their
role and responsibility from the ecosystems in which they are born and evolved. Like
all other agencies, it attempts to adjust and derive its sense of identity depending on the
social and political system it belongs to. As a result, you will find significant changes in
news reporting related to democratically, authoritarian, or Communist-run regimes.
The media often attempts to maintain the status quo and adjust to its ecosystem’s
social and political realities. However, this is not always the case, as the media also
fought against oppressive rules and authoritarian governments in some countries. They
have been responsible for creating public awareness and subsequent change in the
regime. Recently, Reporters Without Borders, an NGO of independent journalists,
has been fighting to safeguard the values of journalism and the right to freedom of
information.

13.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES

After you have gone through this unit, you will be able to.
1. understand news reporting in the traditional versus New media;
2. describe the good practices of news reporting;
3. analyse the power and perceptive image and its impact;
4. understand the use of new technology in news gathering and in; and
5. learn the attributes of news reporting.

13.2 NEWS REPORTING FOR TRADITIONAL

VERSUS NEW MEDIA
Among all aspects of journalism, news gathering is one of the most vital features as it
determines the character of the publication and helps create a brand. With the technology
change, while other aspects of media organizations have been deeply impacted, news
reporting has remained a constant with not much impact on it. Whether it’s traditional
media of newspapers, radio and magazines or the new and digital media, news reporting
has remained the same. It still follows the old reporting principles from the ground zero
and of authenticity and credibility, which adds credence. It still needs field work as
vigorous as in the traditional media. What has changed are the technology and the
means of communication, which have accelerated the process.
Mobile phones, the Internet and social media have significantly reduced the time lag
before the news reaches the readers. News reporting is the perennial element of
journalism, enjoying constant value, irrespective of the technologically-driven media.
With the emergence of new technology, the periodicity of news gathering has increased
238
as the readers vie for instant gratification in reports and news bytes. It has accelerated Audience: National and
Global Contexts
the process of news gathering.

13.2.1 The Immediacy of Breaking News

The immediacy of breaking news refers to minute-to-minute reporting on social, political,
or economic events affecting many people. The immediacy of news reporting gains
more importance in natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, cloudbursts, hurricanes,
pandemics, etc. It was recently evident during the COVID-19 pandemic that the
shortage of vaccines and oxygen cylinders became vital to save lives. In addition,
international war and conflict are other areas where breaking news gains the utmost
importance. The Russian attack on Ukraine and the civilian population were put on
alert through breaking and inside reports.
But the hunger for immediate news has a flip side, which sometimes becomes harmful
and compromises principled journalism. Understandably, it has accelerated the process
of news gathering, but it has also compromised the quality of news and its credibility. If
you remember, in the traditional media, there was no concept of breaking news in the
24-hour newspaper publication cycle. Instead, it carried the last news received with
the title “At the time of going to press....” Another aspect of breaking news has been
its compromised position vis-à-vis the process of gatekeeping, which plays a vital role
in the credibility of news publishing. With the increased flow of news and the haste of
news delivery, there is less time for the media to check the integrity of the information.
It is one of the reasons that electronic media, especially TV news channels and digital
media, focus on event-based direct broadcasts or live telecasts. The event-based
reporting is based on the premise that ‘what is seen is what is believed in’ as readers
are directly transported to the site of the incident.
There is another group of news reporting called ‘developing news’, which is directly
related to breaking news. There is no final in such cases, and the news is still unfolding.
Such news needs continuous reporting with a timeline before reaching the outcome.
One of the recent examples of such news was a change in the political regime in
Maharashtra in 2022 after the defection of Shiv Sena MLAs. A group of MLAs led by
Eknath Shinde had revolted against the Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister
Uddhav Thackeray. Before the no-trust motion could be tabled in the Legislative
Assembly, these MLAs were flown to Guwahati and later to Goa and interned in
hotels. The incident occurred in June 2022 and continued for weeks before Mr Shinde
was sworn in as the state’s chief minister. This story was a developing story as every
day, some or the other news was filtering into the media about the MLAs, the incumbent
chief minister, and the Supreme Court’s decision on the issues. Such news stories need
continuous reporting as they can decide the country’s political future and its people.

13.2.2 News Reporting for Newspapers and Magazines

Unlike reporting on breaking news in TV news channels and digital media, newspapers
and magazines have a different role because of their production cycle. The next edition
of the daily newspaper comes only 24 hours after you have received your newspapers
early in the morning. As newspapers are not in a hurry to provide breaking news, they
use the available time for in-depth reporting on the issue. A newspaper tries to find out
the reason, the cause, and its impact on policies, people, the economy, and politics.
Depending on the impact value of the news, some news makes it to the paper’s front
page while others recede to the inside pages. The reporters and correspondents of 239
MIL, Society and Ethics newspapers prefer not only to visit the site of the action but also to meet people related
to the event and take quotes from government officials. They are also accompanied by
photographers who take the visual shots and send them to the news desk.
At times, when the newspaper doesn’t have the reporters at the site of action, the story
is filed based on agency reports to which these newspapers subscribe. Some of the
prominent news agencies of India are the Press Trust of India (PTI), ANI, IANS and
Reuters, AP, and AFP, among others. However, what differentiates newspaper reporting
from other mass media is its emphasis on details and the background to which readers
can relate. Sometimes, when the events have high news value, the editorial team writes
an editorial or opinion piece on it while critically examining the issue and providing an
informed opinion to its readers. In fact, by doing so, newspapers play another vital role
in creating public opinion among their readers.
News reporting for magazines is very different from TV news channels or newspapers.
There are various types of magazines, and depending on their genre, they may or may
not need news reporting. Depending on the periodicity of the magazine - weekly,
fortnightly or monthly, the editorial team decides the nature and frequency of news
reports. While dealing with the subject in detail, the magazine news reports provide an
analytical approach to the subject, with historical background, quotes from policymakers
and its long-term impact. They also refer to prominent books on the subject and quote
experts while strengthening their arguments through data displayed in tables and graphs.
Unlike the new features in the newspapers, which occupy four or five columns, magazine
reporting and field dispatches are mostly long-form, spreading writing through 4 to 12
pages. Another important difference in the form and nature of editorial content is that
magazine news may take a different angle on social issues that may not find a place on
the front pages of newspapers. The magazine news reporting has a long shelf life and is
sometimes preserved for reference. Some of India’s popular English news magazines
are India Today, Frontline, The Week, Outlook, Open, and Caravan. Some of
these magazines, like India Today and Outlook, also come in Hindi and other regional
languages. A large number of magazines are genre-based and do not need news
reporting. Some of them have niche audiences like women and youth. These magazines
include Samanya Gyan Darpan, Vanitha, Pratiyogita Darpan, Sarita,
Grihashobha, The Sportstar, Meri Saheli, Bal Bhaskar, etc.

13.2.3 News Reporting for TV News Channels and Radio

Unlike news reporting for newspapers and magazines, TV News Channels have 24/7
periodicity and need continuous news feeds to survive and participate in the highly
competitive broadcast space. TV news channels involve a high setup and operational
cost and employ many people, creating high business risk. Their revenue earning capacity
depends on their Television Rating Point (TRP), a measure of viewership and success
of the TV news channels. To enhance TRP and increase viewership, most TV news
channels have evolved their unique selling point (USP) by calling themselves the fastest
and most credible, and some claim that they provide news or the truth behind the
news. All these features mentioned above are directly or indirectly related to the process
of news gathering and news reporting. The 24/7 news channels compete to be the first
to provide news related to events, politicians, or celebrities.
A TV news anchor’s role is to read these stories and dramatize certain events to create
curiosity and attract people’s attention to news stories. The broadcast of these stories
240 assumes different forms depending on the importance of the story, visuals, and other
details available on the TV news channels. The news about which not many details and Audience: National and
Global Contexts
visuals are available and has only one line of information is run through tickers or
running script you see on your TV screen. Sometimes, the reporter does a piece to the
camera (PTC) and addresses the viewers directly while reporting on the event.
As seen, the news-gathering process is almost the same for all mediums. Still, TV
news reporting is more complex and involves multiple professionals like cameramen,
Outdoor Broadcast Van (Ob Van), Liv U and Dejero, Satcom and Ingest and other
infrastructure. Reporting on an event uses all forms of communication, including words,
pictures, graphics, and video. It should be remembered that illiterate people also view
TV news channels, so particular emphasis should be given to simplicity and clarity of
expression, words and phrases. As a rule, such news should begin by providing the
most crucial part of the information first, followed by less important and then least
important parts in sequential order while narrating the story. The reporter and anchor
are also advised to use simple, brief sentences and avoid ambiguity and incoherence
while reporting events. For a TV reporter, it is also essential to understand the nature
and profile of viewers to present news in a way easily understood by them.

13.2.4 News Reporting for Online Digital and Multimedia

Platforms
Online and digital multimedia have significantly changed accessibility and reach to readers
and viewers. At the same time, it has diversified the mechanism of news reporting, thus
involving the masses in the process. You must have seen a lot of videos and news alerts
by common people posted on social media going viral, and the mainstream media
subsequently taking up those feeds and reporting on it. Digital media enjoys a unique
position because of its distinctive news reporting and dissemination features. Its
segmented and customized features allow catering to different audience groups, whether
the audience is literate or illiterate. Unlike TV and newspapers, it doesn’t need much
setup and operational cost and can be started by anyone with a meagre investment.
You must have seen many YouTubers and small and big journalists running their websites,
blogs, and YouTube channels with decent followers and subscriber bases.
While the process of news reporting largely remains the same in all mediums, the
difference lies in the infrastructure required and the narrative style of digital journalists.
To have a digital platform, you need a hosting site, mobile phone/laptop and editing
software before putting the news content on the website or uploading a video on
YouTube. For the real-time display of news content, a digital journalist can also
livestream his/her reporting and tag people and authorities related to it. Suppose you
are catering to a particular segment of people or a news subject. In that case, you can
hashtag them so that they are easily searched and located by readers interested in the
subject. In addition to the real-time display of news, digital media also provides a high
degree of interactivity with its readers, with whom digital journalists could interact and
receive feedback, a vital feature of all active online journalism.
Digital media’s ubiquity has transformed how news is read and accessed with features
like customized news for the segmented audience. Unlike newspapers, which depend
on circulation and TV broadcasting facilities, digital media needs a device and Internet
connection both on the part of the source and the receiver of the information. A reader
can choose to read the news of his/her interest area and ignore the rest by subscribing
to customized news, which is tailor-made to their needs and finds a place in their
mailbox. Thus, in digital media, you can read your news anytime and anywhere (provided 241
MIL, Society and Ethics it has Internet facilities). One can even go back to the news later by saving the Uniform
Resource Locator (URL), unlike in the newspaper and TV, which is geographically
and timely bound.
There is yet another feature of digital media that makes it unique in the form of editing
news stories. Newspapers and TV do not allow people to correct or update a story
once it is printed or broadcast. In digital media, one can re-edit the story, make
corrections, update new developments and publish it again. However, the same is not
applicable in the case of videos that have to be re-uploaded. But to maintain the
credibility and authenticity of the news, it is always advisable to mention the changes at
the end of the news article so that readers who visited the page earlier know it.

Activity - 1
Examine the media coverage of current events and issues and assess to what
extent these concerns are valid.

Check Your Progress: 1

Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. What is the production cycle of newspapers?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What is the news-gathering process of TV channels?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
3. What are the benefits of news reporting for digital and online media?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................

13.3 GOOD PRACTICES OF NEWS REPORTING

With the advent of digital media and the mushrooming of social networking sites, the
number of media platforms for news dissemination has increased. This has led to the
transmission of unverified news content, mainly misinformation and disinformation and
has come to form what has been popularly called fake news. But it must be noted that
there is nothing called fake news. News cannot be fake because it has passed through
the muster of verification and gatekeeping - the cardinal principles of journalism. At
best, these are fake content and not news. It must also be admitted that there has been
considerable liquidation in the gatekeeping process. While it was a sacrosanct principle
in the traditional media when reporters and correspondents were asked to verify news
several times before it was published, the same is not true in digital media. In the fast-
paced breaking news culture, digital and TV media are always in a hurry to be the first
ones to publish breaking news, even at the cost of going wrong. This often puts a
242 question mark on the credibility of the news and media organizations. Nonetheless,
many traditional media organizations led by senior journalists follow good journalism Audience: National and
Global Contexts
principles, including the following.

13.3.1 On-Site Reporting

This particular challenge has cropped up with the emergence of new digital media, in
which there is less and less original fieldwork reporting. It has been observed that most
of the reporting is armchair or desk reporting, where reporters and correspondents do
not go to the field but instead report from their desks. So much so that even TV
reporting has taken a backseat when the anchor briefs the viewers from their offices.
There is no doubt that field reporting involves considerable cost. Still, an absence of it
deprives the viewers of the fundamental issues and hands-on experience that reporters
get while talking to the victims and reporting the ambience of the incidents. Now, a
large amount of reporting has become surveillance reporting, which is technologically
driven. There is no substitute for fieldwork reporting as real issues, and the truth behind
the news is put on the back burner.

13.3.2 Sourcing and Citiation Information

In the absence of fieldwork reporting, a good news reporter is expected to share the
source of information without jeopardizing the safety and identity of its sources. As
large numbers of news are simple facts, the reporters are expected to take the official
versions from the authorities while, at the same time, talking to those who may be
affected by such reports. Sourcing and citation of the information vary from news to
news, and reporters should maintain self-censorship while filing their news reports.

13.3.3 Authenticity and Credibility

Authenticity and credibility of news are important criteria when judging the merit of the
news. News that is not credible and authentic could create rumours, leading to serious
losses of property and lives, especially when it is a sensitive issue. A news writer is
expected to take a measured step and should verify the authenticity of news from all
possible sources before publishing and broadcasting it. These two attributes are major
indicators of the prestige and professionalism of media organizations.

13.3.4 Cross-Checking and Double-Checking Facts & Figures

This is the cardinal principle of good journalism, as it is based on facts. It has been
observed that sometimes the facts and figures given by the government authorities
could go wrong, and as a rule, reporters are expected to check, cross-check, and
double-check the facts he/she is providing to the readers. Sometimes, old reports
come in handy while validating the truthfulness of the information. It is always better to
check the information from multiple sources and quote the source when there is an
anomaly.

13.3.5 Non-Prejudicial
This is another subjective area in which a reporter must always be conscious. Many
prejudices are subconsciously governed, which a reporter is unaware of and may pass
on while writing or reporting an incident. All stereotypical depictions of people, religion
and politics should be avoided and only be governed by the merit of the news that a
reporter is reporting on. While describing a situation, some fashionable adjectives,
adverbs and superlatives should be avoided; instead, a balanced report should be
prepared. 243
MIL, Society and Ethics 13.3.6 Privacy and Confidentiality
There are definite rules and norms to safeguard the source’s safety and security, which
provides sensitive information to the reporters. You must have heard about Deep Throat’s
identity in the Watergate scandal. That was not revealed for many years as it could
have compromised the person’s safety. A reporter has to take special care to take due
permission before quoting him/her in the report and maintain a confidentiality clause if
asked by the individuals. Revealing the source’s identity sometimes puts even the
government in a precarious position.

13.4 THE POWER OF IMAGE IN NEWS REPORTING

The traditional media was constrained by limited space, so the scope to play up the
pictorial elements was constricted. It was used to carry pictures of national leaders on
important occasions or events. However, the pictorial and visual aspects have been
amplified with digital media gaining unlimited space. A separate digital media, Instagram,
emphasizes visual aspects, with political leaders and celebrities hogging the limelight
with massive followers. As visuals are important aspects of storytelling and news
reporting, they have carved a special place in the visual communication of the media.
Let’s look at some of the special features of photojournalism.

13.4.1 Visuals and Photographs: Impact and Response

News reporting is one of the main pillars of journalism, without which independent
media would lose its relevance. There are various kinds of newspapers, magazines,
TV Channels and digital media platforms that literature, social issues, religious issues
and sports could drive. News reporting is one of the major strengths of newspapers,
magazines, and TV channels, whose major strength lies in the news. One of the reasons
that news reporting is a challenging task is that it entails heavy investment and vigilant
adherence to the principle of reporting and ethical practices. More often than not, it
must adhere to self-censorship and restrain inflammatory language lest it creates social
whiplash.
News reporting also creates social perception, which plays a major role in a news
story’s social, political and religious narration. How a news story is told, how the
source portrays it, and how the readers receive it shapes the narrative and the image-
portrayed event, community, policy and person. Before we discuss the power of the
real image, let’s first understand the creation of an image through a script or a story that
assumes a dominant role in news reporting. The way a news reporter uses verbs,
adjectives, and, at times, superlatives creates an image in readers’ minds that could
either affirm or negate his/her perception.
The media portrayal sometimes reinforces pre-existing preferences or prejudices.
Incidentally, this method of reporting is far removed from classical storytelling, which is
mainly fact-based and devoid of personal perception. Despite these changes, news
reporting from ground zero based on objectivity, neutrality, and unbiased attention
continues to form the bedrock of good journalism. Good reporting also involves
sustained and continuous follow-up of the event and painstakingly putting the small
details into the larger whole to solve the puzzle. You must have read about the
investigative reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein for The Washington
Post, who reported on the Watergate Scandal that led to the resignation of US President
244 Richard Nixon.
 Audience: National and
Global Contexts

A team of Washington Post staff working on the Watergate Scandal.

(Photo Courtesy: History Extra.com)

In addition to the written script, which forms the main narrative of news stories, still
pictures, videos and multimedia create their narrative. Let’s see how some images
have defined the period of angst and suffering and have so succinctly portrayed the
events of their era. Take, for example, the image of Phan Thi Kim Phuc, known as “the
girl in the picture”, which was shot by Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer Nick
Ut during the Vietnam War in 1972.

The Girl in the Picture (Photo Courtesy: New York Times)

The picture shows a 9-year-old girl running naked on the street with her back burnt,
depicting atrocities on civilians. There is no word which can describe the suffering of
the young girl. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The picture was so
traumatizing that the editors of the New York Times hesitated to publish it. But after
much deliberation, it found a place on the paper’s front page, thus drawing the world’s
attention to the sufferings of the Vietnam War. The picture has been adjudged the
Picture of 1973.
Another picture that merits mention is that of an Afghan girl named Sharbat Gula (Sharbat
Bibi), which was published on the cover of National Geographic in June 1985. The
picture was popularly called “the First World’s Third World Mona Lisa” and was shot
by National Geographic photojournalist Steve McCurry. The girl was photographed 245
MIL, Society and Ethics when she was 12 years old and was living in one of the refugee camps in Pakistan after
the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviets. The photograph is unusual for the clarity
of facial expression that shows the grit of an Afghan girl staring at an uncertain future
with broad, open eyes.
National Geographic launched a campaign to search for the girl. She was finally
located in her hometown in Afghanistan when she has photographed again in 2002,
and the two photographs were juxtaposed against each other.

First World’s Third World Mona Lisa (Photo Courtesy: National Geographic)

As seen in the case of Vietnamese girls and Afghan women, the sufferings of common
people form the main narrative while depicting the impact of war and people’s
subsequent dislocation and migration. In the same league, the picture of a three-year-
old Syrian toddler washed up on Turkey’s beach in Bodrum on September 2, 2015,
drew the world’s attention towards Syrian refugees trying to escape the war-torn
country. The lifeless drowned toddler with facedown was found after 12 Syrian refugees
tried to make their way to the Greek island of Kos and died on their way. The toddler
was later identified as Alan Kurdi, who had drowned with his 5-year-old brother.
These refugees belonged to Kobani, a Syrian town under fire during the fight between
Islamic State insurgents and Kurdish forces. The image was so evocative and expressive
that it immediately caught the world’s attention and became a trending picture on Twitter
with the hashtag #KiyiyaVuranInsanlik (humanity washed ashore).

The Syrian boy on Greece’s Bodrum beach on September 2, 2015 (Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia)

13.4.2 Reporting for Audio and Visual Media

Audio and video files are two important digital media aspects conspicuously absent in
246 the earlier traditional media. Their reach and appeal have been so impressive that
dedicated digital spaces are assigned to them. At the same time, audio has been a Audience: National and
Global Contexts
special feature of radio and video that the TV; the two have seamlessly converged in
the digital space. The podcast has emerged as one of the sought-after content for
news, features, and discussion, which now most newspaper and TV websites have
incorporated into their digital space. Depending on the nature of the news, podcasts
are a series of audio files available to the readers, either free or subscription-based. A
good media podcaster makes the subject interesting by simplifying it for common listeners
by modulating his/her voice, sound pitch play and tone. The subjects of the podcasts
vary from cinema to food to travel to news and entertainment. Some popular Indian
podcasts include The Mythpat Podcast, Maed in India, Internet Said So, Ranveer
Show, Tastes of India and In Focus by The Hindu.
The expansion of telecom infrastructure and Internet penetration has further facilitated
the reach of audio and video to a large group of a heterogeneous mass audience.
Many news organizations have dedicated video channels on which they host their
content and keep updating from time to time. Some of these videos are also on social
media, where people pick them up. When many people access videos in a given period,
they are said to go viral because of their accessibility and popularity. In fact, video has
become the most widely watched content in today’s media content. Many videos with
the highest viewership numbers run in billions and belong to music, entertainment, and
religious content genres. As the lifespan of news content is fleeting, it does not occupy
a permanent slot in the highest viewership category.

13.4.3 Writing for Visual Media

The principle of good journalistic writing stands equally true for visual media, which
means that the narration of the news story has to be simple, attractive and close to the
readers who can identify themselves with the content of the medium. As mentioned
earlier, the conversational tone of the script is most suitable for the medium. The
sentences should be simple. A complex sentence should be broken into 8-10 words,
with each sentence conveying a particular idea. The use of heavy words and jargon
should be avoided as far as possible. The transition from one sentence to another
should match the visual transition to be effective and communicative. As people’s digital
attention is flickering, it is best to begin the story with its most startling or unique aspect
and then gradually shift to known facts. In most cases, viewers’ attention and retention
are the most critical aspects of video viewing. They should be given due attention by
incorporating stunning visuals, graphics, and archival screenshots in the video library.

13.4.4 Leveraging the Visual Quotients

The visuals and video have the highest viewer quotients among all media content. It
decides the priority of video content and should be leveraged accordingly. Video content
should be placed at the right place and at the right time when there are chances they
would be searched for on the subject. It should be rightly tagged and indexed with
popular keywords on the subject. When the video content matches the searchable
content, the video hosting site should be able to display it when required. The video
content should be compelling and competent enough to draw viewers’ attention. It
should be watermarked to protect the ownership rights of the video and should be
embedded. It is also advisable to create playlists so that viewers can continuously
engage and subscribe to them for future engagement.
247
MIL, Society and Ethics
Activity - 2
Discuss reactions to images of people personally affected by tragedy or disaster.
Research and reflect on the strategies journalists use in mainstream and alternative
media to depict the emotional impact of events while maintaining people’s privacy
and dignity.

13.5 LEARNING ATTRIBUTES OF NEWS

REPORTING
The learning curve for news reporters continues lifelong. In addition to learning new
methods of gathering news and using new technology, he/she has to ensure that the
reports, features, and opinion pieces they write truly reflect the essence of the time.
Some ethical questions about information sources must be addressed while maintaining
the prevailing privacy laws. Certain self-restraint norms need to be followed depending
on the subjects of the reporting - political, economic, sports, health, international affairs
or crime. While reporting on the judiciary or court, the reporter has to ensure the
decorum and dignity of the judges are maintained lest they are implicated in contempt
of court. The reporter must also ensure that he/she gives the full and correct versions of
all the parties involved in the report and should not favour one over the other.
Check Your Progress: 2
Note: 1) Use the space below for your answers.
2) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1. What are some of the good practices of news reporting?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
2. What is the ideal way to include visual elements in news reporting?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................

13.6 PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES

(Instructions for the course counsellers)
In this unit, learners can research and analyze the news coverage of a major event,
such as a man-made or natural disaster. This case study can focus on the images from
news coverage and the representations of people and issues connected to these events.
Learners can survey the Internet to locate the images that appeared in the mainstream
media.
Research and analyze the news coverage of major events such as man-made or natural
disasters. This case study should focus on the images from news coverage and the
representations of people and issues connected to these events. Educators can survey
the Internet to locate the images that appeared in the mainstream media.
248
The following questions can be used to analyze the coverage and the images in detail: Audience: National and
Global Contexts
 Describe what was represented in online news sites, television, and newspaper
coverage. Identify the images that were used most often. Examine how these
representations are constructed, considering the use of camera angles, the
composition of a photograph, types of shots, who or what is shown in the
footage/photograph and who or what is excluded.
 What message is conveyed through the use of these images? What story do
the images tell? Assess the potential of these images to become iconic. What
impact might these images have on audiences? Consider the effect of the
images on the viewer’s understanding of, or relationship to, the subject.
 Discuss whether or not information about the event that does not exist in
images will be remembered. Explore the power of images to ‘obliterate’ other
information not contained in visual form. What are the implications of this for
informed citizenship?

13.7 LET US SUM UP

As mentioned earlier, news reporting is both an art and a science and has to be dealt
with the humane and technological face. It is very responsible work and has the potential
to make or mar the reputation of the news organization and the reporter. While the
immediacy of the news has assumed a central role in the competitive news domain, the
reporter has to ensure the accuracy of the news he/she is providing as it may impact
some people negatively. Depending on the news medium, the style and presentation of
news should be transformed accordingly.
The news presentation must be simple, lucid, attractive and factual and should be
presented so that even an illiterate person understands it. We also discussed the power
of image while discussing news reporting. We realized it has a very high visual impact
and should be given due importance wherever such visuals show compelling and
empathetic elements. At the end of the Unit, we also discussed new methods and
technology in news gathering. To survive in the competitive media space, a reporter
has to constantly keep him/herself updated with new technological devices to improve
his/her newsgathering skills.

13.8 KEYWORDS
Developing News : This news reporting group is closely associated with
what we now call breaking news. In such news, there
is no final; the news is still unfolding and needs continuous
reporting with a timeline before reaching the outcome.
URL : The Uniform Resource Locator is the address of a web
page or a website on the World Wide Web.
Television Rating : A measure of viewership of the TV news channels.
Point (TRP)

13.9 FURTHER READINGS

1. Agee K. Warren, Ault H. Phillip, Emery Edwin. 1983. Reporting and Writing the
News. New York: Harper and Row Publishers. 249
MIL, Society and Ethics 2. Arnold, George T. 1996. Media Writer’s Handbook: A Guide to Common Writing
and Editing Problems. Dubuque, Iowa: Brown Publishers
3. Grover, A.N.. 1990. Press and Law. New Delhi: Vikas Publisher
4. Kamath, M.V. 1980. Professional Journalism. New Delhi. Vikas Publishing House
5. Mencher, Melvin. 1986. Basic News Reporting. Dubuque, Iowa: Brown Publishers
6. Shrivastava, K. M. 1987. News Reporting And Editing. New Delhi: Sterling
Publishers
7. Wolseley, Roland E (Ed.). 1953. Journalism In Modern India. Mumbai: Asia
Publishing House

13.10 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: POSSIBLE

ANSWERS
Check Your Progress: 1
1. Newspapers and magazines have a different role because of their production
cycle. The next edition of the daily newspaper comes only 24 hours after you
have received your newspapers early in the morning. As newspapers are not
in a hurry to provide breaking news, they use the available time for in-depth
reporting on the issue. A newspaper tries to find out the reason, the cause,
and its impact on policies, people, the economy, and politics. Depending on
the impact value of the news, some news makes it to the paper’s front page
while others recede to the inside pages.
2. TV news reporting is more complex and involves multiple professionals like
cameramen, Outdoor Broadcast Van (Ob Van), Liv U and Dejero, Satcom
and Ingest and other infrastructure. Reporting on an event uses all forms of
communication, including words, pictures, graphics, and video. It should be
remembered that illiterate people also view TV news channels, so particular
emphasis should be given to simplicity and clarity of expression, words and
phrases. As a rule, such news should begin by providing the most crucial part
of the information first, followed by less important and then least important
parts in sequential order while narrating the story. The reporter and anchor
are also advised to use simple, brief sentences and avoid ambiguity and
incoherence while reporting events. For a TV reporter, it is also essential to
understand the nature and profile of viewers to present news in a way easily
understood by them.
3. Online and digital multimedia have significantly changed accessibility and reach
to readers and viewers. At the same time, it has diversified the mechanism of
news reporting, thus involving the masses in the process. You must have seen
a lot of videos and news alerts by common people posted on social media
going viral, and the mainstream media subsequently taking up those feeds and
reporting on it. Digital media enjoys a unique position because of its distinctive
news reporting and dissemination features. Its segmented and customized
features allow catering to different audience groups, whether the audience is
literate or illiterate. Unlike TV and newspapers, it doesn’t need much setup
250 and operational cost and can be started by anyone with a meagre investment.
 You must have seen many YouTubers and small and big journalist having their Audience: National and
Global Contexts
websites, blogs and YouTube channels running with decent followers and
subscriber bases.
Check Your Progress: 2
1. Some good practices of news reporting are:
 On-Site Reporting
 Sourcing and Citation Inputs
 Authenticity and Credibility
 Cross-Checking and Double-Checking Facts and Figures
 Non-Prejudicial Reporting
 Privacy and Confidentiality
2. The visuals and video have the highest viewer quotients among all media content.
It decides the priority of video content and should be leveraged accordingly.
Video content should be placed at the right place and at the right time when
there are chances they would be searched for on the subject. It should be
rightly tagged and indexed with popular keywords on the subject. When the
video content matches the searchable content, the video hosting site should
be able to display it when required. The video content should be compelling
and competent enough to draw viewers’ attention. It should be watermarked
to protect the ownership rights of the video and should be embedded. It is
also advisable to create playlists so that viewers can continuously engage and
subscribe to them for future engagement.

251