Practice makes perfect. Something I am sure we have heard many times in life before, right? Well, how about accuracy, initiative, originality, creativity, balance and worthiness? All of these words are used frequently throughout this chapter. All of these words are crucial to making a Journalist a true, passionate Journalist. I like how this chapter mentioned that discovery, examination, interpretation, style and presentation are all skills crucial to good, fair and honest journalism compared to being just a "mediocre writer." One thing that this chapter mentioned that I feel is definitely true, is that 50% of the work in Journalism is without a doubt, coming up with an eye-catching, interesting and entertaining story. After all, your idea of a story is what gets you to start researching and writing, right? While I know that sometimes it may be tough to create an idea to write about, but, like anything else, I feel that the more you practice, the better. Even though there will never, ever be a "perfect" writer, one can come close if he/she sets his/her mind to it, practices and never gives up and just stays on top of things--life will lead this person to exciting things.
Additionally, the book says that some judges of awards and even ordinary readers look for a piece that grabs their attention, is fair, and contains crucial facts and interviews with interesting people. As Lauren said, what is a writer without an eye-catching topic to write about? I mean, the actual topic is what gets you going to start writing the piece to begin with. Also, like Lauren, my biggest problem is always picking something interesting enough to keep people captivated. I always pick an idea and then feel that it is not good enough, when, based on when I ask around, everyone always says I should stick with my original topic...Sometimes, I never do and I regret it. Keeping a basic guideline or outline no question always helps me not just with writing; but, with anything I do. As mentioned above, the book focuses on 5 words--Discovery, examination, interpretation, style and presentation. While I can understand why the book feels a true, quality and excellent book Journalist needs to have those 5 present, I also feel that there is more in between the lines.
To relate a present day item to what this chapter was talking about, I feel that (in particular) 7News tries to relate to its audience and show good presentation and style by considering themselves, "Your News Station." Not only does this try show a creative presentation; but, it also does help to get the audience to feel as if they are a positive influence and within 7's news. Not only is it 7, but other news stations do as well by having facebook fan pages to comment on news stories that can possibly make it on air, tips lines, polls for people to vote in, etc. etc. Anyone else hear what I'm saying?
It's so true that you need to come up with an interesting and entertaining story. It's sometimes extremely difficult because we don't want to pick something that is low on the chain, if that makes sense. (I'm a bit on the tired side) But one thing that we face at The Comment is coming up with stories that people will find interesting and want to read. So i totally agree with the book when it says that we need to pic something that our audience will find interesting.
ReplyDeletei know how the books says good journalism wins awards, but i think good journalism wins awards if you drop the first a-d-s. Propaganda is the most powerful form of journalism, and usually the losing side of a war loses whatever journalism they had (and journalist for that fact)while the winning side writes the history books... but during times of peace stupid garbage like celebrity gossip and shit like that infest the news.... i just think journalism is a dying art
ReplyDeleteYea I agree that it's key to find something relevent to people and interesting to people. If I don't see something interesting I'm not going to read it. It is just that simple. I think that it definitely is tough to find something that will definitely interest a lot of people, or at least most people. I really agree with what Colleen said. You've got to grab some interesting stuff and some relevent stuff to keep peoples attention and interests.
ReplyDeleteThanley is right, and brings up a very important concern with modern war journalism. When we write our textbooks for our future generations, can it truly be said that any sort of objective take is taken. I can distinctly remember the pro-American tinge to WWII section of my history textbooks. That isn't to say we shouldn't be proud of our victories in military conquest as Americans, but there is always more than one side to any story that needs revelation.
ReplyDelete