Understanding Journalism

This book examines the processes used by journalists to define, identify, evaluate and create journalism and: explores the nature of news and the factors influencing news judgement; considers the power journalists exercise in selecting the issues that become news, looking at the ethical implications of these decisions; focuses on primary research; explores the processes used in deciding what to omit and what to include in the news depending on a targeted audience; and considers the role of editing in journalism and how it affects media messages. Understanding Journalism provides an indispensable guide through the processes and decisions required to produce quality journalism. Starting from `What is news?'and moving on to consider decisions about public interest, accuracy and reliability of sources, and ethics, this book provides a model for practice centering on developing skills in critical self-reflection. It will help answer the question of `Where to begin?'- examining the processes used by journalists to define, identify, evaluate and create journalism. Understanding Journalism offers a guide to: Finding news - exploring the nature of news and the factors influencing news judgement Choosing news - considering the power journalists exercise in selecting the issues that become news and examining the ethical implications of these decisions Gathering news - focusing on primary research - specifically interviews Constructing news - explores the processes used in deciding what to omit and what to include in the news depending on a targeted audience Working With Words - explores the role of editing in journalism and how it affects media messages Understanding Journalism will be essential reading for all students of journalism. "Understanding Journalism provides a guide through the processes and decisions required to produce quality journalism." "Starting from 'What is news?' and moving on to consider decisions about public interest, accuracy and reliability of sources, and ethics, this book provides a model for practice centering on developing skills in critical self-reflection. It will help answer the question of 'Where to begin?' - examining the processes used by journalists to define, identify, evaluate and create journalism."--BOOK JACKET Cover 1 Contents 6 Preface 10 PART 1 - From Knowing How to Being Able 12 Chapter 1- Introduction 14 Chapter 2 - Journalism in Action 27 Chapter 3 - Journalism as decision making 42 PART 2 - Journalism in Action 58 Chapter 4 - Finding News 60 Chapter 5 - Choosing News 74 Chapter 6 - Gathering News 90 Chapter 7 - Evaluating News Sources 106 Chapter 8 - Constructing News 121 Chapter 9 - Editing News 136 Chapter 10 - Working with Words 157 Bibliography 189 Index 194