Reuven Frank, the former president of NBC News, argues that news is what the government says it is. His argument is based on an analysis of a United Nations operation in Somalia. He claims that the German air force was more effective than U.S. forces in the region, and that few American readers knew about it. The press largely ignored the Germans’ role. While many Americans believed that their government was responsible for the conflict, most didn’t.
Reporting on current events
Students may use short excerpts of articles for reporting on current events. The excerpts should be relevant to the current event and recognizable in relation to the rest of the statement or report. Short extracts from radio and television shows or press articles can be used, as long as the original source and author are properly credited. Reporting on current events can strengthen students’ core knowledge of informational texts. They can also use their own opinion or interpretation of the facts presented in the article.
Selection of stories
The selection of stories in the news depends on several factors, including the type of audience, the length of the story, and the journalist’s desire to tell the full story. Some journalists take the easy way out and just run a press release. However, a professional journalist will check facts and research to present the whole story. The story’s shareability, or likelihood of spreading on social media, will determine whether it is chosen for publication.
Formats of stories
When you first start studying journalism, you’ll be taught about three basic news story structures. These are familiar to most readers of news, but you may not have had much experience with them in professional settings. These structures are the hourglass, the inverted pyramid, and the chronological order pattern. The last two are especially useful for news stories, as they provide the viewer with a clear understanding of the overall flow of a story.
Sources of stories
Journalists rely on sources to tell their stories. This could be people, books, files, films, tapes, or anything that can provide a source of information. Though they aim to work largely from observations, some events are over before journalists arrive and others, like a plant, have only leaves above ground. A journalist who only reports what he or she sees, however, might miss a lot of news.
Purpose of news stories
In a society where people are concerned about their health, news about diseases and the effects of drugs is always interesting. News stories can be anything, from murders to crimes against children. Stories of wealth and money can also be interesting. Popular topics include school fees, taxes, food prices, wage rises, economic crises, and compensation claims. Even small amounts of money can become newsworthy. Many news stories are about people living outside their social norms, such as drug addicts and sex offenders.
Biases of journalists
Many people question the unbiased reporting of news stories, but the reality is more complex. Despite claims to the contrary, the fact is that the media have their own biases. The most prominent of these biases is the use of sensationalistic language and portrayals of events that may not be true. Likewise, many newsrooms are disproportionately white and male, and this is the case for the majority of newsroom employees. Despite the fact that white males account for nearly half of all newsroom personnel, they are often given more time and space than black, Asian, or Latino reporters.