Chapter 2

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

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

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

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

How newsrooms work

Inside ReportingTim Harrower

2

Quoted:

2

“I know what time is until you ask me.”St. Augustine, The Confessions

How newsrooms work

3

What is news?What readers wantHow the news comes togetherWho’s who in the newsroomWhat it’s called

Questions to consider

4

What is news?What is a journalist?Who determines what is true and not true?

What is news?

5

News judgment –ability to determine which stories are most interesting and important to readersEditors decide where stories run

and what stories do not run

What is news?

6

A tragedy involving a police officer always leads…Oceana is

responsible for 12,000 local jobs

VP’s chief of staff indicted. Wow…

Promos to other stories

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

How do we determine news value?

7

RelevanceUsefulnessInterest

8

9

10

What is news?

11

The Metropolitan Daily Lots of pages to fill with range of topicsLocal to global

News depends on the newspaper

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

Flu shots Print

Maybe

Maybe

Hold it

Hold it

Mexico bus crash

Girl Scout cookiesLottery winner

Eminem sex change

What is news?

12

The Community WeeklyLimited spaceTight regional focus

News depends on the newspaper

Storm warning Kill it

County fair Print it

Tuition hike Kill it

Volleyball bill Kill it

Flu shots Print it

Kill it

Print it

Kill it

Kill it

Mexico bus crash

Girl Scout cookies

Lottery winner

Eminem sex change

What is news?

13

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

News depends on the newspaper

Storm warning Kill it

County fair Kill it

Tuition hike Print it

Volleyball bill Kill it

Flu shots Maybe

Kill it

Kill it

Print it

Kill it

Mexico bus crash

Girl Scout cookies

Lottery winner

Eminem sex change

What is news?

14

ImpactImmediacyProximityProminenceNoveltyConflictEmotions

What makes a story interesting?

What readers want

15

Some journalists dismiss “pandering” to readers.

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

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

What readers want

16

We ask them.We watch them.

Focus groupsPhone, mail and Web

surveysMonitoring devices

So how do we know what readers read?

What readers want

17

1. Readers are in a hurry.2. Readers have short attention spans.3. Readers want stories that connect.4. Readers want stories told in a compelling way.5. There’s more than just one type of reader.

Things every reporter needs to remember about readers

5

What readers want

18

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

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

How a story gets written

• Not everything is as it seems.

How the news comes together

19

Reporters and editorsCopy editors and

presentationBusiness staffPhoto and graphics

Major divisions• Editorial

Department• Advertising

department• Production

department• Circulation

department

Inside a typical newsroom

Who’s who in the newsroom

20

At most papers, writers are either:General assignment reporters –

cover wide range of stories.Beat reporters – cover

a specific topic.

Clear lines of authority avoid chaos

Who’s who in the newsroom

21

• Publisher• Ultimate boss; presides

over all departments to ensure profitability.

• Production Manager• Oversees staff and

equipment.

The organization

• Circulation Manager

• Supervises distribution of newspaper.

• Advertising Manager

• Coordinates sales and production of classified and display ads.

22

EditorRuns the newsroom; has final say

in story selection and news philosophy.

Managing EditorRuns day-to-day operation;

resolves staffing issues.

The organization• Photo Editor

• Coordinates photo assignments; chooses images.

• Manages photographers and graphic artists.

Who’s who in the newsroom

Who’s who in the newsroom

23

Online EditorWorks with other editors

and reporters to develop material for Web site.

Manages team of reporters and editors.

The organization• Copy Desk Chief

• Oversees editing and (many times) layout.

• Manages copy editors.

Who’s who in the newsroom

24

Features EditorAssigns and edits stories for

features section.Manages feature writers

and reviewers.

The organization• Sports Editor

• Assigns and edits all stories running in the sports section.

• Manages sports reporters.

Who’s who in the newsroom

25

City EditorAssigns and edits most

local “hard news” stories.

Manages news reporters.

The organization

What it’s called

26

Daily – printed every day.Weekly – printed once a

week.Newsletter – printed

once per month.

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

What it’s called

27

Parts of a story

PhotoBylineDatelineLeadQuoteAttribution

Photo creditLiftout quoteTagline

Headline

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

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

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

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

How newsrooms work

Inside ReportingTim Harrower

2