Journalism.

Aims and Objectives:

-Discuss and identify the main characteristics.

-Discuss and define the essential skills, craft and aptitude of a journalist.

-Discover and analyse the ‘ground rules’.

-Demonstrate some of the skills, craft and aptitude.

• carry a pen/pencil and pad at all times
• enjoy writing
• keep a journal/diary
• carry a camera around

Tips&Tools:

-Remember to always refer back to the interviewee. Do not, under any circumstances tell lies, twist the story and make up your own side of the story.

-Expand your vocabulary. Read the daily newspaper. Purchase a nice dictionary and thesaurus.

What makes a good journalist?

• persistence
• curiosity
• toughness
• an eye for a story, an ability to write a sense of fairness
• the ability to grasp the big truths – with the humility to let them go again when the facts don’t fit.

THE FIVE W’S.

WHO    WHEN    WHAT   WHERE   WHY

Ground Rules For Writers:

-Use specific words (red and blue) not general ones (brightly coloured)

-Use concrete words (rain, fog) rather than abstract ones (bad weather)

-Use plain words (began, said, end) not college educated ones (commenced, stated, termination)

-Use positive words (he was poor) not negative ones (he was not rich) – the reader at once wants to know, how not rich was he?

-Don’t overstate : fell is starker than plunged. 

ANALYSE. 

Examine (something) methodically and in detail, typically in order to explain and interpret it. “We need to analyse our results more clearly.” Synonyms : examine, inspect, survey, scan, study, scrutinize, look over.

EVALUATE.

Form an idea of the amount, number, or value of; assess. “The study will assist in evaluating impact of recent charges.” Synonyms : assess, assess the worth of, put a value/price on.

REFLECT. 

Think deeply or carefully about. “He reflected with sadness on the unhappiness of his marriage.” Synonyms : think about, give thought to, consider, give consideration to, review, contemplate.

 

Short Story:

In a world full of loneliness and abandonment, I look to you for guidance. I follow you around like a lost puppy, hoping to just go home. Your scent softens my nostrils with the sweetness of cherries from your perfume. Your smile is brighter than a summers day in Spain. Your presence can make the saddest man feel like the luckiest in just under 5 minutes, in this case that was me. How can I ever explain why I killed you?

 

Evaluation:

In this week that there are different types of writers I could be, different areas to focus on and this intrigues me. I would like to learn more into journalism to expand my knowledge for the future. I am interested in reading more news articles and magazines to get more of an understanding of how people professionally word their sentences and form their paragraphs. This would be good research for me and a good insight into the world of journalism.

From the exercises we completed in today’s session, I have a better understanding of the ground rules for writers and what makes a good journalist. Also defining the differences between Analyzing, Evaluation and Reflection.