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3: Journalism As a Method

  • Page ID
    281192
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    Journalism, both professional and citizen-based, is trustable when it has a clear method, and this chapter takes us through the standardized methods found in a typical newsroom. Here is a list of typical article types that you would find on a news site today:

    What we will learn in this book can be applies to:

    • News Articles: Fact-based reports on current events, typically using the inverted pyramid structure (most important info first).
    • Feature Articles: Longer-form, in-depth narratives that explore human interest stories, trends, or specific topics with more creativity and detailed analysis than a standard news report.
    • Interviews: Q&A formats or narratives based on conversations with a person of interest, providing insight into their experiences, expertise, or perspective.
    • How-to Articles/Service Pieces: Informational, fact-driven pieces that provide practical instructions or advice to readers on a specific task or topic.
      Profiles: In-depth articles focusing on a specific person, detailing their life, career, or personality.
    • Curation (also known as Aggregation): It is the process of collecting news, information, and data from multiple published sources, organizing it, and presenting it in a single, centralized location. While pure aggregation simply collects everything, curation (often seen as "aggregation 2.0") involves selecting only the most relevant or valuable content and adding context or commentary to it.

    Other article types we will not address in this book:

    • Opinion Pieces (Editorials/Columns/Op-Eds): Articles that express the personal viewpoints and perspectives of the writer or the publication itself. Unlike news articles, they are subjective and aim to persuade the reader on a particular issue.
    • Reviews: Provide a formal or informal assessment and opinion on products, media (movies, books, music), services, or performances.
    • Explainers/Analysis: Dig deeper into a topic or event to provide context, background, and analysis, helping readers understand complex issues.

    • 3.1: A Quick Tour of a Story's Life
      This page outlines key skills and processes for effective journalism, highlighting the importance of instincts, source engagement, and compelling writing. It notes that these skills can be developed but require significant effort. Additionally, it urges readers to critically evaluate the relevance of foundational principles from "Journalism 101" in today's context.
    • 3.2: Developing a Beat
      This page discusses journalism beats, which are specific areas of focus that enable reporters to specialize in certain themes or locations, leading to more in-depth coverage. Examples include beats for specific geographic areas like Westchester County or thematic beats like the video game industry. Despite their diversity, all beats adhere to common practices essential for effective community journalism, emphasizing the importance of targeted storytelling and local relevance.


    3: Journalism As a Method is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Michael Humphrey, Johnson County Community College.

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