Introduction
to Journalism- Notes by Sr Michelle Mathias fsp
Concept and Meaning of Journalism
Etymology:
The Etymology
of the word JOURNALISM, journalist or Journal is traced to the Ancient Greek
word hēmeroúsios or from the roots of the word diurnus which means ‘daily’, or
from the Latin word diurnalis or diurnal. The word when traced historically had
the meaning of either making a daily record (Swift) or the management and
conduct of a journal or periodical work (Sir R. Peel). A journalist was
considered as ‘A writer of Journals:- the Manager of a periodical work.’ (Worcester et al., 1860)
Definition:
The Cambridge
Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus describes journalism as ‘The work
of collecting, writing, and publishing news stories and articles in newspapers
and magazines or broadcasting them on the radio and television.’[1]
The American
Press Institute defines Journalism as ‘the activity of gathering, assessing,
creating, and presenting news and information. It is also the product of these
activities’.
Journalism
can be defined in varied ways in today’s arena given the versatility of this
profession. In simple words, it could be defined as a searching, collecting, assessing,
and editing of news or information which could be published or presented on a
given Media forum that could include press (newspaper or magazine or books),
radio, television or the Internet.
An individual or individuals writing about things that have
happened as in case of news reports, or an opinion generating piece called
feature, or a feature on any given topic that informs people
are called ‘Journalists’. They work in Newspapers, Magazines, Radio or TV
Channels and today they are also accomplished on the Internet.
Journalism
is a noble profession that requires a lot of in-depth knowledge, reading,
curiosity, style of writing and passion for the job. It has to be practiced
with a sense of ethics. A lack of which could lead to chaos as people could be
wrongly led by false information.
Journalism
today as a plethora of forums to communicate. Journalism could be a broadcast journalism
with the use of Traditional journalism techniques or it could be Online Journalism
with the use of Digital technology.
Some of the
forums of journalism include:
- News Reporting: A journalist gathers a news and either writes an article or reports about the same for a news channel either on Radio or a television or an internet forum. This could include an event, an occasion, a tragedy, a disaster or an investigative news piece.
- Feature writing: News or Information can be transformed into a detailed style of writing or an opinion generating piece through feature writing. It could be a review of a movie or a book.
- Discussion and Debate boards: The editorial page could carry articles with opinionated pieces of diverse opinions contrasted. Radio, internet and TV channels host debates and discussions moderated by renowned journalists.
Online Journalism:
- Blog writing: News or information is also published in feature style writing on forums called blogs on the internet. The blog could also be made creative with videos, video links or pictures.
- TV Channels have recognised the power of the internet and have websites dedicated to the same. They run simultaneous news on these websites and provide reading matter.
- Many journalists have turned to the internet for hosting their own shows, chat shows, reviews, humorous takes, interviews, opinionated pieces, etc.
- Many Citizens today report news and send videos and pictures thus giving a boost to the phenomenon of Citizen Journalism.
- Wikis is another huge platform of information that is available for free. Many writers contribute to writing on this forum in order to benefit millions of people.
- Mojo Journalism- The latest concept in journalism that basically means Mobile journalism. It is a kind of reporting wherein field reporting of events, stories or multimedia content occurs using smaller, connected mobile devices like smart phones, DSLR cameras, Laptops or GoPros. This phenomenon has largely contributed to Citizen journalism too. Glen Mulcahy, Founder of Mojocon says, “Mobile Journalism is about empowering the individual storyteller to use whatever consumer technology they have available to them to make the best possible visual story that they can. I would like to think that Mobile Journalism definition can be extended to other mobile devices beyond smartphones, like DSLR cameras, laptops, GoPros.”
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