The Jounalist's Primer: A No-Nonsense Guide to Getting and Reporting the News
Edition: 4
Copyright: 2023
Pages: 352
Edition: 4
Copyright: 2023
Pages: 352
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The face of journalism has changed. The evening news is rife with personality, commentary, and political polarization. Blogs are doubling as news sites, and anybody with a cell phone thinks he's a journalist. Citizens say they can no longer tell fake news from real news, fact from opinion. As a result, trust in the media has plummeted at a time when the world needs more and better information than ever before.
In The Journalist's Primer: A No-Nonsense Guide to Getting and Reporting the News, Mark Hanebutt gets back to basics. He explains why we have a free press and what it has to do with a free nation. Then he notes simply and clearly what news is, how ot get it, write it up and deliver it factually and accurately. As such, the text is a concise guide and desk reference for students of mass communication who wish to master the essentials of news reporting.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 Theory of the Press in a Democratic Society
Humans and the Quest for Truth
John Milton and a New Look at Truth
The Enlightenment—Founding Principle of a New Kind of Country
The Press—Linchpin of Democracy
Exercising the Truth
Chapter 2 Ethics
The Importance of Credibility
The Deteriorating Reputation of the Press
From the Age of Reason to the Age of Aesthetics
Changes in the Law
A Flawed Philosophy and the Social Responsibility Theory
Building Trust by Making Ethical Decisions
Ethical Models
Ethical Codes
Ethical Problems of the Press
Fake News
Mass Media Effects
Chapter 3 What Is News?
Elements of News
Need to Know vs. Want to Know
Types of Stories
Choosing the News—The Budget Meeting
Chapter 4 Who Is a Reporter?
Characteristics and Skills of a Journalist
Educational Needs for the New Century
Preparing to Work in New Media
The Rise of Citizen Journalism
Chapter 5 Newsgathering
Beats
Police
City, County, State and Federal Governments
Schools
Courts
Business
Sports
General Assignment
Sources
The Morgue and Online Searches
News Releases
Chapter 6 Interviewing
Techniques
Defining the Story
Chapter 7 Writing the News for Print
Prewriting
The Inverted Pyramid
Leads
The Body
Endings
Structures for Different Stories
Effective Writing
Chapter 8 Writing the News for Broadcast
Telling Stories with Words, Sounds, and Pictures
Radio
Television
Storytelling Tips
Chapter 9 Writing the News for the Web
Converging Media
New Challenges
Online Structure
Planning the Digital Story
The Quest for Context
Chapter 10 Photographing the News
The Photojournalist
Basic Photocomposition Rules
Photo Editing
Cutlines and Captions
Picture Stories
Audio Slideshows and Video
Photo Ethics
Chapter 11 Feature Writing
Purpose
First Step—The Idea
Second Step—Reporting, Research
Third Step—Organization
Fourth Step—Writing
Fifth Step—Revising, Editing
Case Study
Chapter 12 Writing the Depth/Investigative Story
Making a Difference
Differences and Similarities Between Depth and Investigative Stories
Researching the Depth and Investigative Story Sources
Writing the Depth and Investigative Story
Chapter 13 Writing Editorials, Columns, and Reviews
The Purpose of Opinion Writing
Writing the Editorial
Writing the Column
Renowned Journalist Ernie Pyle Still Offers Lessons for Reporters
Writing the Review
Patrons Should Pass on ‘Patsy Pastry’
Chapter 14 Editing
Purpose
Procedure
Media Organizations
Chapter 15 Media Law
The First Amendment and Free Expression
The Boundaries of Free Expression
Libel
Defenses to Libel
Invasion of Privacy
Open Records and Meetings
Protection of Sources
Free Press, Fair Trial
Obscenity
Copyright and Fair Use
Telecommunications
Appendix: Code of Ethics
Copyediting Symbols
Accident Report
Jail Blotter
Freedom of Information Letter
Legislative Bill
Bibliography
About the Author
Index
Mark Hanebutt is professor of journalism in the department of mass communication at the University of Central Oklahoma where he teaches courses in news reporting and media law. In addition, he is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and is of counsel to Magill & Magill, P.L.L.C., Attorneys and Counselors at Law, in Oklahoma City, where he mediates and consults on media law issues and cases. A former reporter, editor, and syndicated writer with The Orlando Sentinel, he is also the author of The Journalist’s Primer: A No-Nonsense Guide to Getting and Reporting the News (Kendall Hunt 2019). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, a Master of Arts degree in English and a Juris Doctor degree in law and has received fellowships from the American Press Institute and the Gannett Foundation.