Thursday, December 20, 2012

Interviewing

     Interviewing is a great skill to have when you're a journalist. It takes patience and practice to get it right; because you can't get everythng right on the first try. Interviewing is a discussion where two or more people talk about a topic; whether it is for a job or in journalism. Now first of all, you need to know your topic and who your going to interview. The person you're going to interview is very important because you have to ask yourself this: Is this person the best person to interview for this topic? Is this person's opinion going to benefit my story? Will this person be useful for any other of my stories?
Secondly, you want to make your questions. Make sure your questions are logical and relate to your topic. Once you have reviewed the questions, you should set up a time and place to meet your interviewer. Now, during your interview you want to stay still, or else you may make your uncomfortable. But first, greet your interviewer! Now you can start.  Start with your questions and make sure you're listening. No one likes to talk to themself! Also, try not to stutter. You want the interviewer to understand you; instead of having your interviewer have dictionary in front of their face.
Journalistic Writing: Building the Skills, Honing the Craft
By Robert M. Knight
Lastly, thank your interviewer for their time. Be sure to shortly summarize why they were important to your story. Also, make sure you give a firm handshake to close your interview.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Inverted Pyramid

     Inverted Pyramid. What is it? Well, it's as simple as this. An upside-down triangle. Here, let me show you so you can understand a little better. So, as you can see the most important information is at the top of the paragraph. This is the most important paragraph because this is where you hook you're reader and include the most important information. It's kind of like the first date-you only get one chance to impress your "reader".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_pyramid
        Many journalists use this structure to their articles as a guideline or an outline. Just remember "the reader can stop reading at ANY time". Usually in news articles you'll see the writer write the not-so-important details in the middle. Then, have the least important details in the last paragraph. But sometimes, the last paragraph is important because you want to close your writing with a big finsh.


       The inverted pyramid is important to journalism because when your writing it's not always necessary to put excess information. "If a story was too long, and couldn't fit into the plot alloted the page, it had to be cut quickly, usually from bottom-up." says  Christopher K. Passante in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Journalism.This can get you off topic and your reader can stop reading. I will use the inverted pyramid in my writing by remembering this: the reader can stop reading at ANY time.
http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/newsgathering-storytelling/chip-on-your-shoulder/12754/writing-from-the-top-down-pros-and-cons-of-the-inverted-pyramid/

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

To Be Bias...

     What is bias? You may not know it, but we've all used it. To be bias is to pick a side or have an opinion. For example, in an election you have to pick a side (or representative). When you bias in journalism, generally it's not a good thing.
     Using bias in journalism is also very important because you don't want to show how you feel towards your topic or else opposing readers may not read anymore of your articles, just because of how you feel. You also want your readers to have their own opinion and mind about the topic. http://oxforddictionaries.com/definitions/english/bias
     I will apply this in my journalism by being unbias when I'm with others. This will make me think of others equally. Anyway, just try to remember not to be bias when writing. But in the outside world, you can pick any side. I mean, everyone has an opinion, right?
Journalism:Who, What, When, Where, Why And How
By James Glen Stovall

Monday, December 3, 2012

Journalistic Integrity

     Journalism- to write, photograph, or report in news, magazines, or T.V. Integrity- to be honest, pure, and a good faith. Journalistic integrity is being honest in your writing. You don't plagiarise, you don't get off topic, and most importantly you are truthful in every story.
     This is very important in journalism because if you share something that's false, people would be spreading lies. This could cause you your career and possibly someone else's. You also want to be honest because no one likes liars, right? And if you feel that this is your true passion, you should always take pride in your work or have a passion for accuracy.
     In conclusion, I will use these definitions and life lessons in my journalism and my writing. I hope you will too. And you don't even have to be a journalist to follow these guidelines. You can be a writer or just a regular, average student. Just remember integrity-to be honest, pure, and a good faith.