What is journalism?

TASK 1

Journalism is a complicated notion with different meaning for different people. Do you think media consumers and media providers hold similar opinion about journalism? Is it possible to give a universal or one-for-all definition of journalism? Watch the YouTube video fragment for more ideas about what journalism is. After watching, work in small groups to make up your definition of journalism. Present your ideas to other groups and choose the best variant.

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Once you decided upon journalism, why not define a specialist working in this complicated sphere? What is a journalist? To begin with,

Oxford Dictionary defines journalist as a person who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepares news to be broadcast on radio or television.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that first known use of the notion goes back to 1693 and defines journalist as

a: a person engaged in journalism; especially:

a writer or editor for a news medium*;

b: a writer who aims at a mass audience;

c: a person who keeps a journal.

Do you think these definitions are complete?

How would you formulate your own definition for the term journalist?

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It goes without saying that the essence of journalism and journalists goes far beyond these definitions. Further in this Unit you will find information on what types of journalism are practiced today, what journalism jobs are in demand today, what skills and qualities are required to enter the field, as well as the rules media professionals observein their activity. Check the Vocabulary File to learn and practice words and expressions you will come across while studying the topic.

VOCABULARY FILE

TASK 2

 Using your knowledge and the material suggested in this Unit start building your personal vocabulary map on the topic. What words and phrases do you associate with journalism, journalists and mass media?

Journalism and Journalists through the Media

TASK 3

1. Match the words from the two columns to make phrases (e.g. live broadcast):

live	challenge
foreign	of current events
keep abreast	time
press	free expression
an urge for	freedom
prime	correspondent
ethical	broadcast

Consult the USEFUL VOCABULARY file for the meaning of new words, if necessary.

2. Use the phrases you made to build your own sentences.

TASK 4

1. Synonyms can be very useful to make your speech fluent. Find synonymous words and phrases in the two columns:

1. journalism a) announcement

2. statement b) to report

3. spotlight c) young reporter, beginner

4. assignment d) task

5. beat e) experienced journalist

6. cub f) focus

7. ace g) topic or subject a reporter covers

8. to cover h) news reporting

2. Now substitute the underlined words with their synonyms:

1. The standard image of a journalist is of someone working a beat for a newspaper and finding stories.

2. Beginning reporters are usually given outside jobs – they don’t sit in the office but search for information and go to interview sources.

3. The style should be concise and precise with focus on the gist of the story.

4. Do you have to do many assignments a day?

5. The primary aim of the journalist is to report on events in a straight-forward manner that covers all the required facts.

6. Journalism is not limited to providing in-depth reports about the latest events.

7. Have you heard the recent statement of the government on new media policy?

8. Brian Williams is an experienced reporter and the NBC Nightly News top anchor.

TASK 5

Practice using journalism vocabulary. See if you can complete the passage properly with the following words: achievement, anchor, interview, photographer, reputation, technology, angle and broadcasting.

The (1) ___ who coordinates our local news program is especially informative. Everyone agrees that her (2) ___ has got better every year. In her brief (3) ___ career she has acquired many loyal fans. We appreciate her (4) ___, the point of view from which she presents a story. We are impressed with the way she uses communications (5) ___ to (6) ___ officials and eyewitnesses in distant locations. One recent (7) ___ was her exclusive talk with the (8) ___who took the pictures of a firefighter rescuing a child.

TASK 6

There are words in your professional language that are similar in meaning, but we still use them differently. Note some of the differences:

A journalist gathers information and writes news stories mainly for print media, and may also edit and offer them for broadcast.

A reporter is a type of journalist who researches sources, conducts interviews, writes and presents reports in the media (mainly broadcast). Reporters work in a newsroom and go out to witness events and report from the scene.

A correspondent is an agent who contributes reports to a news medium from a remote, often distant, location, often including own perspective on the news. The term correspondent refers to the original practice of filing news reports via postal letter.

To check your understanding of the differences between a journalist, a reporter and a correspondent, use these words in the following sentences:

1. The life and work of a foreign _____ have a strong appeal for most young men and women in journalism.

2. He began his journalism career as a cub broadcast _____ for CNN.

3. As an ABC _____ based in Bangkok, Thailand, he further developed an already avid interest in the culture and practices of remote tribes.

4. The contest will pick as winners three practicing _____ from all television, radio and print broadcast outlets and even online media, whose work performance had contributed to the development of the nation.

5. The life and work of many outstanding _____ engaged with political, economic and social issues have defined norms and standards of modern journalism.

6. Radio _____ conduct both live and recorded interviews and gather suitable illustrative and background material to enable them to tell a story with sound.

TASK 7

Study the difference in meaning of some commonly confused words:

Affect (v) – to influence (often negatively), to make a difference to – This interview will affect the party’s position unfavourably.	Effect (v) – to cause, bring a result – The interview effected many changes in the party’s policy before the elections. Effect (n) - result – The effect was dramatic.
Accept (v) – to receive, to approve – She accepted the job eagerly.	Except (v) – to exclude, to reject – The channel excepted the show from programming.
Convince (v) – be sure about a decision or principle (state) – He was convinced it was true.	Persuade (v) – to induce someone to do something or embrace an idea (act). – He persuaded me to find the truth.

Choose the correct variant:

1. Wars affect / effect everybody, and their destructive affects / effects last for generations.

2. Know your limits, but never accept / except them.

3. Power is no blessing in itself, accept / except when it is used to protect the innocent.

4. Television is able to affect / effect public opinion.

5. The web site won't accept / except my password.

6. We find it hard to accept / except the violence we see on TV. 

7. He said the chairman had been convinced / persuaded by the reporter to open the doors on the meeting.

8. We are convinced / persuaded in the importance of the media dialogue.

9. New technologies affected / effected the emergence of new media.

10. She aims to convince / persuade readers to do something about the problem.

TASK 8

Adjectives make our speech more precise and colorful. Study the meaning of the following adjectives:

Genuine – true, original, free from hypocrisy or dishonesty; sincere.

Aspiring − having a great ambition or ultimate goal; with a strong desire.

Avid − marked by keen interest and enthusiasm.

Use the adjectives and nouns to make phrases, and then the sentences of your own:

1. genuine a) reader

2. aspiring b) interest in people

3. avid c) journalist

GRAMMAR FILE Revision: Verb Tenses (Active Voice)

In Journalism, the use of Voice (Active or Passive) is meaningful, as active verbs move the action and reveal the actors while passive verbs emphasize the receiver.

Compare: a) I read the report, and I admit I made a mistake. (active)

b) It was admitted that the report has been reviewed, that mistakes were made. (passive)

In journalism writing Active Voice prevails as it allows for a more direct language and clear indication of action performed by the subject.

	Simple	Continuous
Present	report / reports write / writes (used for permanent situations and states, repeated and habitual actions, timetables and programs, general truths and laws of nature, reviews and dramatic narrative)	am / is / are reporting am / is / are writing (used for actions taking place now or around the moment of speaking, temporary actions, fixed arrangements, changing and developing situations, to express irritation and criticism with always, continually, forever, constantly)
Past	reported wrote (for actions that happened one after another, past habits and states, completed action or event at a stated time, actions not connected with the present)	was / were reporting was / were writing (for actions in the middle of happening at a stated past time, actions in progress interrupted by another past action, two or more simultaneous past actions, back-ground descriptions of events in a story)
Present Perfect	have / has reported have / has written (for actions which started in the past and continue up to the present, recently finished actions with result visible in present, actions happened at an unstated time in the past, to put emphasis on number, to express personal experiences / changes )	have / has been reporting have / has been writing (for actions started and finished in the past and lasted some time with result visible in the present, to put emphasis on the duration of an action which started in the past and continues up to the present, to express anger or annoyance)
Past Perfect	had reported had written (for actions happened before another action or a stated time, visible results in the past, as past equivalent to the Present Perfect)	had been reporting had been writing (for action continuing over a period of time to a specific time in the past, for certain durations with visible results in the past.)
	Simple	Continuous
Future	will (shall) report will (shall) write (for on the spot decisions, actions we cannot control and that will inevitably happen, actions we haven’t decided to do yet; for hopes, fears, offers, requests)	will be reporting will be writing (for actions in progress at a stated future time, actions as a result of a routine or arrangement routine, when asking politely about people’s arrangements)
Future Perfect	will have reported will have written (for actions finished before a stated future time)	will have been reporting will have been writing (for actions which will continue up until a particular event or time in the future )

Notes on specific usage of Active Voice in journalism writing: