A
workshop on developing the skills w.r.t. Cinema & Media Industry is
available in all contact classes of Film-Educator, Amit Agarwal,
worldwide
Journalism. Cinema & Journalism - their connection
Journalism. Cinema & Journalism - their connection
Journalism in simple terms is the act or occupation of
collecting and providing news. Journalism can be defined as the activity or profession
of the production and
distribution of news through media, which includes, print (newspapers or magazines), radio, television, internet (websites) and, in
the past, newsreels.
History of Journalism
Journalism has a long history to it, probably ever-since
humans came into existence. The earliest
form of journalism was word of mouth; this was before the printing press was
invented. Merchants, sailors and travellers returning to their countries brought news back with them, this was then picked up by news-tellers or even story-tellers
and then spread from village to village, town to town, country to country. This transmission of news was highly
unreliable, and died out with the invention of the printing press, which was much more reliable.
Newspapers
have always been the primary medium of journalists since 1700. Magazines were added in 18th century with radio and television in the
20th century. 21st century saw news get the powerful medium of internet.
History of
Journalism in India
The first newspaper in India was circulated in 1780 under
the editorship of James Augustus Hickey; it was called The Bengal Gazette, it mainly
printed the latest gossip on the British expatriate population in India. The
size of the four-page newspaper was 12"x8". East India Company
management suppressed
it, as it was sympathetic to Indians. In November 1781, India Gazette appeared; it supported & spoke of the interests of East India Company.
On May 30, 1826 Udant Martand (The Rising Sun), the first
Hindi-language newspaper was published in India. It was started from Calcutta & published
every Tuesday by Pt. Jugal Kishore Shukla. Maulawi Muhammad Baqir in 1836 founded the first
Urdu-language newspaper the Delhi Urdu Akhbar.
India's press in the 1840s was a
motley collection of small-circulation daily or weekly sheets printed on
rickety presses, few extended beyond their small geographical areas and none had a pan-Indian presence. The Anglo-Indian papers promoted purely British
interests.
An Englishman, Robert Knight, founded two important English-language
newspapers that reached a broad Indian audience, and exist even today, The Times of India and The
Statesman. They promoted nationalism in India, as people were introduced to the power of the press and made them familiar with political issues.
News. History of News
News in simple terms is newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent events, that affects public at large. Few augur, NEWS is an acronym for North, East, West, South and the information the receiver has from all these directions; which the author doesn't wholly agree to.
Journalists provide news through many different media, based on word of mouth, print, radio, television, online. Common topics for news reports include war, government, politics, education, health, environment, economy, business, entertainment, sports; and even quirky or unusual events. Humans exhibit a nearly universal desire to learn and share news.
The earliest form of news 'reporting', as evidence suggests; was 'word of mouth'; people found a place to share stories. Popular places for such news were: town square, tea-houses, barber shops. Roman baths and starting in England & France, coffeehouses served as important sites for the spread of news via word of mouth. Important news would spread by word of mouth over a large geographic area. In many cultures the practice of questioning travellers for news was very common. With the advent of printing presses in Europe, however, this form of 'word of mouth' news, became redundant.
Tone of News
Tone of News
A big Q since time immemorial is the tone of news. Most theorists believe that news should have attributes like; impartiality, neutrality, and objectivity. The morals & values associated with news & journalism has changed greatly over time. Today, sensationalised 'tabloid journalism' has risen in popularity, which is paradoxical; since it allows disproportionate focus on, and exaggeration of, emotive stories for the public. Thus, news can be co-related to gossip. A common sensational topic is violence; hence the news dictum, “if it bleeds, it leads”.
Newsworthiness
Newsworthiness is defined as a subject or a story having sufficient relevance to the public, to warrant press attention. In essence, it is considered worthy as news by the public.
Media & public in each country has a different definition, for 'what' is considered "newsworthy".
Sources of News
The best source of news for a journalist, is personal contacts. Other journalists often provide leads, on which a journalist works. Other than this almost all entities, government, businesses, organisations & individuals, considered 'newsworthy' have their PR or public relations person who give out news to journalists, whenever there is any.
Journalist then sorts out what
is interesting and informative and can be considered 'newsworthy', by the public at large.
Criteria of News
The 5 criteria's for news to be 'considered' news is:
1. Is it new?
2. Is it unusual?
3. Is it interesting?
4. Is it significant?
5. Is it about people?
Is it new?
A distinct feature of news is that it has to be new! If it’s not new, it can’t be news. An assassination is unusual, significant and about people, but it can’t possibly be reported in tomorrow's papers, because it will not be ‘new’, tomorrow. However, if some facts about that assassination become known for the first time, say after 2 years, it would still be news, because though the assassination isn't 'new'; the 'new information' is.
Is it unusual?
Things happen all the time, but not all of them are news, even when they are new. A man wakes up, eats breakfast and goes to work on a bus, is not news, because it is a usual routine, it is not unusual. However, if that same man is 100 years old and catches a bus to work every day, it would be unusual, and hence can be news!
To make this more clear; the classic definition of news is: "Dog bites man" is not news; "Man bites dog" is news.
To make this more clear; the classic definition of news is: "Dog bites man" is not news; "Man bites dog" is news.
Again, if dogs are eaten in a society, it won't be news. The theory says, what is usual in one society may be unusual in another.
Is it interesting?
Events which are new and unusual may still not be of general interest. Scientists may report that an insect has just been found. The discovery is new, but it is unlikely to interest anybody other than an enthusiast. In a publication specializing on insects, it could be big news, but in regular news parlance, it would probably not.
Is it significant?
If in the earlier example, that same insect was one that would harm a crop; the story becomes news, because it is significant to the farmer, whose crops, the insect will harm & destroy.
Once again, what is interesting or significant in one society may not be interesting or significant in another.
Is it about people?
News is mostly about people, because it is about the things people do that affects a large set of people. However, news can also be made by non-human sources, such as a cyclone, a fire, a drought, a volcanic eruption or an earthquake. It is when reporting these stories that it is important to make sure that the story is from the perspective of the people.
The cyclone would not matter if it blew in the middle of Pacific Ocean, it becomes news only when it affects people's lives. Every story can be told with respect to people; if something that happened affected both people and property, always put people first. For example:
The RIGHT way :
More than 100000 people were left homeless after Cyclone Bela struck yesterday.
The WRONG way:
1700 houses were flattened when Cyclone Bela struck yesterday.
What makes News. Events that make News. Areas that makes News
Following are the main areas or events of life that usually make news:
1.Conflicts: It includes wars, elections, political battles, strikes, revolutions, tribal and clan fights, border disputes.
2.Disaster and tragedy: It includes air crashes, train mishaps, ships sinking, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or unusual human tragedies like children falling down deep wells.
3.Progress and development: It includes any development, particularly in a developing country, that affects people's lives. Development stories may include any loans or subsidies for the well-being of people in the sectors that also include education, agriculture, medicine industry & infrastructure.
4.Crime: It includes any crime, right from heinous crimes of murder, rape, dacoity to road traffic offence, break in, road hold-ups, corruption, forgery.
5.Money: It includes stories that revolve around fortunes made and lost. Budget & Taxes, economic crises and compensation claims.
6.The underdog: It includes stories concerning the unlikely hero(-ine) turning the tide in favor, just like the classic story of rabbit & tortoise. Stories where an underprivileged man fights against the mighty have always been media favorites.
7.Religion: It includes two types of news story. First, there are events involving people's religious lives, such as the building of a new church or a pilgrimage. Second, there are statements by religious leaders on moral and spiritual affairs.
8.Famous people: It includes stories about prominent men and women who make news; what they do in public eye, the lives they lead and what they look like, are all of interest. It is especially newsworthy when they fall from power, lose their money or are involved in scandal.
9.Health: It includes people's concern with their health and their interest in stories about traditional remedies, ayurveda, yoga, medical research, diseases, hospitals and clinics, drugs, diet and exercise.
10.Weather: It includes stories about weather. In cinema & sports particularly, weather plays a very vital role; as it affects the shooting or the game.
11.Entertainment: It includes stories about cinema, music, dance, theatre. It also keeps us informed of developments in these fields, about who is doing what, who is performing where, and what is worth to see.
12.Sport: It includes stories related to sports & sports-persons; the latest events in a game or a match, the latest score and the individual milestones of a sportsperson.
While the purpose of media through news -
print, radio, television, online - is to inform & educate; entertainment has always been an integral part.
The entertainment comes from areas like - crossword puzzles, games, poetry, story & comic strips in newspapers. Music and drama programs on radio.
It is not the job of news to entertain. However, experienced writers are able to write news which infuses humor & satire - such as a piece on the current scenario of politics. This is not news, yet the piece is relevant, as it is born out of news.
The entertainment comes from areas like - crossword puzzles, games, poetry, story & comic strips in newspapers. Music and drama programs on radio.
It is not the job of news to entertain. However, experienced writers are able to write news which infuses humor & satire - such as a piece on the current scenario of politics. This is not news, yet the piece is relevant, as it is born out of news.
