ASIA PACIFIC COLLEGE OF ADVANCED STUDIES

A.H. Banzon St., Ibayo, City of Balanga, Bataan

COLLEGE DEPARTMENT

CAMPUS JOURNALISM
Week 2- LECTURE

JOURNALISM IN GENERAL

Definition of Journalism

The word journal comes from the Latin word diurna which means "daily.” In ancient Rome, short
bulletins of battles, fires, and elections compiled by government officials were posted up in public
places. These were called acta diuma which meant "daily events."

Other definitions of journalism:

● The occupation of writing for publication in newspapers and other periodicals. – Noah Webster
● Something that embraces all forms in which or through which the news and comments on the
news reach the public. All that happens in the world, if such happenings hold interest for the
public, and all the thoughts, actions, and ideas which these happenings stimulate, become
basic materials for the joumalist - Fraser F. Bond
● Enjoyable co-curricular activity of the school paper staff in collecting, organizing, and presenting
news; in writing editorials, columns, literary articles, and features: in copyreading, proofreading,
dummying, and writing headlines - all for the purpose of putting out a school organ. - School
Paper Advisers of the City Schools of Manila

Scope of Journalism
● Journalism may be divided into three areas: written, oral, and visual
● Periodicals such as newspapers and magazines fall under written journalism. A periodical,
defined broadly, is a publication that comes out at regular intervals - daily, weekly, fortnightly,
monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.
● A newspaper, compared to a magazine, prints more news, has no special cover, and is printed
on a special paper called newsprint. News is printed on the front page as well as on the inside
and back pages.
● A magazine, on the other hand, prints more features and human interest stories, has a special
cover usually with a big cut on it, and is often printed on bookpaper. If ever news is printed, it is
brief, featurized, and found in the inside pages.
● Periodicals, brochures, journals, books, and graphic arts are classified under print media. Radio
falls under oral journalism, while television, movies, and documentaries are under visual
journalism.
 ● Radio and television are examples of broadcast media while movies and documentaries are
examples of film media.

Finding and Developing Ideas for News Stories and Articles

By Tony Rogers
Updated July 03, 2019

For a reporter, it's not hard to find things to write about when a big news story is breaking. But what
about those slow news days when there are no fires, homicides or press conferences to cover? Those
are the days when reporters must dig up stories on their own, stories not based on press releases but
on a reporter's own observation and investigation. This ability to find and develop seemingly hidden
news stories is called "enterprise reporting," and the articles found here will help you learn to develop
your own ideas for stories.

Finding Ideas for News Articles

Are you looking for newsworthy stories to cover but don’t know where to start? Here are some places
you can dig up ideas for news articles worth writing about right in your own hometown. Once you’re
written your article, see if you can get it published in the local community paper, or put it on your blog.
-The Police Precinct
-The Courthouse
-Town Hall
-The School Board
-High School Sports Events
-Community Centers and Local Libraries
-Art Galleries and Performing Arts Venues
-Local Colleges

Enterprise Reporting

Enterprise reporting is all about the stories a reporter digs up on his or her own, what many people call
“scoops.” Enterprise reporting goes beyond merely covering events. It explores the forces shaping
those events. In this article, you can find out all about the importance of asking "why, " looking at
"changes" in trends and more.

Find the Local Angle

So you've combed the local police precinct, city hall and the courthouse for stories, but you're looking
for something more. National and international news typically fills the pages of big metropolitan papers,
and many beginning reporters want to try their hand at covering these bigger-picture stories. In this
article, you'll learn how to "localize the story," looking at how you can connect international news to
your local community.
Developing Ideas for Follow- up Stories

While covering breaking news is straightforward – simply go to the event and write about it –
developing follow-up stories can be more challenging.

Finding Ideas for Feature Stories

So you're interested in writing feature stories but are stumped for ideas? Here are five easy feature
stories that you can do in your hometown.

Five Great Feature Ideas for Writers

It doesn't matter whether you're a full-time reporter, a part-time blogger, or a freelancer, all writers need
a steady source of feature story ideas. Sometimes, a great feature story will land in your lap, but as a
seasoned journalist will tell you, relying on chance is no way to build a portfolio of impressive writing. It
takes diligence and hard work, writers say.

Tips for Writers

​ Always take notes: You may discover a great subject for a story on your way to the grocery
store or meet by chance at a social event. Inspiration can strike at any time. Keep a small
notebook or use a note-taking app on your smartphone to jot down ideas as they strike you.
​ Listen: When you do interview someone, remember to let them do most of the talking. Ask
questions that can't be answered with a simple yes or no, such as, "Tell me how that made you
feel?"
​ Keep an open mind: It's easy to make snap judgments and assumptions, but a good writer
must keep his or her prejudices at bay. Your job is to be objective and learn as much about your
subject as possible.
​ Pay attention: How do your sources behave? What does the location look like? What events
are occurring? Information like this, as well as direct quotes from a source, will give your reader
a fuller appreciation of your writing and subject matter.
​ Accuracy matters: Check all of your data to make sure they're accurate, triple-check facts, and
make sure you've proofread for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Remember, it
takes a long time to develop a reputation for fairness and accuracy, but just a single mistake to
tarnish it.

6 Tips and Career Options for Aspiring Journalists

The old media institutions of television and newspaper have seen their once-loyal audiences
fractured by the Internet, and the job market for newsroom-based positions has declined. What does
today’s journalist need to know? How can students earning a journalism degree prepare themselves for
what's to come? It’s a mix of new skills and traditional tools. Journalism students and grads looking for
career opportunities might want to consider these top tips and non-newsroom careers in order to fully
utilize their degree.
Top 6 Tips for Aspiring Journalists

1. Master the fundamentals

Good grammar, punctuation, and style aren’t good enough. A journalist’s skills must be impeccable.
Once you commit yourself to journalism, you will not be able to read a simple paragraph without
analyzing its structure. You will never go to a movie without examining key scenes to figure out why
they worked. It’s maddening but fantastic, because if you’re doing these things, you’re stretching
yourself and your work will improve. If you have any weaknesses in these areas, find help and improve.

2. Master the new tools

From databases to interactive graphics, video to slide shows, journalists today work in a range of
media. There are way too many tools available for one person to become an expert at everything. You’ll
at least need a working knowledge of the capabilities and if you have only one strength, work to
develop another skill. Additionally, it can be important to surround yourself with likeminded journalism
students and individuals who can share their own knowledge and skills in the field. Since there are
many areas of expertise, joining a group or society can introduce you to journalism professionals who
are experts in their own areas, who can also be willing to share.

3. Develop research skills

Most people who aspire toward journalism careers are insatiably curious, so taking those observation
skills to the next level usually is easy. Honing your research skills will also help you get up to speed
quickly when time is of the essence. Once you’ve practiced for a while, noticing details and researching
will become second nature.

4. Know your way around city hall

No matter what topic you cover, at some point you’ll wind up dealing with a government agency, the
police, or courts. You don’t need to know the ins and outs of the Electoral College, but you will need to
know the basics. Take a few political science electives to build your background knowledge.

5. Be prepared to start small

The New York Times or CNN gigs don’t come overnight. Most entry-level journalism jobs are in small
towns or at small publications. The advantage of starting small, though, is that you get to try a lot of
different things. As with anything, the best way to become a better journalist is to simply do it. Contact
your hometown newspaper about freelance or internship opportunities. Small weeklies might not have
the budget available, but it’s worth doing a few unpaid gigs so you can begin building a portfolio. You
might wind up loving some of them so much that it changes the course of your career.

6. Remember the story

Regardless of the medium, journalism is always about the great story. At the very least, the story has to
be something the audience is interested in. At the very best, the story will evoke a strong response –
laughter, outrage, joy. The most brilliantly, creative interactive graphic will fall flat if it doesn’t have great
content backing it up.

15 News Writing Rules for Beginning Journalism Students

Here's a list of 15 rules for beginning news writers, based on the problems that crop most frequently:

Tips for News Writing

1. Generally speaking, the lede, or introduction to the story, should be a single sentence of 35 to
45 words that summarizes the main points of the story, not a seven-sentence monstrosity that
looks like it's out of a Jane Austen novel.
2. The lede should summarize the story from start to finish. So if you're writing about a fire that
destroyed a building and left 18 people homeless, that must be in the lede. Writing something
like "A fire started in a building last night" doesn't have enough vital information.
3. Paragraphs in news stories should generally be no more than one or two sentences each, not
the seven or eight sentences you probably wrote for freshman English. Short paragraphs are
easier to cut when editors are working on a tight deadline, and they look less imposing on the
page.
4. Sentences should be kept relatively short, and whenever possible use the subject-verb-object
formula. Backward constructions are harder to read.
5. Always cut unnecessary words. For example, "Firefighters arrived at the blaze and were able to
put it out within about 30 minutes" can be shortened to "Firefighters doused the blaze in 30
minutes."
6. Don't use complicated-sounding words when simpler ones will do. A laceration is a cut; a
contusion is a bruise; an abrasion is a scrape. A news story should be understandable to
everyone.
7. Don't use the first-person "I" in news stories.
8. In Associated Press style, punctuation almost always goes inside quotation marks. Example:
"We arrested the suspect," Detective John Jones said. (Note the placement of the comma.)
9. News stories are generally written in the past tense.
10. Avoid the use of too many adjectives. There's no need to write "the white-hot blaze" or "the
brutal murder." We know fire is hot and that killing someone is generally pretty brutal. Those
adjectives are unnecessary.
11. Don't use phrases such as "thankfully, everyone escaped the fire unhurt." Obviously, it's good
that people weren't hurt. Your readers can figure that out for themselves.
12. Never inject your opinions into a hard-news story. Save your thoughts for a review or editorial.
13. When you first refer to someone in a story, use the full name and job title if applicable. On all
subsequent references, use just the last name. So it would be "Lt. Jane Jones" when you first
mention her in your story, but after that, it would simply be "Jones." The only exception is if two
people with the same last name are in your story, in which case you could use their full names.
Reporters generally don't use honorifics such as "Mr." or "Mrs." in AP style. (A notable
exception is The New York Times.)
14. Don't repeat information.
15. Don't summarize the story at the end by repeating what's already been said. Try to find
information for the conclusion that advances the story.
.
References: https://www.slideshare.net/nheru/campus-journalism-15-of-16
https://www.thoughtco.com/developing-ideas-for-stories-2073903
https://www.uagc.edu/blog/6-tips-for-journalists-and-related-careers
https://www.thoughtco.com/here-are-helpful-newswriting-rules-2074290