Journalism: Reporting, Interpretation, and Opinion Formation
Features of Journalism
Journalism not only informs about reality but also interprets it. To do this, it uses persuasion mechanisms and, sometimes, manipulation. Both the selection of news and issues like the extension and the placement on the page or in the information are persuasion and manipulation mechanisms, which also contribute to the use of emotional arguments. The intention of the issuer at the time of transmitting a fact and the effects sought determine the choice of the receiving genre.
A) Reporting
These texts convey factual information of interest to the readers to whom they are directed. Opinions and value judgments should be excluded. News subgenres include:
- News Story: The story of recent major events, generally of a political or economic nature.
- Interview Statements: A conversation whose goal is to report on the views of one person.
- Q & A Document: A text that contains data about an event or establishes relationships with news.
- Report: A text addressing a recent and relevant event or one that occurred previously, or that refers to situations of social interest. Depending on the subject, these reports include human-interest views from a social interest perspective.
News deserves special attention as an informative genre. It is a text broadcast on radio, TV, or other media that provides information about recent events. There are different types of news depending on the subject and nature. News is also distinguished by its extension.
The information is organized according to the principle of relevance: the fundamental is located in a prominent position, and the information is arranged up and down, from the general to the particular:
- Headline: Expresses the theme or fact that will be the news.
- Lead: The first paragraph of the story, containing the most relevant information. It may be typographically noted.
- Source: In some news, the source of information may be mentioned.
- Body: Normally explains the situation in detail, including the history, consequences, and verbal reactions of the subjects involved.
The purpose of this organization is twofold: the reader can learn the essential facts just by reading the headline and the lead, and publishers are able to cut the final paragraphs where space problems exist without losing information.
B) Interpretative Genres
These journalistic genres mix news items with the personal appraisal of the author. The following subgenres of information and interpretation are distinguished:
- Chronicle: Concerns events that occurred in one day, often seeking background and consequences. The information appears linked to the interpretation of the reporter.
- Interpretative Report: Distinguished from the chronicle in that it covers events that occurred at different times and are related. The reporter’s assessment of the news distinguishes it from the report.
- Profile Interview: The statements of the person interviewed alternate with their description, biographical data, and the comments and explanations of the journalist.
C) Opinion Makers
These texts reflect the opinion of the newspaper on issues of actuality. Principal subgenres include:
- Editorial: Expresses the views of the newspaper about an event or situation.
- Criticism: Analyzes and reviews a work of art or culture and includes information on it.
- Article: Presents personal views on various aspects of reality. Subtypes differ, including: column, open forum, review, and article-essay.
Among the subgenres of opinion, the opinion article is noted for its importance. The quoted author is responsible for their ratings and aims to influence their readers. Opinion articles may discuss more diverse issues and be of different types:
- Column: A short text characterized by a lack of depth or its transcendence. The author shares the ideology of the newspaper.
- Free Tribune: Expresses the opinion of people or specialists in various fields outside of the editorial staff.
- Comment: Usually addresses issues of politics and is inserted into the sections on these matters.
- Article-Essay: Argues a reflection on themes related to the humanities, sciences, or any political or social position.
- Editorial: An unsigned text that reflects the position or ideological line of the newspaper before current facts or events. Not all news is discussed, but those considered relevant in terms of a daily newspaper. The function of the editorial is the interpretation and evaluation of events, although it can also play others, such as the pure and simple exposition of the state of the question on a topic, or the appeal to readers, the public, or established authorities to take certain measures or decisions.