Journalistic Articles: Types, Structure, and Key Features
Unit 8: Journalistic Articles
The Two Main Functions of Journalistic Texts
The press serves two primary functions: to inform and to share opinions. This allows journalistic texts to fall into two main groups:
- Informational Texts: Such as news, reports, and interviews.
- Opinion Texts: Such as articles, letters to the editor, and editorials.
Journalistic language is characterized by its clarity and brevity.
Informative Texts
These texts report an event of public interest. If recent, it’s presented as news; if not strictly current, the report format is preferred, which is broader and may include graphics, interviews, etc. These texts strive for objectivity.
Opinion Texts
Newspapers also guide reader opinion. In these sections, subjectivity is allowed. This is the case with editorials, which represent the newspaper’s views under the name of the director or editorial board, and opinion articles, where individual authors express their opinions on political issues, and so on. Letters to the editor, conversely, reflect the views of readers commenting on current events.
Narrative in the Press: The News
News is an informational newspaper article.
It consists of:
- Headline: Indicates the topic of the news. It is brief and eye-catching.
- Header or Intro: Answers the key questions: What? (facts), Who? (subject), When? (time), Where? (place), and Why? (cause).
- Body: Expands on the intro with details surrounding the event and provides additional context.
Basic Features of News:
- Brevity: Report the event concisely without adding commentary or analysis due to limited space.
- Objectivity: The wording should adhere as closely as possible to the facts.
The Adverb
The adverb is an invariable word (in terms of gender and number) that accompanies or complements other types of words:
- Nouns: Lives above the street.
- Adjectives: Wears a very nice vest.
- Adverbs: Speaks very slowly.
- Verbs: Comes often.
It modifies the meaning of a word by indicating time, quantity, location, affirmation, negation, and doubt.
Forms of Adverbs
Adverbs are invariable and do not change based on gender or number, although some exceptions exist.
Some adverbs use suffixes to indicate intensity: a bit/very.
Some adverbs have shorter forms when used before adjectives or other adverbs: John is studying a lot/John is very studious.
Types of Adverbs
- Manner: Well, badly, slowly, quickly.
- Place: Here, there, near, far, away.
- Time: Now, tomorrow, then, today, yesterday.
- Quantity: Much, too much, nothing, little, more.
- Affirmation: Yes, obviously.
- Negation: No, never.
- Doubt/Chance: Perhaps, maybe, probably.
The Adverbial Phrase
Adverbial phrases are invariable groups of words that function as a single adverb. They are considered a single unit in analysis.
The Letters “ll” and “y”
- Use “ll”: With diminutives ending in -illo, -illa (e.g., booklet, girl); all forms of verbs whose infinitive contains “ll” (e.g., develop).
- Use “y”: In verbs whose infinitive does not contain “ll” (e.g., fall, go); at the end of a word when stressed (e.g., I fell, king); and when unstressed, use “-y” (e.g., now).
Compound and Parasyntetic Words
Compound words are formed by combining multiple lexemes: sacr (verb) + corks (noun) = corkscrew.
Parasyntetic words are formed by adding both a prefix and a suffix, where the word wouldn’t exist without both: a + terr (ground) + izar = aterrizar (to land).
Some words are both compound and derived: quince + añ + ero (fifteen-year-old).
Exposition
Exposition is the clear and ordered presentation of a topic to facilitate understanding. This type of text is called expository or explanatory.
- Objectivity: Expository texts avoid opinions; that is the role of argumentation. Information must be impartial.
- Clarity: Use easily understood words, well-structured sentences, examples, and comparisons.
- Order: Present information logically, building upon previously provided details.