Journalistic Subgenres: News Reporting Essentials
Main Subgenus: Journalistic Genres
General Introduction
Messages are conveyed through various journalistic genres. Each genre represents a specific structure and mode of expression, shaped by tradition and now conventionally accepted. The features distinguishing these genres are linked to the two basic functions of journalistic media: informing about current events and providing opinions on them. Accordingly, we distinguish three subgenres: news, opinion, and hybrids.
The main subgenres of news reporting are:
La Noticia (The News)
This is the most characteristic genre of journalism. It presents an objective account of novel facts or events of general interest. It represents what happened, often employing a narrative mode of discourse. Its structure, while variable in length, typically includes:
The Corps Headlines
Their composition depends on the importance the writer wishes to convey, serving as an objective summary of the information.
La Entrada (The Lead)
Usually coinciding with the first paragraph, the lead presents the key information in a condensed form. American journalism defines these keys as the six key questions that any news story should answer: who, what, when, where, how, and why. Sometimes, when the news is highly relevant and requires extensive development, the lead is highlighted in bold and in a larger font, effectively incorporating it into the headline. Its purpose is to capture the reader’s attention and ensure they engage with the substance of the information.
The Body of the News
This comprises the remaining paragraphs, which develop and complete the data summarized in the lead. Depending on the type of information, the press can present different types of structures, such as an inverted pyramid, chronological narrative, mixed approach, or a news story centered around specific declarations. In radio news, the content maintains a structure similar to print media, with the addition of recorded audio files containing statements from key figures involved in the information.
Television offers more variety, as verbal information written by the journalist is complemented by images.
The Feature
A feature is a more extensive and informative journalistic account than a news story. The difference lies not only in its outreach but also in its design and purpose. While news emphasizes urgency, features aim to provide complete, explanatory, and well-founded information. This requires a rigorous method in preparing the text, involving the following phases:
- The choice of topic.
- Documentation.
- Research: The journalist seeks new data by investigating the scene and interviewing key players.
- Contrast sources: Verifying the accuracy of the information obtained before publication is essential.
- The final wording: The journalist freely chooses the structure and style, allowing for a more personal touch.
The Interview
This genre involves the journalist recounting a conversation with a person, reproducing the questions and answers exchanged.
There are two main types of interviews:
- The informational interview: Featuring a specialist on a topic of interest or current relevance.
- The personality interview: Where the focus is less on specific information and more on the interviewee’s character and perspective.
The structure of an interview typically includes:
The Presentation
In informational interviews, the interviewer highlights the importance or topicality of the subject and emphasizes the respondent’s authority on the matter. Personality interviews often begin with an initial approach to the character, sometimes including references to their background, environment, or the relationship between the journalist and the interviewee.
Development
This section consists of a question-and-answer sequence, usually presented in direct style, with each intervention identified by the name of the speaker or a question-answer notation.