Understanding Journalistic Genres: News, Opinion, and Hybrid Forms
Journalistic Genres
Journalistic genres are highly diverse and can be classified into two main groups:
- Information-Dominated Texts: These texts present information objectively, focusing on factual reporting. The primary function is referential.
- Subjective View Texts: These genres offer a subjective perspective on events, representing opinion pieces. The expressive function predominates, often incorporating an appellate element.
A third category, entertainment texts, is sometimes added. These texts focus on secondary issues and may include resources not always specifically journalistic.
1. News Genres
A) News
News is an informative subgenre. The main objective of news is to attract a wide audience by reporting facts that are relevant, timely, emotionally resonant, unique, or affecting public figures. The structure of a news story typically includes:
- Headlines: Brief and concise, headlines offer a quick overview of the reported events, aiming to capture the reader’s attention and provide an initial understanding.
- Entradilla: The opening paragraph of the story, often presented in bold or different type to highlight key information.
- Body or Development: The main body of the story, where information is presented in a descending order of importance, following an inverted pyramid structure.
News stories are often accompanied by photographs or computer graphics, which use iconic and typographical elements to enhance readability and understanding.
B) Reportage
Reportage is a journalistic work that requires in-depth investigation and documentation, providing a comprehensive view of a particular event or issue. The reporter conducts thorough research, visits the scene, and interviews relevant individuals. Reportage is reflective and typically appears in the daily press.
C) Interview
An interview presents a conversation between a journalist and a person who shares their views on a current issue or discusses their activities. A particular type of interview is the guest interview.
2. Opinion Subgenres
A) Article
An article conveys the opinion of an expert on a specific current event.
B) Column
Similar to an article, a column is a more concise opinion piece published in a fixed space.
C) Editorial
An editorial is an unsigned article that expresses the newspaper’s opinion on a current topic. It typically appears on the front pages of the publication. Readers look to the newspaper for interpretive guidance, and the paper aims to convince readers of its position and influence their social responses. The structure of an editorial is flexible.
3. Hybrid Genres
A) Critique
The author informs and evaluates a cultural or artistic activity, usually appearing shortly after premieres, presentations, or celebrations.
B) Chronicle
A chronicle is another form of information that blends objective reporting with the journalist’s evaluation. It is often classified as an opinion genre. The chronicler provides commentary and analysis with a style that often resembles literary narrative.