Journalism is a form of writing that tells people about things that really happened, but that they might

not have known about already.

People who write journalism are called "journalists." They might work at newspapers, magazines,
websites or for TV or radio stations.

The most important characteristic shared by good journalists is curiosity. Good journalists love to read
and want to find out as much as they can about the world around them.

Journalism comes in several different forms:

I. News

A. Breaking news: Telling about an event as it happens.

B. Feature stories: A detailed look at something interesting that's not breaking news.

C. Enterprise or Investigative stories: Stories that uncover information that few people knew.

II. Opinion

A. Editorials: Unsigned articles that express a publication's opinion.

B. Columns: Signed articles that express the writer's reporting and his conclusions.

C. Reviews: Such as concert, restaurant or movie reviews.

Online, journalism can come in the forms listed above, as well as:

Blogs: Online diaries kept by individuals or small groups.

Discussion boards: Online question and answer pages where anyone can participate.

Wikis: Articles that any reader can add to or change.

The best journalism is easy to read, and just sounds like a nice, smart person telling you something
interesting.

Reporting

How do you get the facts for your news story? By reporting!

There are three main ways to gather information for a news story or opinion piece:

Interviews: Talking with people who know something about the story you are reporting.

Observation: Watching and listening where news is taking place.

Documents: Reading stories, reports, public records and other printed material.
The people or documents you use when reporting a story are called your "sources." In your story, you
always tell your readers what sources you've used. So you must remember to get the exact spelling of all
your sources' names. You want everything in your story to be accurate, including the names of the
sources you quote.

Often, a person's name is not enough information to identify them in a news story. Lots of people have
the same name, after all. So you will also want to write down your sources' ages, their hometowns, their
jobs and any other information about them that is relevant to the story.

Whenever you are interviewing someone, observing something happening or reading about something,
you will want to write down the answers to the "Five Ws" about that source:

Who are they?

What were they doing?

Where were they doing it?

When they do it?

Why did they do it?

Many good reporters got their start by keeping a diary. Buy a notebook, and start jotting down anything
interesting you hear, see or read each day. You might be surprised to discover how many good stories
you encounter each week!

Writing

Here are the keys to writing good journalism:

Get the facts. All the facts you can.

Tell your readers where you got every bit of information you put in your story.

Be honest about what you do not know.

Don't try to write fancy. Keep it clear.

Start your story with the most important thing that happened in your story. This is called your "lead." It
should summarize the whole story in one sentence.

From there, add details that explain or illustrate what's going on. You might need to start with some
background or to "set the scene" with details of your observation. Again, write the story like you were
telling it to a friend. Start with what's most important, then add background or details as needed.
When you write journalism, your paragraphs will be shorter than you are used to in classroom writing.
Each time you introduce a new source, you will start a new paragraph. Each time you bring up a new
point, you will start a new paragraph. Again, be sure that you tell the source for each bit of information
you add to the story.

Whenever you quote someone's exact words, you will put them within quotation marks and provide
"attribution" at the end of the quote. Here's an example:

From: Robert niles “what is journalism”

What is Journalism?

Journalism is the act of writing about news related subjects for all mediums, print and non-print. It is
also the complicated process of taking information and sifting through it, editing information, and giving
it context. The journalist is always involved in the selection and presentation of what he or she considers
to be noteworthy, and in meeting the standard of truth and honesty in reporting. Journalism
incorporates everything from the "hard" news of politics and public affairs, to the softer side, which
includes human interest and celebrity stories. Today, journalism also delivers lifestyle messages, medical
updates, weather, science, education, and much more.

Before news can be published on newsprint or read from a teleprompter, however, the ideas must be
penned by an individual. This person is a journalist, and is most likely schooled in the art of writing for
news outlets. That is because journalistic writing is much different from any other style of composition.
There are several steps to the process of journalism that begins with gathering news from the local,
national, or world community, and ends when it is disseminated via any number of media channels.
These include radio and television, newspapers and magazines, and now, the ever-present and
ubiquitous Internet.

The majority of the global population relies on journalism to remain informed. Journalists act as the eyes
and ears of the average person, and often as their mouthpiece, as well, which is not always
advantageous. One thing is certain, journalism is an expanding profession. But, the question is, what
type of people are journalists? The answer may surprise you. First and foremost, the majority of
journalists are white males. Across the board, it is estimated that minority journalists comprise about 12
percent of any media outlet. This has been the reality since the late 1970s, even as most news
organizations have claimed their goal is to increase the diversity of their newsrooms. Too, a journalist
must have above average, or excellent, writing ability. This is not a skill that comes naturally to most
people, but one that must be developed and honed. It is an expertise that takes hundreds, if not
thousands, of hours to gain competency.

Therefore, if you are interested in pursuing a career in journalism, you must realize from the outset that
you are going to spend many hours alone with your pen and paper or word processor, practicing how to
craft words and ideas that will be engaging, intriguing, and thought-provoking.
Let us consider what is meant by the term "news" before moving forward. In its simplest form, news is a
recounting of an event, an opinion, or a fact that will interest people. The account is usually of a current
incident, and avoids libel or dishonest slandering of another individual. There are a number of
conditions that are usually applied when a journalist is deciding if information is newsworthy. First,
those events that occur closest to the recipients of news are usually of greatest interest. While people
may be mildly interested in the happenings on the other side of the world, they tend to believe it has
little relevance to their own daily existence.

Secondly, if information is about people that are well-known, this tends to be more interesting to the
average individual and, therefore, noteworthy and newsworthy. While it may not impact a person to
learn about the trials and tribulations, successes and failures, it is usually a welcome distraction to the
sameness of a person's life. Next, people find information that is novel and timely to be newsworthy.
People love to learn about quirky events, and breaking news has become one of the most common
catchphrases in journalism today. Finally, stories with conflict will generally captivate an audience,
although they will want closure as well. When a story, such as the gulf oil spill, goes on for weeks or
months, people lose interest.

Also, 24 hour news cycles have changed the work dynamic of journalism. Deadlines that might have
been once in a 24-hour period are now fluid, continuous, non-stop. Today, there is a much greater
reliance on audio and video than print, and people who work in this part of the business consider
themselves to be as much a part of the journalistic process as the writers and reporters. The paradigm
of journalism is changing.

Characteristics of a Journalist

Journalists are a special breed. Perhaps the characteristic shared by all is a fascination with the printed
word, and a tendency to manipulate it for their own edification as much as for professional purposes.
Journalists love words. They love the infinite ways they can be arranged to convey a message or
information to their audience. Writing may be a challenge, but it is never a chore. The journalist looks at
the profession as a calling, and they tend to be motivated by a responsibility to keep the public
accurately and honestly informed about events of import on a local, national, and international level.

Journalists are careful people for the most part. They tend to check their sources, check their wording,
check their quotes, and even their spelling. Journalistic standards require this. On the rare occasion that
a journalist is "outed" for providing false or misleading information, it becomes a badge of shame, much
like Esther's scarlet letter. For many in the industry, it is nothing short of a professional sin to make a
mistake accidentally or deliberately in the process of reporting to the public.

Journalists are very conscious of, and abide by deadlines, datelines, and bylines. Moreover, journalists
always give credit to their resources and avoid reiterating what is only rumor – unless, of course, the
journalist is in the business of rumors, such as in the entertainment industry.
Of course, there are other commonalities shared among budding and seasoned journalists, and all are of
importance; but of equal value is developing a style, a voice, that is all your own -- one that is authentic,
informative, and a reflection of the person that you are. As you can see, becoming a journalist is much
more challenging than you might have first imagined!

Universal class, inc. “what is journalism”

Journalism, the collection, preparation, and distribution of news and related commentary and feature
materials through such print and electronic media as newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, webcasts,
podcasts, social networking and social media sites, and e-mail as well as through radio, motion pictures,
and television. The word journalism was originally applied to the reportage of current events in printed
form, specifically newspapers, but with the advent of radio, television, and the Internet in the 20th
century the use of the term broadened to include all printed and electronic communication dealing with
current affairs.

History
The earliest known journalistic product was a news sheet circulated in ancient
Rome: the Acta Diurna, said to date from before 59 BCE. The Acta
Diurna recorded important daily events such as public speeches. It was
published daily and hung in prominent places. In China during the Tang
dynasty, a court circular called a bao, or “report,” was issued to government
officials. This gazette appeared in various forms and under various names
more or less continually to the end of the Qing dynasty in 1911. The first
regularly published newspapers appeared in German cities and in Antwerp
about 1609. The first English newspaper, the Weekly Newes, was published
in 1622. One of the first daily newspapers, The Daily Courant, appeared in
1702.
At first hindered by government-imposed censorship, taxes, and other
restrictions, newspapers in the 18th century came to enjoy the reportorial
freedom and indispensable function that they have retained to the present
day. The growing demand for newspapers owing to the spread of literacy and
the introduction of steam- and then electric-driven presses caused the daily
circulation of newspapers to rise from the thousands to the hundreds of
thousands and eventually to the millions.
“The purpose of journalism,” write Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel in The Elements of Journalism, “is
not defined by technology, nor by journalists or the techniques they employ.” Rather, “the principles
and purpose of journalism are defined by something more basic: the function news plays in the lives of
people.”

News is that part of communication that keeps us informed of the changing events, issues, and
characters in the world outside. Though it may be interesting or even entertaining, the foremost value
of news is as a utility to empower the informed.

The purpose of journalism is thus to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best
possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments.

The editors of encyclopedia Britannica “journalism” What is the purpose of journalism?

FAKE NEWS

What is fake news?

Lots of things you read online especially in your social media feeds may appear to be true, often is not.
Fake news is news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Usually,
these stories are created to either influence people’s views, push a political agenda or cause confusion
and can often be a profitable business for online publishers. Fake news stories can deceive people by
looking like trusted websites or using similar names and web addresses to reputable news organisations.

According to Martina Chapman (Media Literacy Expert), there are three elements to fake news;
‘Mistrust, misinformation and manipulation’.

The Rise of Fake News

Fake news is not new however it has become a hot topic in 2017. Traditionally we got our news from
trusted sources, journalists and media outlets that are required to follow strict codes of practice.
However, the internet has enabled a whole new way to publish, share and consume information and
news with very little regulation or editorial standards.

Many people now get news from social media sites and networks and often it can be difficult to tell
whether stories are credible or not. Information overload and a general lack of understanding about
how the internet works by people has also contributed to an increase in fake news or hoax stories.
Social media sites can play a big part in increasing the reach of these type of stories.

The economics of social media favour gossip, novelty, speed and “shareability”’ Simeon Yates

Types of Fake News

There are differing opinions when it comes to identifying types of fake news. However, when it comes to
evaluating content online there are various types of fake or misleading news we need to be aware of.
These include:
1. Clickbait

These are stories that are deliberately fabricated to gain more website visitors and increase advertising
revenue for websites. Clickbait stories use sensationalist headlines to grab attention and drive click-
throughs to the publisher website, normally at the expense of truth or accuracy.

2. Propaganda

Stories that are created to deliberately mislead audiences, promote a biased point of view or particular
political cause or agenda.

3. Satire/Parody

Lots of websites and social media accounts publish fake news stories for entertainment and parody.

4. Sloppy Journalism

Sometimes reporters or journalists may publish a story with unreliable information or without checking
all of the facts which can mislead audiences. For example, during the U.S. elections, fashion retailer
Urban Outfitters published an Election Day Guide, the guide contained incorrect information telling
voters that they needed a ‘voter registration card’. This is not required by any state in the U.S. for
voting.

5. Misleading Headings

Stories that are not completely false can be distorted using misleading or sensationalist headlines. These
types of news can spread quickly on social media sites where only headlines and small snippets of the
full article are displayed on audience newsfeeds.

6. Biased/Slanted News

Many people are drawn to news or stories that confirm their own beliefs or biases and fake news can
prey on these biases. Social media news feeds tend to display news and articles that they think we will
like based on our personalised searches.

The Fake News Business Model

The internet and social media have made it very easy for anyone to publish content on a website, blog
or social media profile and potentially reach large audiences. With so many people now getting news
from social media sites, many content creators/publishers have used this to their advantage.

Fake news can be a profitable business, generating large sums of advertising revenue for publishers who
create and publish stories that go viral. The more clicks a story gets, the more money online publishers
make through advertising revenue and for many publishers social media is an ideal platform to share
content and drive web traffic.
Fake News, Social Media, and the Filter Bubble

In a recent article on media literacy, Hugh Linehan noted; “Media is no longer passively consumed – it’s
created, shared, liked, commented on, attacked and defended in all sorts of different ways by hundreds
of millions of people. And the algorithms used by the most powerful tech companies – Google and
Facebook in particular – are brilliantly designed to personalize and tailor these services to each user’s
profile.”

When we go online or login to a social network we are generally presented with news, articles and
content based on our own searches online. This type of content tends to reflect our own likes, views and
beliefs and therefore isolating us from differing views and opinions. This is often referred to as a filter
bubble.

What can we do about fake news?

Google and Facebook have announced new measures to tackle fake news with the introduction of
reporting and flagging tools. Media organisations like the BBC and Channel 4 have also established fact
checking sites While these are welcome developments, digital media literacy and developing skills to
critically evaluate information are essential skills for anyone navigating the internet and especially for
young people.

The vast amount of information available online and rise in fake news highlights the need for critical
thinking. Children need to develop critical thinking from an early age. This is a key skill for young people
to develop as they enter into third level education and prepare themselves for the workplace.

How to spot fake news?

There are a number of things to watch out for when evaluating content online.

Take a closer look

Check the source of the story, do you recognise the website? Is it a credible/reliable source? If you are
unfamiliar with the site, look in the about section or find out more information about the author.

Look beyond the headline

Check the entire article, many fake news stories use sensationalist or shocking headlines to grab
attention. Often the headlines of fake new stories are in all caps and use exclamation points.

Check other sources

Are other reputable news/media outlets reporting on the story? Are there any sources in the story? If
so, check they are reliable or if they even exist!

Check the facts

Fake news stories often contain incorrect dates or altered timelines. It is also a good idea to check when
the article was published, is it current or an old news story?

Check your biases

Are your own views or beliefs affecting your judgement of a news feature or report?

Is it a joke?

Satirical sites are popular online and sometimes it is not always clear whether a story is just a joke or
parody… Check the website, is it known for satire or creating funny stories?

Webwise “explained: what is fake news”

HOW TO SPOT FAKE NEWS

Six Ways to Spot Fake News

Separating fact from fiction accurately can seem daunting. But getting to the
truth is always worth the effort – even if it's not what you want to hear! Use
these six steps to weed out the truth from the lies:

1. Develop a Critical Mindset

One of the main reasons fake news is such a big issue is that it is often
believable, which means it's easy to get caught out. Many fake news stories
are also written to create "shock" value.

This means it's essential that you keep your emotional response to such
stories in check. Instead, approach what you see and hear rationally
and critically .
Ask yourself, "Why has this story been written? Is it to persuade me of a
certain viewpoint? Is it selling me a particular product? Or is it trying to get me
to click through to another website?"
2. Check the Source
If you come across a story from a source that you've never heard of before, do
some digging! Find out a bit more about the publisher – is it a professional
and well-known news agency or is it someone's personal blog?

Check the URL of the page, too. (A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is a
web address that helps browsers to find a site on the internet.) Strange-
sounding URLs that end in extensions like ".infonet" and ".offer," rather than
".com" or ".co.uk," or that contain spelling errors, may mean that the source is
suspect.

If the information is something that you've been told by another person,

consider his reputation and professional experience. Is he known for
his expertise on the matter? Or does he tend to exaggerate the truth?

3. See Who Else Is Reporting the Story

Check whether the story has been picked up by other well-known news
publishers. Stories from organizations like Reuters, CNN and the BBC, will
have been checked and verified beforehand. If the information you have isn't
from a well-known source like these, there's a chance that it could be fake.

However, you need to be careful even here. People who spread fake news
and "alternative facts" sometimes create web pages, newspaper mockups, or
"doctored" images that look official, but aren't.

So, if you see a suspicious post that looks like it's from CNN, for example,
check CNN's homepage to verify that it's really there.

4. Examine the Evidence

A credible news story will include plenty of facts – quotes from experts, survey
data and official statistics, for example. If these are missing or the source is an
unknown expert or a "friend," question it!
Does the evidence prove that something definitely happened? Or, have the
facts been "twisted" to back up a particular viewpoint?

5. Look for Fake Images

Modern editing software has made it easy for people to create fake images
that look professional and real. In fact, research shows that only half of us can
tell when images are fake.
However, there are some warning signs you can look out for. Strange
shadows on the image, for example, or jagged edges around a figure. If you
still have doubts, you can use tools such as Google Reverse Image Search to
check whether the image has been altered or used in the wrong context.

6. Check That It "Sounds Right"

Finally, use your common sense! If a story sounds unbelievable, it probably is.
Bear in mind that fake news is designed to "feed" your biases or fears. And,
remember, just because a story sounds "right" and true, doesn't mean that it
is.

For example, it's unlikely that your favorite designer brand is giving away a
million free dresses to people who turn up to its stores. Equally, just because
your colleague believes that two married co-workers are having an affair,
doesn't mean it's true.
Mindtools “how to spot real and fake news”