Notes

Several types of Journalism
Journalism helps to explain the events that impact our lives and is developed in several forms and styles. Each journalistic form and style uses different techniques and writes for different purposes and audiences. You can find five principal forms of journalism: investigative, news, reviews, columns and feature writing.

What form of journalism do you enjoy?


- Investigative. Investigative journalism aims to discover the truth in regards to a particular subject, person, or event. While investigative journalism is founded on the basic principle underlying all journalism-verification and accurate presentation of facts-investigative reporters must often use uncooperative or recalcitrant sources who do not wish to divulge information. Renowned investigative journalism, such as for example Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's uncovering of the Watergate scandal, can upend major institutions significantly influence public life.

- News. News journalism is easy. Facts are relayed without flourishes or interpretation. A typical news story often takes its headline with just enough explanation to orient the reader. News stories lack the depth of an attribute story, or the questioning approach of an investigative story. Rather, they relay facts, events and information to society in a straightforward, accurate and unbiased manner.

- Reviews. Reviews are partly opinion and partly fact based. The review needs to accomplish a couple of things: one, accurately describe or identify the topic being reviewed, and two, offer an intelligent and informed opinion of the topic, based on research and experience.

- Columns. Boston News are based primarily on the personality of the writer, allowing him or her to write about subjects in an individual style. Column writers can take a humorous approach, or specialise in a specific subject area or topic. It's important for columnists to develop their own voice that is recognisable by their readership. Columnists can interpret events or issues or write about their very own personal experiences or thoughts. Columns are usually published weekly.

- Feature Writing. Feature writing provides scope, depth, and interpretation of trends, events, topics or people. Features aim not only to thoroughly explore a topic by conducting interviews with numerous experts or the key people involved, but to provide a previously unseen perspective on an event, issue, or person. Feature writing commonly wins prestigious awards when it manages to achieve this goal. Features usually have the highest word count of all journalism types.

If you're thinking about pursuing any of these different forms of journalism, there are a variety of journalism courses available. Journalism courses teach a wide variety of journalistic, ethical and research skills which form the building blocks of all journalism. Writing courses will also help budding journalists improve their grasp of the written word. In case you have a love of words, and an enthusiastic interest in the planet around you, then journalism could be the career for you.

My Website: http://bostonjournal.org