BY E.O. ANTHONY
What is Journalism?
Journalism is an art for earning one’s living through writing for the print and electronic media. Those who contribute occasional articles to newspapers or electronic media are not Journalists. At best, they are mere writers.
Journalism is a profession of news writing for radio, television and newspaper. A person practicing the act of journalism is a Journalist.
A Journalist informs people about events on the locality, community, country and the world. Hence, Journalists help to create a global village.
Throughout the world, Journalists gather, write and edit news report for thousands of readers, listeners and viewers. In cities and towns, reporters prowl government agencies, the courts, tourist centres, government houses, air and sea ports, sports arena, school e.t.c, for news worthy events and other local stories of interest.
There are five major fields of Journalism, these are Newspaper, Magazine, Radio, Television and News Services. All these are divided into two main branches – Print Journalism (Print Media) and Broadcast Journalism (or Electronic or Wireless).
Print Journalism embraces newspapers, magazines and journals. The job of the print media is made possible by reporters, new writers, proof readers, sub-editors, editors, production editors, e.t.c.
The reporters gather news by witnessing different events such as accident, participating in press conferences or interviewing persons through investigation or researching, e.t.c. Reporters may write features to entertain readers or provide information for others. An editor is a news editor, sub-editors or any other editor acts as a gatekeeper. He screens and edits that is revises materials submitted by writers for publication.
The gatekeepers keep materials against libel and sedition. He also avoids security matters or information that may be found not to be true. And editor may also supervise an editorial staff and establish day to day policies.
The Journalists writing must be factual and objective. Editorials published on topical issues to do educate and influence public opinion. Journals are not newspapers. They are professional publications like law journals. Newspapers are published either daily or weekly. Each day’s or week’s issue is called an edition. Copies of newspapers and magazines are sold through news agents called Vendors.
A newspaper or magazine that sells many copies is said to have large circulation. Copies of previous issues are called back numbers.
The editor of a newspaper is the person in charge of newspaper production. He and his sub-editors serve as gatekeepers against offensive materials from being published by the paper.
The editor and his assistants often write a regular unsigned article called editorial which expresses the views and opinion of the paper on various national and international issues.
BY E.O. ANTHONY, S.S.1 STUDENT OF GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC BOYS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL, OYEDE, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.
