Types of Reporting - Lecture Notes 9

TYPES OF REPORTING LEARNING OBJECTIVES After going through this unit you will be able to: • Describe the various types of reporting. • Define what it means to report on a beat. • Identify the key beats. INTRODUCTION We'll delve a little deeper into another aspect of reporting, namely its types, in this unit. No media organisation, whether it is a newspaper or a news agency, can do without reporters. And it is one activity in which humans cannot be replaced by machines, even in this highly mechanised age of news production. As a result, it is critical for aspiring journalists like you to comprehend. REPORTING FORMATS This is a very interesting field. There are three types of reporting: objective, interpretative, and investigative. Aside from that, there's a concept known as beat reporting. This unit will familiarise you with all of these concepts. This unit will help you understand the reporting field in depth and will be your first step toward practical journalism. So, let's begin with the various types of reporting. TYPES OF REPORTING Objective Reporting The term "objective reporting" refers to the straightforward presentation of facts as they occurred. Contextualizing, backgrounding, analysing, and opining are not part of objective reporting. Without any subjective inputs, the reporter simply reports what he has seen or observed. The concept of objective reporting can be summarised as follows: • Fairness and balance in presenting opposing viewpoints on a topic. • Reporting accuracy and realism. • Outlining all of the most important points. • Distinguishing facts from opinions while still considering the latter to be relevant. • Keeping the writer's own opinions, attitudes, and involvement to a minimum. • Staying away from slant, malicious, or devious motives. An example of a typical objective report is as follows: The Assam Tribune published this report on April 8, 2008. REPORTING FORMATS Scientists from the American Academy of Sciences are looking into the deaths of mushrooms. Submitted by a City Reporter. GUWAHATI, April 7: An Assam Agricultural University team investigating the poisonous mushroom case in Golaghat and other districts discovered that the mushroom consumed by the victims was of a highly poisonous variety known as Amanita Phalloides Vaill. Pramila Rani Brahma, the State Minister for Agriculture, recently directed the Vice Chancellor of the Assam Agriculture University, SS Baghel, to conduct an investigation into the Golaghat incident, in which seven people died after eating a poisonous mushroom obtained from the Bahupathar Jungles. The team of experts, which included scientists and officials from the State Agriculture Department and the Health Department, discovered that this poisonous variety, which flourished after the season's first showers, was the cause of the deaths while questioning the people of the village and examining the quality of mushroom consumed by them. Interpretative Reporting Facts and interpretation are combined in interpretative reporting. Many times, the reporter must interpret certain events for the benefit of the audience. It entails providing background information on a specific incident or event. Aside from the facts gathered on the ground, the reporter may need to provide background information so that the readers can better perceive and comprehend the news. As a result, the reporter investigates the causes and implications of a particular event and provides information as well as an interpretation of its significance. It's possible that the entire event will not take place in a single day. It's a never-ending cycle, with one event often leading to the next. To comprehend the occurrence of an event, we must first comprehend the preceding one, or the sequence of events that led to the most recent one. And it is the reporter who interprets the event by informing the readers about the event's past history or the actions that led to its occurrence. This provides more context for events, and the reporter must keep track of all past, present, and future events, as well as forecast the future at times. As a result, interpretative reporting elucidates an event's hidden significance and distinguishes fact from fiction. Let's look at an example to illustrate this point. On June 27, 2008, the news portal ibnlive.com published this report. New Delhi: There has been no breakthrough in the negotiations over the Indo-US Nuclear Deal, which is quickly becoming one of the most serious political crises for the Congress-led UPA Government. The Left parties have rejected the UPA's last-ditch efforts to keep the deal alive, and a breakup appears inevitable. The Congress-led UPA Government is on the lookout for new allies as it prepares for its split with the Left. And there are enough signs that Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Congress' former adversary, is leaning toward the UPA. He is a descendant of the well-known JP Movement, which protested the imposition of the Emergency. Mulayam Singh Yadav, the President of the Samajwadi Party, was seen sharing a platform with others who had fought the Emergency thirty years ago. He told the crowd about his experiences, but the names of the then-prime minister, Indira Gandhi, and the Congress party were conspicuously absent from his speech. The Samajwadi Party, unlike other United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) partners such as the Telegu Desam Party and the Asom Gana Parishad, has not committed to the nuclear deal. Mulayam Singh is keeping his cards close to his chest, causing the government to be on pins and needles. " The final draught has not yet been completed. Allow Congress to finish the draught. On July 3, the UNPA will meet to make a final decision on whether or not to support the nuclear deal. Whatever decision is made, Mulayam Singh says it will be done with the UNPA in mind, not just the Samajwadi Party. Mulayam Singh, who is being cornered by Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh, needs allies to take on the BSP in the upcoming general elections, and Congress, along with Ajit Singh's RLD, could form a formidable combination against Mayawati. In exchange, the Congress may be able to secure the support of the 39 SP Lok Sabha MPs in order to save the government and the nuclear deal. In the event that the Left withdraws its support, the Samajwadi Party's 39 MPs could save the government in Parliament. Ram Vilas Paswan, the leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), says the Samajwadi Party should be kept as an option because "we don't want to lose wickets, but we also want to score runs." Meanwhile, Amar Singh, the General Secretary of the Samajwadi Party, is returning from a trip to the United States on Sunday. Mulayam Singh is expected to announce his decision on the issue next week, after the UNPA meeting, possibly just before the Prime Minister's departure for the proposed G8 summit. Investigative Reporting Investigative reporting is when a news reporter has to dig deeper than what is stated in the hard news to find out the exact facts of an event, or, in other words, investigates beyond what is visible to the naked eye. Investigative reporting entails looking into any event. Investigative journalism is in-depth and involves extensive research and reporting over a long period of time. It reveals information that isn't widely known and that others want to keep hidden. Investigations are usually conducted in the event of a major event, when a larger public concern is involved, or when public figures or celebrities are involved. In any type of reporting, the reporter conducts some sort of research to unearth information that would otherwise be unavailable. A sound copy or report cannot be produced without preliminary investigation. However, in some cases, particularly those involving scams or misappropriation of public funds, the reporter must conduct thorough research to obtain the necessary information in order to produce a good copy. Furthermore, in such cases, information is scarce, and the reporter must devote both time and effort to unearthing facts. "Investigative reporting is to journalism what theoretical research is to science," says renowned American journalist Robert Parry, "having the potential to present new realities and shatter old paradigms – how people see and understand the world around them – which, in turn, can transform politics." The importance of investigative journalism in today's world is undeniable. Long-held lies can be exposed, deceptive leaders can be exposed, and a corrupt government can be shaken to its core by the discovery of a dramatic set of new facts. Investigative journalism, when done correctly, poses a significant threat to powerful elites attempting to manipulate a population. Despite its flaws, modern journalism is widely regarded as the most effective monitor and defender of democratic values. And investigative reporting is without a doubt the most effective tool for carrying out this duty. Investigative reporting emphasises the media's role as a watchdog and the accountability of institutions and individuals in positions of power. After being appointed as executive editor of The Indian Express in 1979, Arun Shourie sowed the seeds of investigative journalism in India. He was well-known for pioneering a new kind of aggressive, independent investigative journalism in the United States. Shourie and the Indian Express uncovered corruption in the highest echelons of government and exposed several major scandals in a series of remarkable exposes. This type of reporting is now seen more frequently in the audio-visual medium than in the print medium, particularly in the form of undercover reporter sting operations. When it comes to investigative journalism, however, extreme caution is required. One of the most important requirements of this type of journalism is determination, patience, care, and fairness. It's also critical for investigative journalists to maintain a high level of ethical behaviour. Otherwise, investigative reporting may cause more harm than good. They should go out of their way to find the truth and report it as completely as possible. Investigations should be carried out with the goal of catalysing reforms, not with the goal of causing harm. If it's done solely to make a splash, get a scoop, or simply to defame someone, it puts journalistic credibility in jeopardy. "For investigative reporting to flourish, what is required is: an independent and pluralistic media that is fearless, committed to democracy, universal human values; journalists with commitment who can identify problems and have the grit, perseverance, patience, and skills to do research, and owners and editors who are professionally non-partisan and without vested interests," says Arun Sadhu, a well-known free lance journalist and media educationist. It also entails a high level of risk, as one may be forced to confront dangerous situations and travel to dangerous locations in order to get to the heart of the storey – terrorist camps, brothels, war scenes, jungles, and even engage in illegal activities and face the consequences. All of you are probably familiar with the case of American journalist Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and later murdered by terrorists in Pakistan in January 2002 while investigating the case of Richard Reid, the shoe bomber, and alleged links between Al Qaeda and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). When he was kidnapped, he was on his way to interview Mubarak Ali Shah Gilani, a radical Islamic leader. To uncover facts, the reporter may have to use deception, hidden cameras, and entrapment. In this regard, the portal tehelka dot com, which used sting operations for the first time in India in 2000, ushered in a new era of investigative journalism in India. The portal broke new ground when it exposed corruption in cricket and India's defence establishment through meticulous investigation. Even those who served as captain for the country had their reputations tarnished as a result of the use of secret cameras to record illegal deals and the subsequent exposure. Though it brought celebrities down from their pedestals and dismayed millions of cricket fans in the process, it revealed the extent of the sport's rot. The public was shocked when Tehelka exposed the level of corruption in the defence establishment by interviewing politicians, army officers, and some arms deal fixers. The images of party leaders and senior army officers eager to accept bribes from a fictitious company whose antecedents had not even been verified sparked outrage in Parliament. An inquiry commission was formed to look into the portal's allegations, and the portal was asked to submit all evidence it had to the commission's retired judge. Another example is 'Operation Duryodhan,' a nine-month sting operation carried out in 2005 by the news channel AAJ-TAK and the investigative portal Cobrapost. It caught on camera eleven members of India's Parliament accepting money in exchange for asking questions on the floor of the legislature. This was the first sting operation in the history of the Republic of India, and all members of parliament were expelled. Ten of them were members of the 14th Lok Sabha, while one was a member of the Rajya Sabha. Aaj Tak's expose of bribe-taking by several Tihar Jail personnel in 2005 is another important sting operation worth mentioning. Unauthorized persons could easily gain admission to the highsecurity prison, information about the inmates could be obtained, and money and other goods could be passed on to them, according to the Aaj Tak exposé. It simply demonstrated "how easy it was for inmates to obtain various favours" and "what makes a stay in Tihar Jail one of the most comfortable prison experiences in the world." Two Deputy Superintendents, four Assistant Superintendents, three Head Warders, and four Warders of Tihar Jail were suspended as a result of the expose, and the entire jail underwent a massive security overhaul. BEAT REPORTING The word 'beat' is one that you might hear a lot in the newsroom. Many people will ask you which 'beat' you cover as a reporter. Reporters must always work in beats. Beats are the specialised areas of operation assigned to reporters by the organisation where they work. Because it is impossible for a single reporter to cover multiple beats due to human and physical limitations, each reporter may be assigned one or more beats. And the reporter is expected to cover all of the events or happenings that fall under his beat's jurisdiction. The reporter cannot afford to miss any important or insignificant event that occurs within his beat/beats. If a reporter working for a specific organisation fails to notice a significant event that other reporters working for other news organisations have managed to cover, it results in a loss of credibility not only for the reporter, but also for the newspaper or news channel as a whole. Every news organisation must categorise its reporters into beats. Every newspaper publishes a variety of news items throughout the day. Economic, health and hygiene, education, environment, artculture-literature, trade and commerce, women and children, sports, science and technology, crime, and social issues are among the topics covered. Newspapers also have specialised columns and supplements on a variety of topics and issues. All of this necessitates the use of reporters to fill both the regular and special columns. Reporters are stationed in the city or location from which the newspaper is distributed, or correspondents are stationed in various locations to report on events occurring in locations other than those where the newspaper is distributed. Furthermore, many other large organisations make additional classifications based on requirements such as local, regional, national, and international news. Reporters are expected to work in areas designated by a senior person, usually the bureau chief or another senior person such as the editor or news editor. A single reporter may be assigned to multiple beats, and an important beat may be shared by several reporters on many occasions. This differs from one organisation to the next. As a result, the reporter's job is enormous and vital to the organisation. SOME IMPORTANT BEATS Police/Crime: Criminal activity is a common occurrence in all societies. And newspapers and news channels are required to report on any type of crime that occurs in society. When covering this beat, the reporter should maintain good relationships with police stations, officers, and the crime divisions of the various investigating agencies, both government and non-government, that operate in the society. The crime reporter should also have good contacts in the state and district level courts, where legal proceedings against various types of crimes are conducted. Legal/Judicial: The court beat is a major beat for any newspaper because it generates a lot of stories. Because criminal cases are tried in courts, the court beat is linked to the crime/police beat. However, court reporting is about more than just crime. The courts also hear a lot of civil and non-criminal cases. A reporter assigned to the court beat is responsible for covering all civil and criminal cases, as well as the lower and higher courts. A court reporter must have a thorough understanding of the legal system and be familiar with the court system's hierarchy. A court reporter's ability to develop a good network of sources in the courtroom and among the police is crucial. He must be fully informed about all significant ongoing cases and maintain a file of arrests. He needs to know what's going on in the grapevine, but he also needs to be able to tell the difference between official records and grapevine rumours. Another important consideration for a court reporter is that he must adhere to the legal system's rules and regulations and learn to respect the court's sanctity. He must be wary of committing contempt of court in order to avoid punishment. Entertainment/Culture: Culture is an integral part of every society, and a society cannot exist without a distinct and unique culture. And, as a member of society, the media must give due consideration to the cultural aspects of the society to which it belongs. Culture's courses, processes, developments, and many other issues related to it must be highlighted in the media so that people can stay informed and understand their own culture. With the emergence of the 'global village,' the significance of cultural reporting has grown exponentially. People are interested in learning not only about their own culture, but also about other cultures. Foreign cultures have a huge influence on people, and they frequently incorporate elements from other cultures into their own lives. The intermingling of cultures has changed the entire world today, and the mass media can be credited with a large part of the credit. The media now devotes a significant amount of coverage to this topic. As a result, it has become a crucial beat for every media outlet. Nowadays, newspapers devote separate pages and supplements to various aspects of culture, such as songs, drama, cinema, folk songs, dance, folklore, language, behaviour, food habits, life styles, fashion, ethnic materials, norms, ethics, values, and so on. This beat is usually assigned to anyone who has an interest in culture, has good contacts in the field, and has a good understanding of his or her own cultural way of life. Political coverage is also important in every newspaper and electronic news bulletin. Particularly in the context of the Indian media, all of the Indian media is obsessed with political news. Political news takes up the majority of their newspaper pages and news bulletin time. Political activities and discourses are prized in every society, and as a result, the media around the world place a premium on reporting on political issues with serious intent. So much so that it has a tendency to overshadow all other significant issues confronting society. However, in this situation, the political beat becomes one of the most important beats for any media outlet. As a result, a senior reporter is usually tasked with covering this beat. The person in charge of this beat must be a senior man with many years of experience working in the media and a thorough understanding of current political events. He should have a better understanding and reflexes when it comes to political issues and course of action. He should also have strong political connections, such as in State Legislative Assemblies and Parliament. Business: In today's society, business plays a critical role. There has been a surge in business, trade, commerce, finance, and other related activities all over the world. Business and financial matters have taken centre stage, especially in today's globalised world. With the rise of the free market economy, "business" has become everyone's business rather than the domain of a select few financial experts. There has been so much in the works in all of these areas that it has become imperative that people broaden their knowledge and strengthen their understanding of the issues and processes that surround these areas in a way that has never been done before. As a result, the media has begun to take these issues seriously and with great emphasis. In this regard, the business beat is regarded as a very serious and responsible one. The person who is willing to take on the responsibility of this important beat should keep in mind that he must have a thorough understanding of business and finance, as well as the dynamics of the stock market. He should be up to date on business activities taking place not only in his own society, but also in other places. He should be well-versed in business dynamics and have a network of trustworthy sources in government and non-government organisations, corporations, political circles, and elsewhere. Sports: In every media organisation, sports is also one of the most coveted beats. Every news organisation places a premium on reporting on games and sports. Every newspaper devotes one or two pages of its total publication to sports news. As a result, anyone covering this beat bears enormous responsibility. This beat is usually assigned to someone who has a basic understanding of the rules and tactics of various games and sports. The person in charge of this beat must be familiar with the country's and other countries' sporting landscapes, as well as the issues and problems that plague the sports scene around the world. It is expected that he is familiar with the players and maintains good relationships with them, as well as with other people and organisations involved in sports. Education: Due to the large number of people involved in this field — students, teachers, guardians, researchers, and, of course, policymakers — education is another important beat. News about various schools, colleges, universities, and other technical and higher learning institutions, as well as the educational landscape in general, makes for very good, important, and relevant news content. A good education reporter will cover significant activities in various educational institutions and attempt to uncover stories about unusual developments in the field of education, if any exist. Government policies on education are critical topics that must be addressed. New developments and issues in the field are also important news topics. A reporter covering the education beat must have a thorough understanding of the educational landscape and strong ties to various educational institutions and the education department. Technology and Science: Every day, science and technology are reshaping and revolutionising our lives. We couldn't imagine our lives without the contributions of scientific and technological advances. As a result, understanding science is a cultural necessity and, like art and drama, is a part of general cultural knowledge. The public has a right to know what scientists are up to and how their work affects society. Science reporting aims to instil a scientific temperament in readers and encourage them to explain various phenomena in their daily lives with a rational and analytical mindset. The latest science and technology news includes notable scientific discoveries about nature as well as all major technological advancements. Good science reports include discoveries about stars, atoms, or the human body or mind, as well as the discovery of major drugs, breakthroughs in fusion research, and space shots. The milestones in the progress of science and technology are usually what a science reporter looks for. A science reporter's specialisation in the field of science is often advantageous, but a science reporter does not have to be a specialist. A scientific temperament and a scientific background are required. Because science isn't static and new discoveries are made all the time, a science reporter must be willing and eager to become a student of science every day and keep up with the latest developments. A science journalist should also be familiar with the major areas of current scientific research. The ability to write highly technical scientific news in a way that common readers can understand is perhaps the most important quality of a science reporter. He should be able to take an abstract concept and express it in a way that is both readable and understandable. Development: Development reporting is a very important beat in today's media environment. By development report, we mean a report that highlights development or underdevelopment in a specific field. The improvement in people's, society's, and nation's living conditions is used to measure development. As a result, development encompasses issues such as poverty alleviation, reduction of religious and class disparities, development of technological infrastructure, modernization of society through the abolition of feudalism, tribalism, and superstition, and gradual economic self-sufficiency. All such developments, as well as their absence, will be covered by a development reporter. Rural reporting is an essential component of development reporting. Reporters covering development issues should pay special attention to issues such as social injustices and deprivations, as well as attempting to represent underrepresented groups in society. A development reporter must maintain regular contact with a variety of organisations and institutions, including government departments, development agencies, non-governmental organisations, and volunteer organisations, among others. A basic understanding of terms used in agriculture, the environment, science, economics, and other related subjects is essential for a development reporter. Personal prejudices, likes, and dislikes cannot be allowed to guide a development reporter. Also, he should never rewrite official handouts, but rather use them as a starting point for creating his own well-researched storey. Human development reporting is the most important aspect of development reporting. It must be concerned with people because it is people who build the nation. It needs to show them how to improve their social standing. Accidents/Disasters/Fires: Accidents, fires, and disasters are all too common in the news, and they make up a large portion of it. Accidents, fires, and natural disasters almost always make the front page of the newspaper. This beat is frequently assigned to newcomers in the field. These are hard news stories that are relatively simple to cover because they do not necessitate any specialised knowledge on the part of the reporter. It is sufficient for the reporter to possess basic reporting abilities. It is necessary to have a keen sense of observation and the ability to interview people in order to obtain information. For these types of stories, eye witness accounts are crucial. LET US COMBINE OUR RESULTS. We've learned about the different types of reporting and reporting beats in this unit. Here's a quick rundown: • Objective, investigative, and interpretative reporting are the three types of reporting. • Objective reporting refers to when a reporter reports an event without adding any personal colour to it, i.e., representing only the truth as he has seen it. • Interpretative reporting occurs when a reporter is required to interpret the news for the benefit of the readers by providing additional facts, particularly background information. Investigative reporting is when a news reporter has to dig deeper than what is stated in the hard news to find out the exact facts of an event, or, in other words, investigate beyond what is visible to the naked eye. • Reporters are assigned to beats, which are specialised areas of interest. When a reporter is assigned to a beat or beats, he or she is expected to cover every event, big or small, that occurs within the scope of that beat.