In my recent blog, we talked about the concept of journalism. What journalism is and what it entails. This particular blog aims to talk about the typology or categories of journalism.
There are five principal forms of journalism that interact with the society. They are straight news, feature or article, editorial, commentary and interviews. We’re going to look at them one after the other and what they entail.
So, what is straight news? Straight news is news report that aims to simply inform the society about what is happening of importance and also new in the world around us. This kind of journalism passes on important and interesting information to the public. They relay facts, events and information to the society in a straightforward, accurate unbiased manner. Here, the opinions of the journalist or reporter is not needed. Facts are just given to the public without interpretation. It is about what happened and nothing else.
Feature articles on the other hand go beyond just passing on information and presents detailed reportage and analysis on a particular topic. It either entertains or educates the public. It provides knowledge, details and interpretation of events, topics or people. It is a write up which allows one to express his or her views on a particular subject.
A kind of journalism that helps to establish the position of a newspaper (media house) on an issue is an editorial. McNair in 1998 said ‘editorial is a way a newspaper or periodical speaks out in its public voice’. Editorials are planned by a group not just one person.
Commentary is a journalistic style in which a journalist presents his or her readers with an authoritative viewpoint in a particular issue. Here, a journalist writes from his point of view or opinion. The writer shares his opinion uses it to advise. Commentary is about reality and not fiction or fabrications. It should be based on facts and figures.
As events happen and topics set agendas, it probes views and policies of those in the news or those who make the news thus creating interviews. Politicians and celebrities are mostly the trendsetters. It can also be a survey of views and opinions of people or individuals who are powerful or influential. The narrative and question and answer forms are ways interviews can be communicated to the public.
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