Lecture Notes: Hard News and Journalism

Presenters

• Andrew
• Dave

Introduction

• Discussion on hard news and journalism.
• Importance of understanding how to read a news article.
• Mention of IB assessments where unbiased articles are often used.
• News informs the public about events and situations.

Hard News vs Soft News

• Hard News:
  • Covers consequential, important, significant events (e.g., politics, world events, natural disasters).
  • Aims to inform.
• Soft News:
  • Focuses on entertainment, celebrities, lifestyle.

Features of Hard News

• Timeliness:
  • Articles are current and relevant.
• Objectivity:
  • Should strive to be unbiased and factual.
• Accuracy:
  • Ensures that the facts presented are correct.
• Clarity:
  • Precise word choice due to word limits.
• Technical Features:
  • Informative and accurate headlines.
  • Lead containing the 5 W's: Who, What, When, Where, Why.
  • Inverted pyramid structure: Most important facts first.
  • Attribution of quotes to credible sources.
  • Neutral language to maintain objectivity.

Analyzing a News Article

• Metacognitive Process:
  • Ask questions about the article's authorship, credibility, audience, publication, and missing information.
• Features of Analysis:
  • Use of visuals and language to inform readers.
  • Interaction with online features (e.g., links, multimedia).
• Example:
  • Australian bushfire in Tasmania.
  • Headline example: "Thousands stranded as fires devastate Tasmania."
  • Inclusion of Twitter feeds for up-to-date information.
  • Use of photo galleries and maps to enhance understanding.

Writing About News Articles

• Consider the language of urgency and danger.
• Analyze the reliability of quoted sources.
• Consider implications and subtext in seemingly "boring" articles.

Conclusion

• Hard news may seem dry but is crucial in informing the public.
• Importance of identifying implications and inferred meaning.
• Upcoming discussion on a student's analysis of a news article.