Journalism
Related: cultural journalism - music journalism - news
Genres: gonzo journalism - yellow press
Definition
Journalism is the practice of collecting and publishing information regarding current events. Those who practice journalism are known as journalists. It is often referred to as the "first draft of history." Even though news stories are often written in a hurried style, they should be proofread before being published.
The main activity of journalism is the reporting of events by stating the journalistic parameters of who, what, when, where, why and how and commenting on the significance of the event. Journalism exists in a number of media: newspapers, television, radio and magazines, with Internet journalism being a newcomer.
Generally, a distinction is drawn between straight reporting (just the facts), op-ed columns (opinion and editorial comment from one author), and editorials, the official opinions of the paper.
However, this distinction is often difficult to make. Journalists may intentionally or unintentionally fall prey to propaganda or disinformation. Without even committing outright fraud, journalists may give a biased account of facts by being selective in their reporting, for instance focussing on anecdotes or giving partial explanation of actions. This is especially effective in foreign reporting, since few people can and do check such reports. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism, Apr 2004
your Amazon recommendations