Fundamentals of reporting and editing Ambrish Saxena

1. Understanding News
What is News?
Definitions of News
Nature of News
Qualities of News
News Elements
Where to Look for News
2. News Value
Determinants of News
Other Determinants of News Value
Types of News
Hard Vs Soft News
News Vs Information
Information Turning in News
3. Report Writing
The Simple News Lead
Inverted Pyramid
Benefits of Inverted Pyramid
The Five Ws
Conventional Lead
Modem Lead
Playing Up a W
Crowding the Lead
Complete Reporting
Tasting the Lead
4. Writing the Lead
Lead/Intro
The News Lead
Summary or Digest Lead
Other Leads
Identifying the Features
Combining Stories
Polishing the Lead
Rhetoric
Emphasising News Values
Various Patterns of Lead Writing
Question Lead
Punch, Capsule or Cartridge Lead
Statement or Direct-Quotation Lead
Contrast Lead
Direct-Address/Direct-Appeal Lead
Descriptive Lead
Parody Lead
Historical or Literary-Allusion Lead
Staccato Lead
Suspended Interest Lead
Circumstantial Lead
Oddity or Freak Lead
Dialogue Lead
Colour or Figurative Lead
Narrative Lead
Bullet Lead
Contrasting Lead
Blind Lead
Biiried Lead
News Sources and Sourcing
News Channels
New Gathering
Tjrpes of News Sources
Tapping the News Sources
Credibility of Source
Protection of Source
Sourdng
Need for Attribution
Identification of Source
How to Attribute?
Off-the-Record
Role of Source
Role of Reporter
6. Reporting for News Media
Principles of Reporting
Objectivity in Reporting
Social Responsibility
Reporting for Different Media
Daily Newspaper
News Magazine
News Agency
Pool Reporting
Pool in Newspaper
Pool in News Agency
Pool in Radio
Rewrites
Press Releases
Follows-Ups
The Developing Story
Embargo
7. Reporter and Reporting
Reporter—Backbone of a Newspaper
A Reporter Defined
Tools of a Reporter
A Reporter in Action
Precautions Required in Reporting
Problems in Newsgathering
Guidelines for Reporters
Qualities of a Reporter
Tips for a Reporter
Responsibilities of a Reporter
Functions of a Reporter in a Democracy
Reporting Set-up in a Newspaper
Local Beats
Functions of Reporting Room
Functions and Responsibilities of Chief Reporter
8. Writing General Stories
Personals and Briefe
Personals
Briefe
Fillers
Speeches, Publications and Interviews
Speeches
Speech Story Lead
Body of the Speech Story
Publications
Personal Interviews
Planning Questions for Interview
Rights of the Interviewee
Rights of the Interviewer
Conducting the Interview
Interview Story Forms
Meetings and Special Events
Types of Meeting Stories
Conventions
Special Events
9. Writing Simple Story Tjrpes
Illness, Deaths and Funerals
News Value of Obits and Other Stories
Factors of Magnitude
Illness
Deaths
Obituaries
Funeral
Fires and Accidents
Facts and Sources
Story Forms
Complete Reporting
Seasons, Weather and Natural Disasters
Weattiers Stories
Special Weather Stories
Natural Disasters
Seasons
Weaving the Story
10. Crime Reporting
Journalist's Responsibility in Crime Reporting
Sources of Crime News
Dealing with the Police
Other Sources
Areas Covered under Crime Reporting
Precautions Required for Crime Reporters
Civil Disorder
Rapes
Suicides
Crime Reporters
Follow-Ups
Tools of Reporters
General Terms used in Crime Reporting
11. Reporting Beats
Introduction
What is Reporting Beats?
Civic/Local Bodies Beat
Cultural Beat
Health Beat
Civil Administration Beat
Legal Beat/Court Reporting
Religion and Festival Beat
Political Beat
Education Beat
Film/Entertainment Beat
12. Editorial Department
Organisatior\al Structure of a Daily
Editorial Department in Today's Newspapers
Set-up of Editorial Department
Editor's Position in the Editorial
Editor's Team
Some Other Designations
Role and Responsibilities of Editor
13. News Room Operations
News Room
News Room Set-up
News Room Functions
Conventional News Room
Modem News Room
News Editor
Chief Sub-editor
Seruor Sub-editor
Sub-editor
Duties and Functions of a Sub-editor
14. Editing the Copy
Mearung of Editing
Scope of Editing
Objectives of Editing
Tools of Editing
Copy Selection and Copy Tasting
Administering the Editing Job
Steps in Editing Process
Copy Tightening and Fine-tuning
Style Sheet; Its Importance in a Newspaper
A Model Style Sheet
Copy Editing
Electronic Editing
Wire News
Rewriting Stories
Copyreading Symbols
Correcting Copy
Proof-reading
Basics of Proof-reading
Precautions Required in Proof-reading
Using Proof-reading Symbols
Journalistic Terms
15. Headlining
Importance of Headlines
Defining Headlines
Functions/Purpose of Headlines
Characteristics of Headlines
Features of Headlines
Headline Types/Pattems/Trends
Headline S^edule
Types/Fonts and their Sizes
Writing Headlines
Guidelines for Writing Headlines
Selecting the Headline
Some Rules of Headline Writing
Verbs in Headlines
Words in Headlines
Principles of Headline Writing
Decks
Some Caution
Subheads
Experimentation in Headlines