In Monday's Newswriting class, we had a quiz, which I found out that I would have only got one right (because I guessed). Now that I know the facts, there are three points I would like to get out.
A)Although I understand that journalism is a business, it still frustrates me that it has become as much of a business as it is a love for writing, entertaining, and informing the people. I also know that serving the audience is important, but calling it a business almost just doesn't seem right. It almost reminds me of athletes who say that "it's a business" instead of just playing sports for the love of playing sports. I know the the corporation is based off of audience, or basically the consumer. Maybe I'm crazy, but I just don't think that business should be as overwhelming as it is coming off in Chapter 3.
B) Is it me, or did we already go over Chapter 4 in the first day of class? The five concepts I read about, Not Adding, Not Deceiving, Transparency, Originality, and Humility, were discussed on the first day of class. I'm not upset, in a matter of fact, I am pretty grateful, because I completely forgot about the discipline of journalism. This "Discipline of Verification" is noted for good now.
C) As much as there is a discipline discussion in Chapter 4, Chapter 5 shows how much of a contrast there is. I really thought that there wouldn't be much of an independence of newswriting. I was dead wrong. Whether it be from the diversity of America, economic status, or other thoughts, journalists really have some freedom to work with. "It (stereotypical adjectives) becomes descriptive but not limiting." (Page 107). It seems to me that as long as the other five concepts of discipline are covered, then independent writing can flow.
I know it's long, but please let me know what you think.
Posted by The Gentle Giant at September 20, 2005 03:57 PMJay, I did indeed craft my opening lecture with the idea of planting some seeds that would take root later in the course -- that's why I stubbornly insisted that we're still using this book, even though it took a while for the extra copies to show up. So I'm glad that you noticed the connections.
Journalism is in many ways a vocation, like teaching or religious service. There are other jobs that pay better, but don't offer you the ability to affect people and to do your part to make the world a little less apathetic, a little less ignorant, a little more enlightened.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at September 21, 2005 02:03 PMWell Dr. Jerz,
As much as I was reluctant to reading these chapters, much of these points made a lot of sense, and actually gave me opinions to whether I agreed or disagreed. I feel better now that I've read this particular section (mainly because it was long), but I understand that it was necessary as well.
Posted by: Jason Pugh at September 26, 2005 12:47 PMActually Dr. Jerz, I actually just talked about Journalism with my best friend back home. He actually had a few good questions about Journalism. I swear to you, I used the book as a reference. What a nerd I have become lol. I felt really intelligent explaining to him why different pieces of journalism are really important to the reader (I.E. him)
Posted by: Jason Pugh at September 26, 2005 11:13 PM