Training on Reporting

Notes Of the Reporting training on the 26th May 2011

By Wanda and Joshua

News values;

News should be;

ü      Facts

ü      Its unusualness e.g. rat carrying a dog

ü      Timeline

ü      Impact

ü      Prominence/celebrate

ü      Proximity

ü      Usefulness

ü      Public interest

ü      Focus statement…..5whs’ (who, where, when, why, how)

Types of news;

• Hard news – answers the 5whs’

Have direct impact to people, are timely, talk about things that are about to happened, just happened, is happening……..

• Soft news

No time factor e.g. health issues, events, lifestyle and entertainment

• News features

Connect information, they want to know why it happened, dig dip in how it happened

ü      A Journalist is always curious to know the exact/absolute truth

An old person dying is not that very much of news but a youth dying is news…

Case in point;

Funeral for Nyanduse (Mother of Nyachaye)

In attendance are; …… and the following announcements are made……

Ruto- Defects ODM—he has been saying this all along/not so much of news

Kallonzo- Coming to ODM—we know him as a water melon

Raila- Gatundu Mp— Great news/sells

Kibaki- Mp Othaya—more of normal news

Nyanduse- Falls out of casket –The falling part is news

What would form part of news headline?

e.g…..Political earthquake in a funeral

N.B: Raila declares to vie for Gatundu seat (this qualifies) at a funeral that fell out of the casket

A key element of a story structure

Use the active voice always

E.g. The boy crossed the road

Note: The road was crossed by the boy

Media Ethics

This is basically the behavior which a journalist should embrace

 You have to be just, fair and accurate

You need to know your rights

You can tell A and B and let the people tell the C (the people verdict, judgment)

Never ruin the reputations of your boss….. lest you…….?

Preparing for An interview

What to look-out for;

Actual story/research

Identify story sources

Interview location- where the interviewee is comfortable

Who the story is happening to

Ask questions for clarity

Opposite opinion

Experts’ facts – adding value/enriching your story/news

 Introducing yourself

 Very key for it makes one comfortable with what you are doing and he/she is able to relay to you the required information you are looking for

Ask questions related/directed (intended for this person)to the person you are interviewing

Items for the next Trainings

Article writing/story structure****

Feature story**

Editing videos and pictures***

Twitter*

Facebook*

Blogging**