Writing and Reporting for the Media

A fundamental introduction to newswriting and reporting, this classic text focuses on the basics of reporting, including critical thinking, thorough reporting, excellent writing and creative visual communication skills for stories across all media. With digital journalism covered throughout, Writing & Reporting for the Media is the most up-to-date, realistic, and applied text available.Key FeaturesContains hundreds of examples from the work of students and professionals. Each new topic or discussion of errors includes examples, and students are also shown how to avoid or correct errorsIncludes practical exercises taken from or inspired by real events. To add to the realism, many exercises contain ethical problems: profanities, sexist comments, names of victims, or other materials many editors would be reluctant to publish requiring students to make decisionsProvides four appendices: a city directory, a summary of Associated Press style, rules for forming possessives and answer key for some exercisesEach chapter ends with a reporter's guide (e.g., 'Reporter's Guide to Accuracy' in Chapter 2) that summarises the major points covered in the chapter and helps students organise their writing assignments and make sure they are including all important informationNew to this editionDigital journalism consolidated into one chapterThe summary of Associated Press style has been returned to the textbook as Appendix BNew visuals and expanded captions reflect more recent events and supplement the textSidebars turned into 'Hot Tip' and 'From the News' boxes which provide students with important dos and don'ts and examplesThe text includes many new examples on current events that students will likely remember.This title is available as an eBook. Please contact your Sales and Learning Resource Consultant for more information.

Table of Contents:
PrefaceSection I The Tools of Journalism1.Journalism Today2. Selecting and Reporting the News3. Newswriting Style4. The Language of News  Section II The Law and Ethics of Journalism 5. Libel, Privacy and News gathering Issues6. Ethics Section III The Basic Skills of Journalism 7. Basic News Leads8. Alternative Leads9. The Body of a News Story10. Quotations and Attribution11. Interviewing12. Feature Stories13. Writing for Broadcast News14. Visual Journalism  Section IV Applying the Skills of Journalism 15. Speeches and Meetings16. Brights, Follow-Ups, Roundups, Sidebars and Obituaries17. Public Affairs Reporting18. Introduction to Investigative Reporting19. Journalism and Public Relations  Appendix A City Directory Appendix B Summary of AP Style Appendix C Rules for Forming Possessives Appendix D Answer Key Credit Lines Index

About the Author :
John Bender is Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lucinda Davenport is Professor of Journalism at Michigan State University. Michael Drager is Assistant Professor of Journalism at Shippensburg University.

Review :
"Writing and Reporting for the Media is a one-stop shop for instructors of beginning writing courses.  It is filled with practical and clear examples that don't just tell students how to improve their copy, it shows them." - Roberta Kelly, Washington State University "The authors have done a stellar job presenting up-to-date technology and other changes in media while offering practical and theoretical instruction in the core basics of reporting and writing for the media. The text provides a solid basis for proficiency in media writing, as well as fostering students toward the goals of being articulate about media and engaged in that and the world around them. The book is a valuable resource to become a lifelong student of the media, not just a student in a class." - John Roche, Marist College