Approximating, Representing, and Misrepresenting Reality
Since news is processed, filtered, and reassembled before it reaches the audience, the information that is ultimately disseminated can only approximate reality. Each story goes through a cycle of selection, framing, and editing that affects how events are represented:
Representation: Stories represent certain aspects of reality, often focusing on the most dramatic or sensational elements.
Misrepresentation: Selective focus can lead to misrepresentation, giving audiences wrong information. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, some news outlets focused heavily on lockdown opposition, sometimes amplifying small protests and inadequately covering the broader support for public health measures.
In order to conduct an interview a number of skills are to be learnt. Journalists need to do their homework such as researching the interviewee, set goals and do the necessary preparation first. During interviews, it becomes necessary for journalists to remain focused, calm and listen to their subjects speaking with them, and maintain the conversation.
It also has to be mentioned that good interviews do not come off easily or are conducted forfeiting any effort. The reason one should possess strong interviewing skills is due to this exact reason, they are not easy to possess.
Reporting: The majority of adults in the US believe that news organisations should practice more transparency. They are particularly interested in how journalists source, craft their stories, and issue corrections.
These issues fall under one of the most dominant skills of journalism reporting, which is also the lifeblood of every professional, dependable, and well-documented journalism.
Modern day journalists need to be able to: The convergence of evolving mass media, journalism professionalism, and ethical tenets. The increasing levels of distrust towards media sources have raised the spotlight on ethical journalism in this current day and age.
Journalists need to be able to:
- Depict issues pertaining to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation among other forms of diversity.
- Identify, observe, gather, assess, record and disseminate information that is pertinent.
- Report with sensitivity and compassion.
- Engage in professional research and assess relevant content for appropriate media outlets.
- Demonstrate and produce understanding through various forms of data.
Digital Journalism Skills: With the increasing inclination in the public towards the use of the internet, digital journalism skills are in the need of the hour.
Journalists have to employ targeted techniques when attempting to create connections with users on digital devices through storytelling. In this regard, looking at what type of media is more appropriate for what type of target audience becomes important.
Are Your Journalism Skills Relevant To The Transformative Media Today?
In case you have to broaden your horizons, why not think of pursuing the digital journalism master’s program. The following will expand your knowledge, upskill and elevate your professional standard making you eligible for better opportunities:
- Critical Media Illiteracy: Many journalists and citizens alike lack the critical media literacy skills necessary to navigate the complexities of digital content. Without these skills, distinguishing between credible sources and manipulative narratives becomes an insurmountable task.
- Fake News and Disinformation: The proliferation of fake news and deliberate disinformation campaigns—amplified by algorithms designed to maximise engagement rather than accuracy undermines public trust in journalism and erodes the democratic process.
Below is the list of several skills of digital journalism:
a.There’s the option of streaming live video from a cell phone through Twitter.
b. Making a schematic representation for a website from the tabulated data.
c. Converting videos to multiple GIFs through shooting and editing.
- Investigative Reporting: As for society, investigative reporting is an effective tool for protecting citizens from harmful actions. It’s about keeping people in check, creating progress and safeguarding democracy.
The latest ones awarded this recognition, The Pulitzer Prize For Investigative Reporting found abusive loan practices in NYC’s cab industry, sources for opioids in Virginia West, and neglect in psychiatric hospitals in Florida.
If there’s been some suspicion of any unethical practice, there’s always a chance or a reason to practice this form of journalism. Which is why this will remain among the major practices for any journalist.
For this same reason, investigative reporting is not easy to do. Women and men who operate in the same profession are supposed to know how to meld all the core skills incorporated in this list, but in a bigger and more complicated context.
- Mobile Journalism Skills: The top requirements for any journalist would include being proficient in using smartphones. Of the adult U.S. users who recently acquired news from digital devices, about seven out of every ten source their information from news websites or apps, which is higher than those who look it up through the search engine, social media, or podcasts. Today, journalists have to use their mobile devices to be able to engage with society; and to do that, they need the mobile journalism skills to: (a) Take and edit photos. (b) Record and edit audio and video. (c) Report in social or traditional news channels as the events happen and (d) Write stories in transit.
- Multimodal Editing: Editing features somewhere at the top in the list of most wanted journalism skills. Reporters must be able to appraise and assess critically their work and that of others as well. Copy editing is a formal stage of production of quality journalism. It provides: (a) Accuracy (b) Fairness, (c) Clarity. (d) Relevant language and correct grammar.
- Social Media: Social media is the third most common source of digital news for U.S. adults. Fifty-three percent of U.S. adults use social media as a source of news periodically. That number is likely to grow. From 2014 to 2019, social media use increased among all adults. As people use social media to access news, journalists must possess the skills necessary to:
Charm people on the platforms where news is consumed most. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit are the major sites for social news consumption for many adults in the United States.
Cover events as they unfold across social networks. It also requires a critical and creative thought process to determine what’s best suited for which media.
Among respondents over 35, online (38 percent) and television (34 percent) are about equally widely named as the main source of news, and print (27 percent) still more widely relied on than social media (19 percent).
But among respondents under 35, online generally (56 percent) and social media specifically (28 percent) are named as the main source of news by many more than print (16 percent) and even television (26 percent).
- News and Participation: The fact that our survey covers only English speakers with internet access is key here; the number of people accessing news via print and television will be higher for regional language news consumers and most obviously for those without internet access, though as mobile web use spreads we expect to see this to change in the years ahead.
This study has been commissioned by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism as our first step towards a better understanding of how digital news is being used in India. Research was conducted by YouGov using an online questionnaire in early January 2019. The methodology is similar to the Reuters Institute 2018 Digital News Report survey with some important limitations.
The sample is reflective of the English-speaking population in India that has access to the internet. As a result, it is skewed towards male, affluent, and educated respondents. As an online survey, the results will further under-represent the consumption habits of people who are not online (typically older, less affluent, and with limited formal education). Where relevant, we have tried to make these two limitations (around language and internet access) clear within the text. (http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/survey/2018/survey-methodology-2018/)
- Video Journalism Skills: Creating effective video content is a must for today’s journalist.
Due to the increase in the service deliveries that digital media offers, This is how many people want to consume it. Or, American adults, 47%, prefer to see the news rather than hear it or read it, whether it’s on a television screen or online.
Video journalism skills are understood to comprise editorial and technical aspects. All such skills will today’s journalists be required to have; compelling a story and video capturing and editing using mobile devices.
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The Imperatives of Critical Media Literacy
In this complex environment, For journalists, critical media literacy is not merely a professional necessity but a moral imperative. It equips them to navigate the pitfalls of digital transformation, ensuring that their work remains a beacon of truth in a sea of misinformation.critical media literacy emerges as an indispensable skill set for everyone, particularly for journalists.
More than just the ability to consume and create media, critical media literacy involves a deep understanding of: (a) Media Ownership and Control: Recognising how ownership structures influence the framing and dissemination of news, (b) Algorithmic Biases: Understanding how algorithms shape what we see and what we don’t, and how this impacts public discourse and (c) Ethical Journalism Practices: Upholding transparency, accountability, and objectivity in an era where these principles are constantly under siege.
Training the Mind: Addressing Biases and Limitations
To uphold the integrity of journalism, it is crucial to address the cognitive biases and limitations that undermine decision-making and ethical reporting. This begins with a commitment to self-awareness and intellectual humility. Mindful of the following today’s Journalists will enhance their critical disposition:
(a) Purge Personal Biases: Actively work to recognise and mitigate the influence of personal prejudices, fears, and beliefs on their reporting.
(b) Cultivate Open-Mindedness: Embrace diverse perspectives and remain willing to challenge their assumptions.
(c) Strengthen Analytical Skills: Develop the ability to critically evaluate sources, identify logical fallacies, and discern credible information from dubious claims.
The Role of Ethics and Spirituality in Journalism
In the face of rapid technological change, the role of value ethics and spirituality cannot be overstated. While technological tools can enhance the mechanics of journalism, it is ethics and spirituality that anchor its purpose. These elements remind journalists of their higher calling: to serve the public good by uncovering and disseminating truth. By fostering a sense of compassion, empathy, and responsibility, journalists can rise above the noise of the digital age and remain steadfast in their commitment to integrity. [NEXT – Educated Citizenship: The Foundation of a Thriving Democracy]