Journalism

This is the act of collecting, evaluating, creating and presenting the information. Additionally, it is the activity of producing and distributing reports of current events basing on the fact that they have evidence.

Examples of journalistic media include:

• Print
• Internet
• Radio
• Television

Journalistic protocols usually vary by country. For instance, in the United States, journalism is usually produced by individuals or media organizations.

Functions of Journalism

Journalism play a major role in the society as a means of communication. The following are functions of Journalism and how they have an impact in the society:

1. Educating Purposes- Journalism it does not only provide the required information, but also it educates. This is by providing guidance on issues using editorial means and column. In this century, the mode of journalism is different and effective since the reader or listener, get explanation interpretation and diagrams. All these they aid in helping an individual to grab a better understanding of what they are reading or hearing.
2. News Function- The major function of journalism is providing the listeners or viewers with the daily news. The provision of updates is the core concept of journalism. This function it includes all report news and updates regarding our day to day life. It may include topics like politics, business, sports or foreign affairs.
3. Advertising Purposes- It can be easily noted because it is commercially-based. Most of the time the advertisements have some public message that needs to be passed through such as healthcare, family planning among others. Advertising always aims at promoting sales of goods and services.
4. Entertainment- Under this, all types of entertainments can be included which reflects on our day to day life. It also includes sports news, theatre news and hobby segments and in general deals with leisure activities.
5. Information purposes- In this function, it includes news, reports and updates that concerns our everyday life. It covers all segments from business, education, weather, foreign affairs to politics. It is majorly passed through Television or radio and as well as newspapers.
6. News Interpretation- Journalism always tend to interpret the news in form of background material interpretation or even diagrams. It aims at helping one to get a better understanding of what he or she hears or watches.

Types of Journalism

There are various types of journalism that are used with a condition on the preference of the journalist. The following are various types of journalism which helps one to decide the one that you would like to work on:

• Investigative Journalism

This type of journalism involves researching of topics thoroughly with an aim of exposing evidence and findings. After collecting of data and having time to evaluate the evidence, the investigative journalists always write a report to expose the subject. However, this can only happen if there is a provided evidence to support their findings.

Investigative journalism, usually requires more time to plan, do research thoroughly, getting findings and conclusions. This type of journalism can be of two choices: both printed and broadcast media.

• Watchdog Journalism

This type of journalism involves guiding the society against any form of illegal activities. It is much the same to investigative journalism but the difference is that, watchdog journalism’s intention is to uncover and expose the wrong acts.

The journalists under watchdog journalism manages the activities of large brands and reports any activities that is suspected to have negative consequences on the society. Watchdog journalism can be either broadcast or print media.

• Online Journalism

Online journalism announces the news via internet platforms such as blogs, digital newspapers or on social media. It is beneficial because any kind of information it is already available on the internet although not all sources can be trusted.

It allows journalists to deliver information quickly to the audience through online platforms without any delay in processing or printing.

• Broadcast Journalism

This type of journalism delivers information to the audience through television or radio. Broadcast journalism has several branches such as sports, traffic, weather and entertainment. Broadcast journalism can use the form of watchdog and investigative types. It may also include reading printed reports, narrating reports or carrying out reports in the field.

• Opinion Journalism

Information that is delivered using opinion journalism form, is reported using ideas rather than facts. Reports made includes one’s thoughts and from your own perspective or your own view pertaining a certain discussion.

It assists in aiding people to understand their own views as well as having a wider scope when consuming reports.

• Sports Journalism

It places its focus on athletic news. Journalist report on most of the sporting events, scores and rankings. Sport journalism can be both broadcast and print media. Additionally, sport commentating is also a form of sports journalism.

• Trade Journalism

Reports made are majorly in development business and its impact to people in the society. Additionally, it includes as well as agriculture news, business sectors healthcare and finances. Reports are processed and submitted on information collected regarding the market conditions of where they were covering.

• Entertainment Journalism

This type of journalism focuses on popular events in the entertainment industry. It may cover ceremonies, entertainment business such as celebrities, music launch, movies and books. Entertainment journalism can take different forms of genres either printed, broadcast or digital media.

• Political Journalism

It majorly focuses on politics, government and political candidates. Its report covers all political related segments and activities. The reports made by the political journalists can be in any form of genre, broadcast, print or digital media.

Tips on How to Choose the Right Type if Journalism

Considering there are a whole bunch of types, it is important to choose the best for your career. The following are tips one could use to choose the right type:

• Recognize your career path
• Research on the specific requirements needed to pursue it.
• Choose any of the specialties
• Decide which medium it is comfortable and you prefer to work in

Pros and Cons of Journalism

Pros

1. -Journalism gives one opportunity to work on challenging projects
2. Earns a living
3. It gives one an opportunity to meet people and interact with them. In the process you get to meet people, learn them and get along.
4. One can earn a press card that can give you access to major events

Cons

1. Working for long hours since it involves researches and in the long run it is tiresome.
2. Risk to life. For instance, if you are a crime journalist you are expected that you will face threats and violence in the work
3. Not lucrative
4. Constant suffering stress

Conclusion

The above article describes different types of journalism and gives tip on how you can choose wisely the different type of journalism. Journalism has taken a huge responsibility in the society to pass information and making people understand it in a better way.