UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PANGASINAN

Binalonan, Pangasinan

Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education

Second Semester, A.Y. 2021-2022
MODULE 3
NEWSWRITING: THEORIES AND TECHNIQUES
Course Title: Campus Journalism
Course Code: EL119
Name:

Course and Year:

Date and Time Allotment: Week 3

Introduction
This module entitled Newswriting: Theories and Techniques allow you to be informed about the
fact that Journalism is an art. Moreover, you will also learn about the three different types of journalism
such as the Objective, Development and Yellow Journalism, the Press as the fourth estate, and the beat
system.

I. Objectives

At the end of the end of this module, students should be able to:
1. State the responsibilities of the media in national development and identity of its excesses;
2. Identify the concepts that are related to journalism; and
3. Differentiate the advantages and disadvantages of Beat system.

II. Lecture

❖ Journalism Defined. Journalism is form of writing, characterized by direct presentation of facts or

description of events without an attempt at interpretation, and designed for publication in newspaper or
magazine.

Objective Journalism. The type of reporting events that confines itself to facts and answers the questions
“what, when, where, who, why, and how”, is called objective journalism. If the journalist attempts to explain
the significance of an event by expounding on the question “why and how,” then his reportage is called
interpretative journalism.

Development Journalism. A form of reporting opposed the adversarial, and aimed at promoting the social,
economic and political development of a country is called development journalism. Critics deride it as
“subservience journalism” or “mouthpiece writing” because journalists write in support of government efforts
to improve the quality of life of the people, such as how to effectively deliver social services, or how to
increase the gross national product. This type of writing, which is also called sunshine journalism.

Yellow Journalism. It is a type of journalism that sensationalizes stories about crimes and violence.
❖ Press as the Fourth Estate
 In republican system, such as what we have here in the Philippines, there are three co-equal
branches of government: the executive, the legislative and judiciary. The media is often referred to as
fourth branch or estate with the role of fiscalizing the three other branches. In a democracy, the press
should be the link between people and the state institutions.

The Beat System

Beat is the regular place of assignment given to a reporter by his editor. The beat system has its
own advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages. Among the advantages:
1) Excellent Source. Due to his daily personal contact, the reporter develops a reliable source in the
beat. This can be translated into easy access to top officials and leaks foe possible news stories. 2)
Expertise. The reporter is the beat develops expertise, say in foreign affairs if he is assigned to the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), or in court system if he covers the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Thus, he can write i-depth stories and is not likely to miss a good angle or a good story concerning of
his beat.
3) Surveillance. The regular beat reporter can perform one of the main function of journalism:
surveillance of the environment. In the beat, he can monitor the malpractice and shenanigans of
officials.

Pitfalls. Some pitfalls of the beat reporting are:

1) Cronyism. By constant association, the reporter and his source may develop closeness to a point
that damaging stories are kept form the public.
2) Bias. There is the danger that the reporter may adopt the thinking and beliefs of his source and,
thus, compromise his objectivity and independence.
3) Myopia. Beat reporters tend to lose perspective about the relative importance of the subjects they
cover. They produce some stories that their editors love to spike for lack of news value. 4) Ego. Beat
reporters usually resent the intrusion of other reporters in their turf. The perceive their beat as
personal property, without realizing that the Desk can move them anytime to other assignments.

❖ Excesses in Media (Shortcomings)

1. Shooting from the hip. This is the penchant of some columnists to write something without first
checking the facts or veracity of the report. This columnist often seek refuge under the doctrine of
fair comment, although the intention is to malign other people.

2. Abuse of the source-based stories. Some reporters concoct stories to suit to their pre-conceived
ideas or slant on how a news should be written by attributing them to anonymous sources, like “an
observer,” ”analyst,” or “an official who requested anonymity.” This practice is not only unethical but
is also downright misinterpretations.

3. Resorting to “poetic license”. Poetic License” or the freedom of poets and other artists to deviate
from the accepted practices and norms for the sake of art, is sometimes being confused with
writing factually. Journalism is the record of unfolding events: it should not be equated with fiction
or other literary forms.

4. Imagined or manufactured stories. Writing sensational stories which do not actually exist.
5. Conflict of Interest. Columnists who are serving the public and working as a sectoral
representative for the House of Representatives, etc.

6. Misquotation. Oftentimes, officials or news personalities complain that they have m=been
misquoted by reporters. Racing against the deadline, this happens inevitably. But most officials do
 not really bother about this for as long as the facts are not twisted and the reports do not harm their
reputation or honor.

7. Labelling. This is the habit of journalists to put a label or tag on persons or organizations.

Newspaper Ethics

For newspaper here are some general rules to follow:

1) Obscenity is against the law. It will not serve your readers unless your publication is patterned after
the “Playboy” or “Oui” magazines.
2) Stick to objective and unbiased reports.
3) Don’t print pictures that will offend the ordinary reader’s taste or sensibility
4) Don’t “play around” with your stories.
5) A person is always innocent until proven guilty by the court.

Here is more detailed code of newspaper ethics adopted by the American Society of Newspaper Editors
(ASNE):
I. Responsibility - the right of a newspaper to attract and hold readers is restricted by nothing but
considerations of public welfare.
II. Freedom of the Press – Freedom of the press is to be guarded as vital right of mankind. III.
Independence – Freedom from all obligations except that of fidelity to the public interest is vital.
IV. Sincerity, Truthfulness, Accuracy – Good faith with the readers is the foundation of all
journalism worthy of the name.
V. Impartiality – Sound practice makes clear distinction between news report s and expressions of
opinions.
VI. Fair Play – A newspaper should not publish unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral
character without opportunity given to the accused to be heard.
VII. Decency – A newspaper cannot escape conviction of insincerity if while professing high moral
purpose, it supplies incentives to base conduct, such as are to be found in details of crime and
vice, publication of which is not demonstrably for the general good.

IV. Application/Activity
Instructions: Answer the following question in no less than ten sentences. (10 points)

1. Why do Campus Journalists need to be responsible in their writing?

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IV. Assessment
Instructions: Comprehend what is being asked. Answer it as brief as possible and be guided by this
criteria. Content-15 points, Grammar and mechanics- 10 points, Organization- 5 points. Your answer
should not go beyond 150 words and not lesser than 100 words.
On your own words, differentiate the Three types of journalism.
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V. Other References:
• Castro, J.L. (199). Handbook of Journalism. Revised Edition. Cacho Hermanos, Inc. Manila • Malinao,
A.L. (2004). Journalism for Filipinos. Third Edition. National Book Store. Mandaluyong City.