The journalistic text – 4th ESO

1. The journalistic text

DEFINITION : it is a text that informs and creates opinion about current
events and general interest.
JOURNALIST LANGUAGE : to promote the reader's understanding, use clear , precise
language, with a brief and direct style. To do this, it relies on the following resources:
1. Expressive resources , to be attractive.
2. Action verbs .
3. Active voice (for greater precision) and passive voice (to emphasize the fact).
4. Short phrases .
5. Neolgisms and foreignisms .

Depending on their role in the press, we distinguish 3 genres:

Gender Gender of Mixed gender

informativ opinion or
• Objectivity • Subjective • Subjective
• Interpret • Inform
and and
THE STRUCTURE : most journalistic texts use an inverted pyramid structure to present
information:

2. The informative genre

DEFINITION : journalistic genre that transmits current information seeking the greatest
OBJECTIVITY .

2.1. The news .

DEFINITION : journalistic/narrative text of the informative genre that reports on some event
of interest that has occurred recently.
In a written news item there are three parts:
1. HEADLINE : brief statement, which summarizes the most important part of the news. Clear
content
and attractive.
2. HEADER or ENTRY : paragraph that collects the most important data of the news.
3. BODY : text of variable length that develops the news by expanding the details.
The information is arranged from most important to least, like an inverted pyramid.

The news must answer 6 QUESTIONS :

a) WHO did it? b) WHAT has happened? (made) c) WHEN ? (time)
from where ? (place) e) WHY ? (cause) f) HOW ? (mode)
2.2. The informative report .
DEFINITION : journalistic text of the informative genre that extensively develops a topic of
general interest after exhaustive research.
2.3. The objective interview .
DEFINITION : journalistic text of the informative genre in which an interviewer asks
questions to an expert to provide objective information on a specific topic.

3. The genre of opinion

DEFINITION : journalistic genre that transmits the analysis of facts from a SUBJECTIVE
point of view, with the intention of creating opinion among its readers. Reality is analyzed,
interpreted and commented on.

3.1. The opinion (or background) article .

DEFINITION : extensive text of the opinion genre written and signed by a regular
collaborator. With its argumentative structure, it subjectively addresses a current topic.

3.2. The editorial .

DEFINITION : text of the opinion genre that reflects the institutional and collective opinion
of the newspaper or magazine, when written by the director or those who represent the
group.

3.3. The spine .

DEFINITION : relatively short text of the opinion genre that belongs to a fixed section.
Written and signed by a regular collaborator. Combines real and fictional aspects.

4. The mixed or interpretive genre

DEFINITION : journalistic genre that reports on current events, but giving the
JOURNALIST'S POINT OF VIEW . Data are also related and hypotheses are advanced.

4.1. The chronic .

DEFINITION : mixed genre text that conveys extensive and detailed information. It is
written by a specialist, who gives his personal point of view. Parts:
1. HEADLINE : brief statement, which summarizes the most important thing. Clear
and attractive content.
2. HEADER or ENTRY : paragraph that collects the most important data.
3. BODY : text of variable length that develops the information by expanding the
details.
4. CONCLUSION : sometimes the chronicle closes with a conclusion. Not always.

4.2. The interpretive report .

DEFINITION : mixed genre text that extensively develops a topic of general interest after
exhaustive research. The reporter provides personal evaluations.

4.3. The profile (or interpretive) interview .

DEFINITION : mixed genre text in which an interviewer asks his interviewee questions to
learn about his life and career, as well as his opinions and feelings.