Media and Journalistic Writing - Detailed Notes
Unit I: An Introduction to Media & Journalism
• Media and Society: Media acts as the fourth pillar of democracy; informs, educates, entertains and
influences public opinion.
• Principles of Mass Communication & Journalism: Accuracy, fairness, balance, clarity, brevity, and ethical
responsibility.
• Tools of Gathering Information: Interviews, surveys, observation, documents, press releases, social media
sources.
• Misinformation and Disinformation: Misinformation is false but not intended to harm; Disinformation is
deliberately false and misleading.
Unit II: Introduction to Cyber Media and Social Media
• Social Media: Platforms that allow sharing of content and interaction (Facebook, X, Instagram).
• Types of Social Media: Networking sites, microblogging, video-sharing, blogs, forums.
• Online Journalism: News published on websites, blogs, live updates; emphasizes speed and multimedia.
• Basics of Cyber Media: Digital platforms of communication including websites, apps, podcasts, and digital
news portals.
Unit III: Core Skills in Print Media
• Written English: Précis (summary writing), Paragraph (structured idea), Essay (argumentative/expository
writing).
• News Reporting: Follows 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and 1H (How).
• Headline Writing: Short, catchy, conveys main point clearly.
• Types of Leads: Straight lead, delayed lead, question lead, anecdotal lead.
• Report Writing: Structured factual presentation of an event or issue.
Unit IV: Core Skills in Electronic Media
• Public Speaking: Requires clarity, confidence, correct tone, and audience engagement.
• News Production for Radio: Clear voice, concise scripts, sound effects.
• News Production for TV: Visuals, interviews, live coverage, teleprompter use.
• News Presentation Principles: Objectivity, accuracy, speed, clarity, integrity.
Unit V: Basics of Reporting
• News Value: Timeliness, proximity, impact, conflict, human interest.
• News Gathering: Observation, interviews, research, data analysis.
• Readers’ Interest: Stories must be relevant, relatable, and informative.
• Qualities of a Reporter: Curiosity, accuracy, integrity, speed, persistence.
• Types of Reports: Investigative, interpretative, spot news, analytical reports.
Unit VI: Basics of Feature Writing
• Types of Features:
• Obituaries – Life stories of deceased persons.
• Reviews – Critical analysis of books, movies, shows, etc.
• Columns – Personal opinion pieces published regularly.
• Trend Stories – Articles highlighting emerging cultural/social trends.
Unit VII: Basics of Editing
• Principles of Editing: Accuracy, clarity, brevity, fairness.
• Editorial Policy: Guidelines of a newspaper/agency defining what is published.
• Role of the Editor: Oversees all content, ensures quality and ethics.
• Role of Chief Sub-editor: Supervises sub-editors, finalizes layout and style.
• Role of Sub-editors: Correct grammar, fact-check, write headlines, improve readability.
• Role of News Editor: Plans news coverage, assigns reporters, manages deadlines.
Unit VIII: Advertisement
• Types of Advertisements: Print ads, TV ads, radio ads, digital ads, outdoor ads.
• Advertising Ethics: No false claims, respect cultural values, avoid offensive content.
• Creating Advertisements: Identify target audience, message design, visuals, storyboards, call to action.
