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TYPES OF NEWS STORIES IV:COMPLEX NEWS, Forms of Government, Monarchy

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Radio News, Reporting and Production ­ MCM515
VU
LESSON 10
TYPES OF NEWS STORIES IV
COMPLEX NEWS
These are, as a matter of fact, stories which involve complexities of the nature of the beat, of the language
that is to be employed while penning down the news item, of the jargons which are frequently used in the
writings or in the conversation about the field.
These are the news stories which demand reporter's special knowledge about the beat he is covering. The
reporter covering this type of stories must be well versed in the basic knowledge about the beat.
Actually this is where comes up interpretative reporting to facilitate people with back and foreground of
the event covered by the reporter so that they may not find any lack or ambiguity while listening to the
news item.
The following are the essentials to be made a part of complex news items by a reporter:
·
Reporter must incorporate extra explanation in the news item.
·
Technical vocabulary is to be made easy.
·
Expert knowledge of the reporter about the beat must be evident from the coverage of the event.
What interpretative reporting is will be gone through in detail in the coming lessons. Now let us have a
glance at some complex news story types `that require interpretation from the reporter's background of
specialized information.'
Court, Trials, Lawsuits:
Court stories are considered among the most difficult and challenging stories to report since they involve
complexity of legal process. The reporting of a trial especially when it is under hearing in any court is a
pretty sensitive task. The reporter needs to be very careful and cautious while reporting owing to the strong
possibility of the fact that any of his comment or information given in the report may create problems for
either defendant or the plaintiff or even for himself. An even insignificant expression of carelessness and
there will be a notice from the court demanding explanation from the reporter.
Another thing, as discussed above, while reporting court related stories, reporter has to simplify the terms
used while the trial by the lawyers and the judge since these terms, though can be understood by the ones
who have special knowledge of law, may not be understandable by a layman.
Court stories, normally, have already been reported in news bulletins before they become court stories. A
murder, for instance, has been done and its facts have already been known to people. Now the matter is in
the court for hearing so that the accused be declared murderer or be set free from the allegation. Hence
while reporting this case; background of the case will also be the part of the report.
Government & Policies:
One of the prime objectives of any news channel is to keep people informed with the policies and projects
announced and initiated by the government in the interest of the people. So the coverage of news stories
regarding different departments and organs of government is pretty important and it demands reporter to
be well conversant with the following areas:
Forms of Government:
Presently there are three types of government found in different countries.
Democracy
It means government of the people, by the people and for the people. Countries enjoying democracy have
opted either for presidential system reposing the maximum powers in the president as the head of the state
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Radio News, Reporting and Production ­ MCM515
VU
or for parliamentary system letting the prime minister enjoy the status as the head of the state.
It is important to be noted that in democracy the head of the states are elected by the representatives of the
people and they are answerable to the people for every of their act or decision.
Monarchy
Monarchy is a kind of government in which the power rests with one person whose decisions cannot be
challenged. The monarch or the king is the ruler and the head of the state the right to rule is transferred to
any one of the heirs of the king like any transferable commodity.
Dictatorship
In dictatorship one person manages to become the ruler of the state and enjoys the power as long as he
wishes. To run the affairs of the state he may select a band of ministers and technocrats of his own choice
and his decisions can not be challenged in any way by anyone.
Different Parliaments and Constitutions
A reporter must study the nature and the functioning of different parliaments in the world. Most important
countries in this connection are United States of America, England, France, Russia, India, and Germany.
Likewise the constitutions of these countries must also be known to a good reporter. A reporter must be
well familiar with the constitution and parliament of his own country. He is to be well aware of all the
members of National Assembly, Senate, Provincial Assemblies, Federal and Provincial Ministers with their
respective ministries.
Local governments with the entire set-up and working must be in the knowledge of the reporter.
Business & Commerce News:
Stories pertaining to business and commerce also demand a reporter to equip him with special knowledge
of terms, jargons and economic trends of business and commerce sphere.
Given below are some special areas of news on business and commerce;
Markets
Stocks and bonds
Livestock and commodities
Local, national and international market trends
Real Estate
Routine transfer
New additions
Large sales
Improvements and expansion of buildings and housing schemes
Construction permits issued.
Merchandising
Retail and wholesale stores
Expansions and improvements
New corporations and partnerships
Mergers, Bankruptcies, Prices, Cost of living
Financing and Banking
Stockholders' meetings
Dividends
Bonds
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Radio News, Reporting and Production ­ MCM515
VU
Interest rates
Money market in general, Currency exchange rates.
Industry Related News:
Knowledge about industries in Pakistan
Leather & Surgical instruments
Textile & Sports industry
Imports /exports
New industries, products, shares, mergers
Transportations
Changes in schedules
New policies regarding transportation
Labour:
Wages and hours
Unemployment
Strikes, lockouts, relief
Labour unions,
Labour problems and laws
Int'l Labour organization
Business and Government
Taxes
Legislative acts
Court decisions and business
Regulations and enforcements
Agriculture:
Crops, Sales, Droughts
New methods of farming
Land reforms
Regulations by government
New varieties in seeds and seedlings
Seed & Seedling crops
Winter & Summer crops
Sowing, Reaping & Harvesting season
Arid lands
Irrigation lands
Canal system of Pakistan
Medicine & Psychology:
Stories regarding medical technology and psychology demand a reporter to make special terms easy for
listeners. Some of the terms are given below:
By pass
Angiography
E.C.G. (electrocardiogram)
Anatomy
Migraine
Schizophrenia
Hydrophobia
Kleptomania
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Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT RADIO IS:HISTORY OF RADIO, MARCONI –THE INVENTOR
  2. HISTORY OF RADIO:B.B.C. – 1922, Radio in Sub-Continent, PBC SERVICES
  3. OBJECTIVES OF BROADCASTING IN PAKISTAN:Information, Islamic ideology
  4. NEWS VALUES I:CONFLICT, PROGRESS, VICTORY AND DEFEAT
  5. NEWS VALUES II:TIMELINESS, PROXIMITY, NOVELTY, HUMAN INTEREST
  6. NEWS VALUES AND ELEMENTS OF NEWS:MISCELLANEOUS NEWS VALUES
  7. MEASURING THE IMPORTANCE OF NEWS:Intensity of an Event, NEWS STORY TYPES
  8. TYPES OF NEWS STORIES II:SIMPLE TYPES, ILLNESS, DEATH
  9. TYPES OF NEWS STORIES III:Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking, Lunar Months
  10. TYPES OF NEWS STORIES IV:COMPLEX NEWS, Forms of Government, Monarchy
  11. TYPES OF NEWS STORIES V:Education, Research, Religion
  12. TYPES OF NEWS STORIES VI:Lifestyles, Receptions, Entertainment
  13. SOURCES OF NEWS I:Network of Reporters, QUALITIES OF A REPORTER
  14. SOURCES OF NEWS II:MONITORING, NEWS/ PRESS RELEASE
  15. SOURCES OF NEWS III:National News Agencies, HARD NEWS, SOFT NEWS
  16. REPORTING:ORDER OF REPORTING, REPORTER’S QUALITIES, Well informed
  17. A SUCCESSFUL RADIO REPORTER:Briefing, Reporter’s Ammunition, Meeting Deadline
  18. INTERPRETATIVE REPORTING I:Growth of Interpretative Reporting
  19. INTERPRETATIVE REPORTING II:Factual Background, SPEECH STORY
  20. INTERPRETATIVE REPORTING III:FIRES & ACCIDENTS, CRIME STORIES
  21. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING I:Thalidomide Scandal, Watergate Scandal
  22. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING II:Identification of the problem, INTERVIEW
  23. TYPES OF INTERVIEW:Hard News Interview, Informational Interview
  24. ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD INTERVIEW I:Comments and Opinion, Topic must be specific
  25. ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD INTERVIEW II:Preparation of the Interview, Language
  26. RADIO NEWS GLOSSARY:Actuality, Cut, Voicer, Wrap, Hourly, Lead
  27. FUNDAMENTALS OF NEWS WRITING:Inverted Pyramided Style, Telling the Story
  28. FUNDAMENTALS OF WRITING NEWS FOR RADIO I:Language
  29. FUNDAMENTALS OF WRITING NEWS FOR RADIO II:Complex numbers
  30. ESSENTIALS OF A NEWSCASTER:Authority, Credibility, Language, Pronunciation
  31. PRODUCTION AND PLANNING:Principals of Planning a Program
  32. PRODUCER & BUDGETING:Strengths of a Radio Program, Budgeting a Program
  33. JARGONS OF PRODUCTION (Continued):Frequency spectrum, Dead studio
  34. TYPES OF TALK:Qualification of a Talker, Essentials of a talk, Vetting a talk
  35. DISCUSSION:Controlled Discussion, Live Discussion, Current affairs
  36. DISCUSSION:Selection of the TopicKnowledge of the Topic, Narrowing down the topic
  37. RADIO FEATURE:Sound Effects, Narration, Dramatic Feature, Religion, Personalities
  38. RADIO DOCUMENTARY:Commentary, History, Persons, Things, Phenomena
  39. DRAMA:Solo plays, Series, Serial, Soap, Components of Drama
  40. SPECIAL AUDIENCE PROGRAM:Children’s Programs, Women’s programs
  41. SPORTS PROGRAM:Live Programs, Recorded Programs, Preparation of OB
  42. THE MUSIC I:Folk Music, Classical Music, Light Music, Pop Music
  43. THE MUSIC II:Classification of Raga In Terms Of Notes, Aado, Khaado
  44. ETHICS & LIMITATIONS OF MEDIA:Domain of Freedom of Media, Defamation
  45. RECAP:What Radio Is, Timeliness, Elements of news, Types of Reporting, Production