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Qualities and responsibilities of a journalist

PRINT JOURNALISM 4(1+3)

Lesson 1 : Journalism Concepts

Qualities and responsibilities of a journalist

The job of a reporter is to gather news and write it for his organization. Sub-editor makes it fit to print. Reporters go out in the field while sub –editor’s work at the “News desk” where all the news that comes, is selected, edited, each news story is given a suitable headline and its place in the newspaper is decided.

Reporters can become senior reporters, correspondents, senior correspondents, chief reporters, special correspondents and foreign corresponds, sub editors, chief sub editor, deputy news editor and news editor. But the basic job of a reporter remains news gathering and filling the reporter or “copy” to the news desk.

To be a good reporter or good sub-editor what one needs is common sense and command over language. These two requirements in fact summarize the qualities of newsman should have as other qualities flow from these two and the basic Human values.

• News sense: It is the basic quality of news man. Every reporter has to have news sense or nose for news to distinguish news from non-news. He should be able to compare various news values and decide where to being his story and should not miss important details.
• Clarity: A reporter should have clarity of mind and expression. A person who is confused himself cannot tell a story to others. Only clarity of mind is not enough unless it is accompanied by clarity of expression without clarity of mind has no meaning.
• Objectivity: Reporter and sub- editor should aim at objectivity while dealing with a story. They should not allow their personal bias or ideas to creep in to a story. They should not take side but try covering all the different viewpoints to achieve balance in the story.
• Accuracy: A reporter should strive for accuracy. He should check and recheck his fact till he is satisfied that he has them accurate. In this respect he should not take any chance as accuracy is directly proportional to the credibility of a reporter and his newspaper.
• Alertness: A reporter should always be a last which dealing with his subjects. Many major news breaks in the past were possible because of alertness of reporter. Scoops don’t walk in to newspaper offices- alert reporters catch them in air and pursue.
• Speed: In today’s world speed matters everywhere. A person who cannot work fast cannot be a good reporter. While maintaining all other desirable qualities a reporter should strive to work faster. He should think fast, write fast and write or type fast for he has to meet deadlines or may have to go to another assignment. Calmness: Reporter and sub editors often work in trying circumstances. They have to remain calm and composed in most exciting and tragic circumstances. In many situations they have to be calm devoid of hysterical actions or utterances and apply appropriate mental and physical effort to write or edit the story.
• Curiosity: Reporters should have an unsuitable curiosity for reporters it is useful in developing last for facts that may lead to better stories.
• Skepticism: It is another necessary quality which a reporter and sub editor should cultivate. They should not take anything for granted. They should have an unwavering posture of doubt until faced with undesirable posture of doubt until faced with undesirable proof.
  
  Reporters should be more vigilant for many forces constantly try to use them and though them their paper. Many people try to plant on reporters fall in to such traps in good faith. They should have enough skepticism to avoid such plots.
• Punctuality: It is a good habit for reporters it is a must for if they are not punctual they may miss something for which they made have to depend on secondary sources. It is always better to be punctual and then wait than reach late and ask others – a rival may misinformation you or hide some important information.
• Patience: It is quality which helps a reporter in big a way for many a time almost daily. He has to test his patience, the voluntary self control or resistant that helps one to endure waiting, provocation, injustice, suffering or any of the unpleasant vicissitudes of time and life. Most of the time a reporter waits for someone or something and patience gives him the willingness to wait without becoming dissented or anxious.
• Imagination: This basic mental faculty helps reporters in writing better stories that retain readers interest creative faculty is very useful. Is he can add sparkle to somebody else copy and make it lively. Besides, imagination headlines attract the reader and improve the quality of a news paper.
• Farsightedness: An intelligent envisioning of the future helps news men in general. The quality helps them identify processes and people who will be important in future. Reporters can watch such processes and cultivate people who may become important news sources in the future.
• A reporter with foresight can think ahead and prepare for eventualities with a little for thought sub-editors can plan their work so as to avoid tension and it results in better functioning of the desk.
• Self Discipline: One can achieve a degree of proficiency in sub editing or reporting by systematic effort and self control. In this sense self discipline suggests dedication and firm commitment.
• Integrity: It is a virtue in itself and implies undeviating honesty and strict adherence to a strong code of ethics. It is more important for a reporter for they are more exposed to temptations.
• Fearlessness and Frankness: These qualities help reporters in asking unpleasant questions and taking risks to find out truths. Nobody gives a story on a platter. The reporter will help to probe, question and exercise his power of dedication to get a good story.
• Tactfulness: A reporter should be fact full. He should have the ability to handle sensitive people and situations gracefully without causing heart or angry feelings. He should considerably of others and should be careful not to embrace upset or offend them.
• Initiative: A reporter who works in the field should have an outgoing nature with initiative and drive. These qualities will help him get acquainted with news sources and get stories from them. A meet retiring or shy person is not fit for reporting. He may be good at desk. Reporters need a fair amount assertiveness and aggressiveness to be successful in their career.
• Mobility: A reporter should be mobile. He should enjoy moving around and should not hesitate traveling distances to get stories when required. He should go to his news sources as often as possible for such constant contacts help him get news.
• Diligence: Reporter and sub-editors should be diligent. Their jobs require painstaking exertion of intense care and effort, alertness and dedication to the task and very watchfulness. They have to make extremely fine distinctions while writing or editing copy.