SOURCES OF NEWS
Everyday there is a long list of events to be covered by newspapers or news agencies. If the parliament is in session, its proceedings have to be covered. There may be important cases going on in the courts which may have to be covered. Then, there may be some government functions like an inauguration of a project or a meeting, etc. that need press coverage. Similarly, there may be some workers’ demonstration, agitation or strike. Sometimes, there might be a communal riot, an accident or a natural calamity which are news worthy and need coverage in the press.
A journalist must have the quality of persistence in collecting his facts. However, the approach of a journalist should not be tough. The journalist has to collect and assemble his facts intelligently. A good journalist should try to collect as many facts as he can before he sets out on a story or to interview con:* person. He can dig many of these relevant facts from reference books or from past newspapers cuttings. These reference books and newspaper clippings will provide very useful information to a journalist regarding the preliminary facts of a subject. Many big newspapers have their own library containing the important reference books and also newspaper cuttings about important people and subjects filed in a systematic manner. There are so many reference books like Who’s Who, yearbooks, dictionaries, various World Gazetteers, encyclopedias, guides, Guinness Book of the World Records, etc. which can prove very useful at the time of need.
Some journalists combine the deductive and the investigative methods. For investigative journalism a journalist first of all checks his reference books. He reads what has been written previously on the subject. Th&i; he analyses the problem and starts investigating the true facts of the case. In fact, there are three kinds of writers of news. First of all, there is the reporter who writes what he sees. Secondly, there is the interpretative reporter who writes what he sees and what he construes to be its meaning. Thirdly, there is expert who writes what he construes to be the meaning of what he hasn’t seen.
Besides, the above mentioned sources reporters have some specified, regular sources of information too with which they keep hi touch. Some of them are: police headquarters, fire stations, civic organizations, hotels, party headquarters, corporation, shipping offices, airports, railway stations, business associations, etc.
There are many different sources of news available, both online and offline. Here are some examples:
- Traditional newspapers: These include daily, weekly, and monthly publications that cover a range of topics, from local news to national and international events.
- News websites: There are many online news websites that provide up-to-date coverage of events happening around the world. Examples include CNN, BBC, Reuters, and The New York Times.
- Social media: Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can be sources of news, but it is important to be mindful of the reliability of information shared on these platforms.
- News apps: Many news organizations have their own mobile apps that provide news alerts and updates.
- News podcasts: Podcasts like NPR’s Up First, The Daily from The New York Times, and BBC World Service provide news and analysis in audio format.
- Television news: TV news broadcasts like CNN, BBC, Fox News, and MSNBC provide coverage of breaking news and analysis of current events.
- Magazines: Magazines like Time, The Economist, and Newsweek provide in-depth analysis and commentary on current events.
It is important to consume news from a variety of sources and to critically evaluate the information being presented. This can help you develop a well-rounded understanding of current events and make informed decisions.
