#10. Analytical and Interpretative and Campaign Reporting (2) PDF

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10. News campaigns, interpretative and Analytical Reporting ANALYTICAL REPORTING 1. To balance the use and abuse of news, the media must also be used to fulfill the need for analysis and interpretation, to put facts into perspective, to tell what it all means, to explain, to argue, to persuade, to express, expert opinion about what happened and to provide a forum for the expression of others’ opinion as well. 2. An analytical report takes a problem, idea or issue and breaks it down into its component parts to examine how the parts fit together. 3. Good analytical reports require thorough research, critical thinking and the clear communication of ideas. 4. Analytical Reporting takes available data + reconfigures it – helps ask new questions and see new things in new ways. 5. AR can lead to controversies. Especially in political journalism. But the job of a journalist is to raise questions. 6. Can occur at a local or national level. How to Analyze a Report i) Identify the topic you will analyze and determine why this issue or problem is important. ii) Offer your own explanation of the problem. iii) Consider how other writers, analysts or professionals in the field have explained the same phenomenon. Consider rival explanations of the hypothesis you propose. Your analytical report will be stronger if you can show how your explanation fits the evidence better than these alternative hypotheses. iv) Assemble the evidence for and against the explanations you will consider in your report. All arguments for your explanation should be supported by empirical evidence. v) Depending on the subject of your report, your evidence will come from field research, written materials or other data resources. vi) Summarize the evidence you've gathered in your research. Examine your evidence carefully, comparing separate pieces and looking for similarities, differences and patterns. vii) Create an outline of your report. Write the first draf. Include a clear conclusion that summarizes your explanation and how it is supported empirically. Edit the draf and revise as needed. INTERPRETATIVE REPORTING 1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Interpretative reporting means a kind of reporting in which reporter finds out the details of the event. It is done normally afer the breaking news has gone on air and people are waiting for other details of the same story. It means to dig out and explain the news behind the news. The reporter goes beyond visible facts of the story. Origin of Interpretative Reporting i) Before, during and even afer the 1st world war newspaper reporters were restricted to factual reporting only. ii) While reporting, they concentrated on : Who attacked whom? Where the war was going on? When the attack was carried out? The gain and loss of a country. The new advancement in war. iii) In this kind of reporting the neglected questions to be answered were why & how? Why the world got into war, how a country got defeated? The reasons and causes of the war were not reported. iv) People were unaware of the reasons of the war. v) In 1920s and 1930s reporters were trained to make Interpretative Reporting out of factual reporting. Interpretative reporters are under no deadline pressure that would force them to write a quick and superficial report. They can get hidden facts, explore the ramifications and meanings of the facts, and reveal the “truth about the facts”. Present info in a new, complete context . Better public understanding . Need to take an unbiased stance. Interpretive reporting is a result of careful thought and analysis of an idea as well as dogged pursuit of facts. In short interpretive reporting is when a reporter, who is an expert in a particular area, say finance and economics, gives meaning and relevancy for the reader to information she has researched and gathered on a particular topic. This will usually include some relevant history, interviews with experts, interviews with those of opposing views, and an informed opinion about implications and trends. Interpretative Reporting is best lef to experienced reporters – reliable, mature, informed. Interpretation should help explain what the report is about, not persuade the reader’s opinions. Greg Palast of the BBC and his own organization is an excellent example of an expert in economics who knows how to follow the money in ferreting out the truth behind election fraud, use of money to manipulate governments, and waging wars.

The need for interpretative and analytical reporting arises from the fact that the present day reader demands more – a treatment in depth, an explanation, or an analysis of what he believes to be significant news.

CAMPAIGN REPORTING A news campaign is taken up by a newspaper when it thinks is worthwhile for them. It depends on the paper’s policy and its ideologies. Campaigns are taken up apparently for a public cause. At times it may be motivated for political and other reasons. A newspaper may take up a campaign on environmental pollution. It means that the newspaper will devote more attention and give priority to such stories as part of their campaign. 5. A newspaper may take up a campaign to dislodge a corrupt government official or a minister. 6. Duty of every paper to run campaigns. Life blood of journalism. 1. 2. 3. 4.

How to cover a campaign 1. Decide on a theme and depute reporters. 2. Why is not important – describe scene on a factual basis, most effective with good visuals. 3. Usually a civic cause. Must have a focus and not deviate from it. 4. Have a consistent approach. 5. Follow up is important – more than any other kind of reporting. Measure success of campaign. 6. Local to national issues. But the readers should identify with it. 7. Sustained coverage to any issue. 8. Social responsibility of the media to make a difference. Ex -

Regional paper Yashobhoomi – campaign on female education. Mumbai Mirror – Urban Issues – don’t drike and drive, underage driving, crossing railway tracks. TOI – Vote India. Teach India. Political tones – a Zimbabwe newspaper that ran a campaign against Mugabe using the plank of worthless currency, won the global award for ccampaigning (2009). Campaign for Truth – Jessica Lal case....