The Signal Comment Section:
Brad:
February 16, 2010 - 04:22 PM
To the Editors,
Thank you for responding to this issue.
Maybe there should be a clearer distinction made between a news story, and a News Feature story so that the readers can better understand where the newspaper is coming from?
A News Feature story, from what I understand, is based upon a 'news item/event' and tries to provide the 'human element' behind the news.
This is a good thing-however the readers , IMO, need to be able to differentiate between a News story, a News Feature story (since the News Feature story allows the reporter MUCH greater opportunity to add slant to an issue depending upon how he chooses his subject, the questions he chooses to ask (and chooses to ignore) when interviewing his subject, the way he phrases his questions (leading questions versus unbiased questions ) and how thorough his line of questioning is.
A News reporter must ask the basic 'WHO, WHEN, WHERE, WHY', and if possible 'HOW' questions. A good news article, IMO, should include this basic line of questioning. The answers to these questions can be easily verified if the reader chooses to question anything.
A Feature article, or a News Feature article does not abide by the same strict standards. Feature or News Feature articles are a 'good thing' and can add great insight into 'News' items but a reporter or a media organization should be careful, IMO, not to inadvertantly pass off a News Feature article or a Feature article as a News article.
People who write News articles are held to much higher standards of journalistic integrity-IMO.
A fact is a fact, a slant is a slant, an opinion is an opinion.
A news article should only contain verifiable Facts.
When writing slants or reporter's opinions are included in something that is labeled a 'News' article, then it does not belong in the News section.It belongs in a 'News Features' or 'Features' section- IMO.
Readers weigh News articles, Feature articles, NewsFeature articles differently with regards to perceived objectivity of reporter or writer.
Brad:
February 16, 2010 - 07:18 PM
Correction:
A News reporter must ask the basic 'WHO, WHEN, WHERE, WHY',
WHAT (5 w's)
and if possible the 'HOW' questions. A good news article, IMO, should include this basic line of questioning. The answers to these questions can be easily verified if the reader chooses to question anything.
I originally left out the "WHAT" in my original post above.
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