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Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing
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Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing
Foundational Skills for a Digital Age

Third Edition
January 2025 | 376 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing: Foundational Skills for a Digital Age shows students how to approach their stories and think on their feet in the evolving media landscape. Recognizing that well-crafted stories are founded on sharp prose, author Vincent F. Filak guides students through the essential elements of newswriting, such as lead writing, structure, and storytelling, in a chapter-by-chapter approach, while also teaching them how to think critically and focus on what matters most to their readers. The Third Edition features expanded writing and grammar exercises, discussions on social and digital media advancements, new coverage of artificial intelligence and generative AI, and additional career-related examples to help students succeed upon entering the field.
 
List of Boxes
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgements
 
About the Author
 
Chapter 1: Audience-Centric Journalism
Media and Media Users Today

 
Defining Your Audience

 
The Rise and Impact of the “Fake News” Phenomenon

 
What Do We Owe Our Audience?

 
What Attracts an Audience?

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
 
Chapter 2: Critical Thinking in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
How Do We Think?

 
The Requirements of Critical Thought

 
What Artificial Intelligence Is and Why It Matters to Journalists

 
How Critical Thinking Can Improve Your Work

 
How to Out-Think AI Fake-Outs

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: Basics of Writing
A Quick Look at Types of Leads

 
Identifying Problematic Leads and Finding Potential Fixes

 
The Inverted Pyramid: Ordering Information After the Lead

 
Quotes: Letting Your Sources Tell the Story

 
Attributing Your Information

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 4: Expanded News Writing
Expanding the Inverted Pyramid

 
Writing With a Narrative Feel

 
Nonlinear Storytelling

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 5: Social Media
What Is Social Media?

 
Value of Social Media

 
Social Media Tools for Your Toolbox

 
Blogging

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 6: Interviewing
Critically Thinking About Interviewing’s Purpose

 
Examining the Various Approaches to Interviewing

 
Understanding the Interviewing Basics

 
Types of Interviews

 
Other Purposes for Interviews

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 7: Basic Reporting: News That Finds You
Reporting Basics

 
Event Coverage

 
Basic Tips for All Event Stories

 
Stories Beyond Standard Events

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 8: Beyond Basic Reporting: News You Have to Find
The News Feature: How to Find Stories in Everyday Life

 
Beat Reporting

 
Personality Profiles

 
Working as a Watchdog

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 9: Broadcast-Style Writing and Voicing
Broadcast Style: Different, Yet the Same

 
Script Writing 101

 
The Basic Elements of Broadcast Structure

 
Story Types and Formats

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 10: Collecting Audio and Visuals in the Field
Tools of the Trade

 
Types of Material You Gather

 
Capturing Vivid Visuals

 
Making Your Video Valuable

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: Editing Audio and Video
Audio Bites Online

 
Video Bites Online

 
Pairing Script and Video

 
Building a Story From Start to Finish

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 12: Law and the Media
Understanding the First Amendment

 
Let the Sunshine in: Rules for Transparency and Access

 
The Basics of Libel

 
Defenses Against Libel

 
Invasion of Privacy

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 13: Ethics
Why Ethics Matter

 
Basic Approaches to Ethics

 
Tenets of Journalistic Ethics

 
The Big Three

 
Discussion Questions

 
Work It Out

 
Write Now!

 
Best of the Blog

 
Key Terms

 
 
Appendix A: Using FOCII to Build Your Leads
 
Appendix B: Résumés, Cover Letters and More
 
Appendix C: A Deeper Dig Into FOIA and State Public Records Laws
 
Appendix D: Freelancing 101 (and Beyond)
 
Glossary
 
Endnotes
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site
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Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • New Best of the Blog features showcase the author’s most popular blog posts at the end of each chapter to further drive home chapter points. More of the author’s blog posts can be found at dynamicsofwriting.com.
  • More writing exercises at the end of each chapter give students the opportunity to hone their skills.
  • Restructuring of learning objectives to better connect with the chapter content.
  • New coverage of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on media use and content creation, including its potential detrimental effect on critical thinking related to false information, and conversely how AI-based tools can benefit journalists.
  • Updated media examples, particularly in the digital media and social media chapters, reflect crucial changes that occur on an almost daily basis.
  • Updated law and ethics chapters keep students informed on the latest practices for operating in a professional and ethical way, in addition to new discussion of legal concerns related to AI and refreshing discussion of digital defamation.
  • Expanded content covers how to monetize journalism efforts and includes a new appendix that discusses the art and craft of freelance journalism.
KEY FEATURES:
  • An audience-centric approach encourages students to reflect on why and how news is relevant to the lives of their readers before they even start digging into their stories.
  • Chapter-opening learning objectives identify what students should be able to do after reading each chapter.
  • Thoughts from a Pro sections offer students an up-close look at a specific aspect of reporting and writing from real professionals.
  • Helpful Hints sections based on the various experiences of journalists provide students with guidance on different aspects of their work, from improving a piece of copy to dealing with a crisis.
  • Consider This sections spark classroom discussions by asking students to take a closer look at a current issue or ideological dilemma and make a valid case for their position.
  • Think Ahead discussions at the beginning of each chapter act as a roadmap to help students navigate through chapter content.
  • The Big Three chapter-ending summaries ensure students take three crucial ideas with them as they move on to the next chapter.
  • Discussion questions and Work it Out assessments allow students to check their understanding once a chapter is completed.
  • Write Now! exercises provide students with an opportunity to practice key writing skills required in newsrooms today.

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