Learn about the different types of news in journalism, including breaking news, investigative news, feature stories.
News is one of the most important parts of our world, it has shaped the world. One cannot even think of living without knowing what is happening around the world.News that often appears in print, electronic and online media has its own type. The following are the types of news in journalism and their respective meanings.
Types of News in Journalism You Must Know.
- Personal News
Not many news can be presented without the participation or interruption of personalities. All newspaper publishes such news in large numbers.
Statements of personalities, their tours of various towns and places, their participation in meetings, their appointments and their other activities are favourite topics of news papers But journalists should satisfy 5 W’s while writing this news.
We can further subdivide personal news For example the news of births and the news of deaths which all newspapers regularly publish. The reporter concerned gets these news from four sources i.e. from parents, the record of thg Health Department, Hospital and doctors.
While writing birth news a reporter should give full names of parents, their address, time of birth, sex, weight and name of baby. While giving news of deaths a sketch of the life of the deceased should be given i.e. his name address, relatives and description of his funeral.
In case of an accident or an epidemic full detail of the incident along with the names of the dead are given.,. For example while discussing deaths occurred due to heart failure last year We should discuss some other matters as we might add that half number of total last year wer.e due to heart failure.
- News of Special Occasions
News of special occasions as Eids, Parades, marriages, anniversaries, the day of independence etc is published in newspapers as a routine
- Education News
News of education policy, education system, curricular and extra-curricular activities in schools and colleges, changes in curriculum and methods of teaching is included in the list of- education news.
For the coverage of education .news a special technique is applied. A reporter can get enough stuff for publication by spending time in the ministry of Education and in colleges Goods public relatoining in various departments and personal friendship also plays a vital role in accumulating education news
- News of Diseases
Some times news about diseases is comparatively difficult to get than news of death. Because this news is hidden from the press and also no reliable sources are available In our society few people are open about disease But usually these news gel little space in the newspaper
- Religious News
Religious news is a bit different from othei news types Different programmes in mosques, zikar, speeches, meetings, services and education of religious nature come under this category. The religious news reporter should be an expert at the philosophy, language and history of the religion.
- Society News
Newspaper give great importance to society news This can ‘orv of news consists of news of parties, marriages, tea parties, luncies dinners, dance gatherings and personal activities. We can also discuss other social problems such as unemployment, housing, morality, hinderances in the supply of products under the caption of society news. There are certain newspapers which provide exclusive society news to their readers.
- News of Speeches
News of speeches get more coverage than those of meetings. Reaching in time play a vital role in the coverage of speeches as the reporter concerned usually gets a copy of speech prior to its deliverance. But if a reporter listens to a speech carefully, he can get some exclusive news quite unexpectedly.
8.Business News
News of commerce, finance, industry and labour are closely associated with one another and are thus placed in the same category i.e business news. These news also contain details of contracts, building material and other ‘business activities. The sources of these news- are the ‘ stock exchanges, business association, business bureaus and government offices But only big newspapers publish these news. Because they long for , advertisements by big firms.
The commerce reporter must be an expert at business matters. Few newspapers have commerce reporters of their own. Basically they rely upon press releases and news agencies. The importance of business news has increased manifold in this age Only a trained reporter can nicely cooperate with this situation. A reporter must be aware of the markets stocks, bonds and other elements of finance.
9.Culture News
Culture news not only includes news of stage, radio, I \ and film but also include those of art, and artists These news arc of great importance to readers-of big cities.
Active presentation of culture news result in the promotion of circulation of newspapers. The news of different fine arts and those of paintings also fall under the same category.
10.News of Women
Although women read all types of news but they are particular!} interested in the news that concern their problems News M’ fashion, cooking, interior decoration, shopping guide come under tlais heading
11.Agricultural News
News of agriculture is generally published in the newspapers that are more popular in smaller towns and- villages Agriculture news include methods of growing more and better crops, merits of fertilizers and information about new agricultural machinery The reporter concerned must have a sound knowledge of agriculture and tanning.
12.Weather News
Everybody is concerned about changes in weather News of weather are read with great interest. Therefore newspapers always fix some space for weather news even when the war is going on A reporter having good sources can easily get weather news The department of meteorology is the main source in this regard.
13.Military News
The security of the state is kept in view while publishing news of army and war. Every newspaper follows a certain policy and observes a self-imposed censorship in this regard The newspaper makes it sure that no news in collision with this policy is made public.
Military news includes information about armed forces their strength, new weapons, aircrafts, bombs, efficiency and usage of weapons and reports about military exercises
- Political News
Political news consists of news of elections, sessions of legislature, discussion on budget, political’ press conferences, policy statements, different negotiations and government policies.
The political reporter should be an intelligent person and possess a sound knowledge of political theories, political systems and manifestoes of various political parties
Election news are a part of political news. A good reporter gives comprehensive election news. He also discusses these news from different angles. After elections a party forms government. Therefore all such news are regarded as political news. In Pakistan two major types of news i.e. crime news and political news get most of the coverage in the press.
- News of Accidents
News of accidents should be reported with great care as the reporter is not present at the venue of the accident. He has to rely upon other sources for their coverage Therefore he should attest the statements or evidences by consulting respective police station, ambulance driver and other sources. Great care should be taken in giving names and addresses of the people died in the accident.
- News of Crimes
It is generally believed that newspapers give more coverage to news of crimes. These news include those of theft, decoity, murder, abduction and suicide A crime reporter must have side sources and relationships He should also possess some knowledge of social and abnormal psychology as it is a proved fact that the criminals are abnormal persons.
- News
Political trials, trials of notorious murders, proceedings and decisions of other famous and constitutional cases are all judicial news. The concerned reporter should be aware of the procedure, working, language and terms used in the court, he should observe rules relating the contempt of court.
- Sports New
Although radio and television give coverage to sports yet a layman wants more details about games. So he avidly reads sports pages of newspapers. Every game has its own rules and regulations, the sports reporter must know them He should relate these rules and regulations while writing sports news. He should also possess his own style of reporting so that his articles are distinguished from those of other reporters
16.Science News
Great progress in the field of science is seen now a day News invention and new technology are coming to light with every passing day. Old methods are being replaced with new ones All these things are a matter of great interest not only to science students and scholars but also to readers As the majority of readers of not know scientific terms, so the whole stuff should be presented in the form of an interesting but simple report Therefore it is essential for a science reporter to acquire basic knowledge of scientific terms