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Quality

The document outlines the key qualities and responsibilities of journalists. Reporters are responsible for gathering news in the field and writing articles, while sub-editors edit the articles at the news desk. Some important qualities for reporters and sub-editors include having common sense, command of language, news sense, clarity, objectivity, accuracy, alertness, speed, calmness, curiosity, skepticism, punctuality, patience, imagination, farsightedness, self-discipline, integrity, fearlessness, tactfulness, initiative, mobility, and diligence.

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shalini priya
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98 views

Quality

The document outlines the key qualities and responsibilities of journalists. Reporters are responsible for gathering news in the field and writing articles, while sub-editors edit the articles at the news desk. Some important qualities for reporters and sub-editors include having common sense, command of language, news sense, clarity, objectivity, accuracy, alertness, speed, calmness, curiosity, skepticism, punctuality, patience, imagination, farsightedness, self-discipline, integrity, fearlessness, tactfulness, initiative, mobility, and diligence.

Uploaded by

shalini priya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Qualities and responsibilities of a journalist

The job of a reporter is to gather news and write it for his organization. Sub-editor
makes it fit to print. Reporters go out in the field while sub –editor’s work at the
“News desk” where all the news that comes, is selected, edited, each news story is
given a suitable headline and its place in the newspaper is decided.

Reporters can become senior reporters, correspondents, senior correspondents,


chief reporters, special correspondents and foreign corresponds, sub editors, chief
sub editor, deputy news editor and news editor. But the basic job of a reporter
remains news gathering and filling the reporter or “copy” to the news desk.

To be a good reporter or good sub-editor what one needs is common sense and
command over language. These two requirements in fact summarize the qualities of
newsman should have as other qualities flow from these two and the basic Human
values.

 News sense: It is the basic quality of news man. Every reporter has to have
news sense or nose for news to distinguish news from non-news. He should
be able to compare various news values and decide where to being his story
and should not miss important details.

 Clarity: A reporter should have clarity of mind and expression. A person


who is confused himself cannot tell a story to others. Only clarity of mind is
not enough unless it is accompanied by clarity of expression without clarity
of mind has no meaning.

 Objectivity: Reporter and sub- editor should aim at objectivity while


dealing with a story. They should not allow their personal bias or ideas to
creep in to a story. They should not take side but try covering all the different
viewpoints to achieve balance in the story.

 Accuracy: A reporter should strive for accuracy. He should check and


recheck his fact till he is satisfied that he has them accurate. In this respect
he should not take any chance as accuracy is directly proportional to the
credibility of a reporter and his newspaper.

 Alertness: A reporter should always be a last which dealing with his


subjects. Many major news breaks in the past were possible because of
alertness of reporter. Scoops don’t walk in to newspaper offices- alert
reporters catch them in air and pursue.

 Speed: In today’s world speed matters everywhere. A person who cannot


work fast cannot be a good reporter. While maintaining all other desirable
qualities a reporter should strive to work faster. He should think fast, write
fast and write or type fast for he has to meet deadlines or may have to go to
another assignment. Calmness: Reporter and sub editors often work in trying
circumstances. They have to remain calm and composed in most exciting and
tragic circumstances. In many situations they have to be calm devoid of
hysterical actions or utterances and apply appropriate mental and physical
effort to write or edit the story.

 Curiosity: Reporters should have an unsuitable curiosity for reporters it is


useful in developing last for facts that may lead to better stories.

 Skepticism: It is another necessary quality which a reporter and sub editor


should cultivate. They should not take anything for granted. They should
have an unwavering posture of doubt until faced with undesirable posture of
doubt until faced with undesirable proof.

Reporters should be more vigilant for many forces constantly try to use them
and though them their paper. Many people try to plant on reporters fall in to
such traps in good faith. They should have enough skepticism to avoid such
plots.

 Punctuality: It is a good habit for reporters it is a must for if they are not
punctual they may miss something for which they made have to depend
on secondary sources. It is always better to be punctual and then wait than
reach late and ask others – a rival may misinformation you or hide some
important information.

 Patience: It is quality which helps a reporter in big a way for many a time
almost daily. He has to test his patience, the voluntary self control or
resistant that helps one to endure waiting, provocation, injustice, suffering or
any of the unpleasant vicissitudes of time and life. Most of the time a reporter
waits for someone or something and patience gives him the willingness to
wait without becoming dissented or anxious.

 Imagination: This basic mental faculty helps reporters in writing better


stories that retain readers interest creative faculty is very useful. Is he can
add sparkle to somebody else copy and make it lively. Besides, imagination
headlines attract the reader and improve the quality of a news paper.

 Farsightedness: An intelligent envisioning of the future helps news men in


general. The quality helps them identify processes and people who will be
important in future. Reporters can watch such processes and cultivate people
who may become important news sources in the future.

 A reporter with foresight can think ahead and prepare for eventualities with a
little for thought sub-editors can plan their work so as to avoid tension and it
results in better functioning of the desk.
 Self Discipline: One can achieve a degree of proficiency in sub editing or
reporting by systematic effort and self control. In this sense self discipline
suggests dedication and firm commitment.

 Integrity: It is a virtue in itself and implies undeviating honesty and strict


adherence to a strong code of ethics. It is more important for a reporter for
they are more exposed to temptations.

 Fearlessness and Frankness: These qualities help reporters in asking


unpleasant questions and taking risks to find out truths. Nobody gives a story
on a platter. The reporter will help to probe, question and exercise his power
of dedication to get a good story.

 Tactfulness: A reporter should be fact full. He should have the ability to


handle sensitive people and situations gracefully without causing heart or
angry feelings. He should considerably of others and should be careful not to
embrace upset or offend them.

 Initiative: A reporter who works in the field should have an outgoing nature
with initiative and drive. These qualities will help him get acquainted with
news sources and get stories from them. A meet retiring or shy person is not
fit for reporting. He may be good at desk. Reporters need a fair amount
assertiveness and aggressiveness to be successful in their career.

 Mobility: A reporter should be mobile. He should enjoy moving around and


should not hesitate traveling distances to get stories when required. He
should go to his news sources as often as possible for such constant contacts
help him get news.

 Diligence: Reporter and sub-editors should be diligent. Their jobs require


painstaking exertion of intense care and effort, alertness and dedication to
the task and very watchfulness. They have to make extremely fine
distinctions while writing or editing copy.

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