Reporting: CRIME NEWS

CRIME NEWS

Introduction: Crime means any violation of law. Ethically it is any wrong doing. Reporters contact the police constantly and write about offence committed All over the world “covering” police news is regarded good training for the budding reporters. (Christian Science Monitor has consistently   banned the publication of crime news)

FOUR Types of Crimes (1) Against a person (assault, homicide, kidnapping, rape)

(2) Against property (arson, theft, robbery, forgery, burglary, embezzlement)

(3) Against public welfare (bigamy, riot, illegal strikes, sexual crimes)

(4) Against legal authority (obstructing a government officer from performing his duties, bribing a government servant)

Ethical or Unethical: Whether it is ethical or unethical for news paper to publish crime stories is the question asked and debated.

Argument against Publishing Crime News

1. News paper gives criminals undue publicity and unwittingly makes them heroes.

2. By publishing details of how crimes are committed, news paper furnishes valuable ideas to criminals.

 3. News paper thwart police attempts at investigation by premature publication.

4. Crime stories project the seamy (disreputable) side of life.

5. Publishing sordid details of crime violates basic decencies and good taste.

6.  Publication of picture or cartoons of scantily clad girls or boys in connection with crime stories offend public morals.

Argument in Favour of Publishing Crime News

1. News paper should reflect the environment and its activities.

2. Suppression of news is dishonest.

3. Publication of police news may help to keep police men more alert and informed

4. Crime news make people turn up with vital clues to the police.

5. Publication of crime stories helps to keep people guide against crimes.

6. It is extremely doubtful that criminals get ideas for their crime from news paper.

7. Standard news papers do not publish sordid details of sexual crimes. They do not mention the name of the poison used for suicide or the instrument used for the break-in.

8. It is wrong to say that news paper glorify criminals. In fact many reporters glorify the action of the police officer in apprehending the culprit.

9. News paper generally do not publish crime news prematurely and thwart (to obstruct) police investigations and action.

10. Generally reporters of standard   news paper maintain good taste or use euphemisms in writing crime stories.

11. Popular news papers feel with justice, that that crime news boosts the circulation.

Qualifications 1. A reporter must have a full knowledge of the police system from top to bottom. He must understand how the department operates and what type of news he can expect from the various sections.

2. A reporter must have a knowledge as to what legally constitutes crime.

3. A reporter must have familiarity with the topography of the place. If a fire accident occurs in a particular area, he must rush straight there. If he is unfamiliar with place, he may go in the opposite direction and miss the news.

4 A reporter must be capable of presenting news objectively, without offending the law.

Conclusion: To move effectively and constructively against crime, the police and press should cooperate and coordinate. While the police help the newsmen with information about various crimes the press can help the police by turning out clues and also by enlightening them on the developing political trends.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD REPORTER

QUALITIES OF A GOOD REPORTER

Traits of a Good Reporter, Attributes of a Good Reporter

1. Introduction, 2. Nose for News, 3. Good Educational Background, 4. Objectivity, 5. Speed and Accuracy, 6. Perseverance, 7. Ability in Establishing Contacts, 8. Respect for Confidence, 9. Incorruptibility, 10. Honesty, 11. Conclusion

Introduction

The foundation of the whole newspaper is the reporter. Being its paramount performer he has to be a man of personality, education, training and culture. His is the interesting job of news gathering. He touches life at all points. He is on hand to history in the making. Every day is a challenge for his cleverness, skill and understanding.

Nose for News

It is imperative that a reporter be a man of sound news judgement. He must develop instinct for news. He must be able to sense it and give shape to it. He must learn to pump news from anyone, no matter how important or insignificant the person is.

Good Educational Background

To do his job well, a reporter must have a workable fund of knowledge on a wide range of subjects – “Jack of all trades”. Standard newspapers stress on the importance of proper and adequate academic training. The present trend in specialisation makes such training. The present trend in specialisation makes such training essential in many subjects.

Objectivity

A reporter must have the ability to be impartial, objective and dispassionate. What the reader wants is fact and not reporter’s opinion or emotional reaction. He should not shift the emphasis, twist the angle or colour the story.

Speed and Accuracy

A reporter has to race with time in gathering and presenting news. He should have an eye on the deadline for the final page make-up and rush stories in time. “Get it right and get it now” and “When in doubt cut it out” are the board slogans reporters follow. It is essential that he makes a distinction between deduction and assumption.

Perseverance

Sometimes a reporter has to pursue his story with great firmness. Any slackness may cause him to miss the important feature. He meets with a wide variety of people; some have news to give; some have nothing. It is the duty of the reporter to find the persons who know facts, persuade them to talk and determine whether they are telling the truth. Any due haste may damage his investigation and his story.

Ability in Establishing Contacts

A reporter has to be friendly with all men, whether high or low. He has to establish, develop and sustain contacts. He has to be adept in public relations, using his ears without encroaching on the rights of others. A chance word from even waiter or a last grade servant may help to net a fine scoop.

Respect for Confidence

The first tradition the newsman is to respect the confidence placed in him. Big men in world affairs honour reporters with friendship. Many newsmen have gone to prison, rather than divulge the sources of their information given in confidence.

Incorruptibility

A reporter should not succumb to temptations. He has to incorruptible (cannot be bribed). Many will seek his help to further themselves through publicity. They may even try to bribe the press. He has to stay clear of these temptations. He should not expect any favours from others.

Honesty

Honesty is a virtue which should protect a reporter from unnecessary complications. News should be gathered from a variety of sources, but a reporter should not create news when there is none. He should not censor news, except for reasons of national security.

Conclusion

The duty of the reporter is to study the character of men, the courses of events and the policies of the government. It is in the hands of the reporter to make or mar the present as well as the future of a nation.