Different Types of Journalism

· 2 min read
Different Types of Journalism

Journalism helps to explain the events that impact our lives and is developed in several forms and styles. Each journalistic form and style uses different techniques and writes for different purposes and audiences. You can find five principal forms of journalism: investigative, news, reviews, columns and feature writing.



What form of journalism are you interested in?

- Investigative. Investigative journalism aims to uncover the truth about a particular subject, person, or event. While investigative journalism is founded on the basic principle underlying all journalism-verification and accurate presentation of facts-investigative reporters must often work with uncooperative or recalcitrant sources who do not desire to divulge information. Renowned investigative journalism, such as for example Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's uncovering of the Watergate scandal, can upend major institutions significantly influence public life.

- News. News journalism is straightforward. Fact is relayed without flourishes or interpretation. An average news story often constitutes a headline with sufficient explanation to orient the reader. News stories lack the depth of an attribute story, or the questioning approach of an investigative story. Rather, they relay facts, events and information to society in a straightforward, accurate and unbiased manner.

- Reviews. Reviews are partly opinion and partly fact based. The review needs to accomplish a couple of things: one, accurately describe or identify the subject being reviewed, and two, provide an intelligent and informed opinion of the subject, predicated on research and experience.

- Columns. Columns are based primarily on the personality of the author, allowing her or him to write about subjects in a personal style. Column writers can take a humorous approach, or specialise in a particular subject area or topic. It's important for columnists to build up their own voice that's recognisable by their readership. Columnists can interpret events or issues or reveal their own personal experiences or thoughts. Columns are often published weekly.

- Feature Writing. Feature writing provides scope, depth, and interpretation of trends, events, topics or people. Features aim not merely to thoroughly explore a subject by conducting interviews with numerous experts or the main element people involved, but to offer a previously unseen perspective on a meeting, issue, or person. Feature writing commonly wins prestigious awards when it manages to achieve this goal. Features usually have the best word count of most journalism types.

If you're interested in pursuing any of these different forms of journalism, there are a variety of journalism courses available.  http://bostonjournal.org  teach a wide variety of journalistic, ethical and research skills which form the foundation of most journalism. Writing courses will also help budding journalists improve their grasp of the written word. When you have a love of words, and an enthusiastic interest in the world around you, then journalism may be the career for you.