Book Report Kliphton Taylor October 11, 2012

Do you enjoy reading structured and straight-to-the-point documents? Do you enjoy a book that not only entertains you, but also effectively informs you? The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect is an amazing book written by both Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel. I chose to read this book because I enjoy reading documents that give me exactly what they say they will, and in an organized fashion. I appreciate this book because it opened my eyes to a wider spectrum in regards to what I need to know about news. I encourage all who read this book report to go out and either rent or purchase this book, it will change your whole perception of news and how we see it today. Have you ever felt cheated when you were getting the news via any outlet that you may use? If you have, that is not rare. Most people do not know that there is so much more to every story that they hear or read, but the source just isnt supplying it. The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect is a book that carefully and fearlessly lists the elements of journalism. Those elements: Journalisms First Obligation is to the Truth, Its First Loyalty is to Citizens, Its Essence is a Discipline of Verification, Its Practitioners Must Maintain an Independence From Those They Cover, It Must Serve as an Independent Monitor Power, It Must Provide a Forum for Public Criticism and Compromise, It Must Strive to Make the Significant Interesting and Relevant, It Must Keep the News Comprehensive and Proportional, And lastly, Its Practitioners Must be Allowed to Exercise their Personal Conscience 1

Book Report Kliphton Taylor October 11, 2012 After reading this book, I got the impression that this could be a Journalism Bible. Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel did an excellent job at making what journalism is today a focal point of their book. To press deeper into the book, I can tell you that it focused a lot on what elements composed the field of journalism in our society. This book is a good tool for journalists because it highlights some of the rules of the job. The authors were good in expressing the fact that journalism is supposed to provide people with factual information so that we are able to be free, which will stem from us being able to make our own decisionsself governance. I smiled with excitement when I read this, because I didnt know what the purpose of journalism was until I read this book. There were so many elements of this book that just took me to whole different world. It had specific details, examples and more! For example, the second element of journalism deals with journalisms loyalty to citizens. In chapter three, Who Journalists Work for, I read professional egoism does not suffice for the commitment that needs to be made to citizens. The authors spell out that it is the implied covenant with the public (The Elements of Journalism, pg.51) that ensures that what they are ingesting is true information. If I were to say that I have no qualms regarding this book, I would be lying. Although I love pretty much every word in it, there are one or two things that I would like to be better explained or just taken out. For example, in chapter five, Independence from Faction, developing a clearer method of reporting will prevent bias. Well, what I do not fully understand is, how would I go about finding a clearer method of reporting. Even if I gather all of the facts, and the facts still seem bias, am I still held responsible? Surely I will be responsible; however, I do not want to be responsible for reckless disregard the subject.

Book Report Kliphton Taylor October 11, 2012 In regards to journalistic writing, I rate the authors a good 8 out of 10. The reason that I did not give it a 10 is because I had a few questions even after I read through the book over again. Questions like: Is there such a thing as information being too dangerous to print? Should I release a story that I do not have all of the facts to? How often is actual malice detected? Reported? What is the importance of free press? Is free press free, or limited?

These are all questions that I have and I would love for them to be answered. Of all the books about journalism that I have read, this one was great about letting the reader know that when writing a story or creating a press release, the writer has to make the news comprehensive and proportional. If you present the readers with a story that is sloppy and all over the place, they will not read it. Youll get the same results if the story isnt understandable. Write in clear and concise ways. Readers dont want to read fifteen lines that can easily be condensed into two. When it comes to writing journalistically, I learned that journalists have got to make the significant interesting and relevant. No reader wants to read plain sentence. Readers want to read sentences that have active verbs in them. The active verbs can really underscore the significance of the story, I believe. If you like books that are easy reads, and can act as essential how to guides, then I highly suggest you get this book. Within this book there is so much to digest mentally, things that you may not get taught in secondary or post-secondary school.

Book Report Kliphton Taylor October 11, 2012 One thing that stuck with me after reading this book was that journalism is essentially story telling with a purpose. That purpose? I suppose it is to provide people with information they need to understand the world. What some journalists dont understand is that before you can begin writing, they must track down the information people need in order to live their lives. And after that information is found, it is safe to begin writing. But what is being written must be made meaningful, relevant, and engaging. Those three words will capture readers in a matter of moments. The truth that some journalists fail to comprehend is that their responsibility is not only to give information, but it is also to provide that same information in a way that will demand and hold the readers (consumers) attention. Our most important challenges revolve around choosing what will keep readers attentionmany readers, many different kinds of readers, says Howard Rheingold. Rheingold is the author and former executive editor of the online magazine HotWired. An interesting thing that was mentioned in the book was the role that citizens play in news. Its said that if citizens wanted the quality of news to improve, then theyd demand it. Well, I agree and disagree. I agree because, yes, if we wanted better news quality we should demand it. But most citizens do not know how to express their needs and wants. Some dont know where to express their concerns. And some feel as if their needs and wants will be thrown to the backburnerattention not paid to them. The book carefully explains that citizens expect the news to be accurate and already verified. I dont know about all of you, but I do not believe everything that I hear when I hear it. I do additional research so that I can have multiple sources. If all of them are parallel is some sense, then the initial news has got to hold some substance. Substance is what I look for in news, and 4

Book Report Kliphton Taylor October 11, 2012 when I do not get it, I look further into the story. This book does well with describing how to expect accurate news and how to interpret what we are reading, listening to, and watching. Ultimately, I would like to recommend this book. It is informational and a much needed book. If more journalists took time to read this book, their career will be much more promising. Im not even going into journalism when I receive my Bachelors degree, but having read this book Im pretty sure Id land a solid job. This book is highly recommended because it gives concrete examples of how to execute functional and legal journalism, such as the list of journalism elements, and interpretative investigative reporting. I feel like interpretative investigative reporting is the most legal and yet effective way to get news to citizens. Please go out and get this book, it will assist you in so many ways. I assure you that if you take in the information that is being given to you properly, your career will blossom. If you are pursuing a career in journalism, this book is definitely for you. Anyone pursuing a career that has anything to do with communication, media, media law, or news writing and reporting, then this book is definitely good for you. This book is useful for all careers. Its an essential writing handbook. Although I a communication major-professional writing minor, I have alternate career plans. I plan on attending graduate school with the expectation receiving my Master of Fine Arts in Public AdministrationPublic Policy. With that degree I will not be writing stories that consumers will be reader on a regular; however, I will be composing emails, memos, notes, etc. Having read this book has better prepared me for future journalistic writing assignments in future major courses.