UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALISM:

WHAT IS JOURNALISM?
Journalism refers to the production and distribution of reports on recent events. The word
journalism applies to the occupation, as well as citizen journalists using methods of gathering
information and utilizing literary techniques. Journalistic media include print, television,
radio, Internet, and, in the past, newsreels.
Concepts of the appropriate role for journalism vary between countries. In some nations, the
news media is controlled by government intervention, and is not a fully independent body. In
others, the news media is independent of the government but instead operates as private
industry motivated by profit. In addition to the varying nature of how media organizations are
run and funded, countries may have differing implementations of laws handling the freedom of
speech and libel cases.
The advent of the Internet and smartphones has brought significant changes to the media
landscape in recent years. This has created a shift in the consumption of print media channels, as
people increasingly consume news through e-readers, smartphones, and other personal electronic
devices, as opposed to the more traditional formats of newspapers, magazines, or television news
channels. News organizations are challenged to fully monetize their digital wing, as well as
improvise on the context in which they publish in print. Newspapers have seen print revenues
sink at a faster pace than the rate of growth for digital revenues.

TYPES OF JOURNALISM:
There are several forms of journalism with diverse audiences. Thus, journalism is said to serve
the role of a "fourth estate", acting as a watchdog on the workings of the government. A single
publication (such as a newspaper) contains many forms of journalism, each of which may be
presented in different formats. Each section of a newspaper, magazine, or website may cater to a
different audience.
Some forms include:

 Access journalism – journalists who self-censor and voluntarily cease speaking about issues
that might embarrass their hosts, guests, or powerful politicians or businesspersons.
 Advocacy journalism – writing to advocate particular viewpoints or influence the opinions of
the audience.
 Broadcast journalism – written or spoken journalism for radio or television.
 Citizen journalism – participatory journalism.
 Data journalism – the practice of finding stories in numbers, and using numbers to tell
stories. Data journalists may use data to support their reporting. They may also report about
uses and misuses of data. The US news organization ProPublica is known as a pioneer of
data journalism.
 Drone journalism – use of drones to capture journalistic footage.[8]
 Gonzo journalism – first championed by Hunter S. Thompson, gonzo journalism is a "highly
personal style of reporting".[9]
 Interactive journalism – a type of online journalism that is presented on the web
 Investigative journalism – in-depth reporting that uncovers social problems. Often leads to
major social problems being resolved.
 Photojournalism – the practice of telling true stories through images
 Sensor journalism – the use of sensors to support journalistic inquiry.
 Tabloid journalism – writing that is light-hearted and entertaining. Considered less legitimate
than mainstream journalism.
 Yellow journalism (or sensationalism) – writing which emphasizes exaggerated claims or
rumors.

WHAT IS ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALISM?

Architectural Journalism is a niche of writing about architecture and design. The

writers/journalists who write articles and cover events for magazines and websites, related to this
domain thus specialize in Architectural Journalism.

Very often, architects and designers with a flair for writing pursue Architectural Journalism.
They get an advantage while commenting on a work of architecture or a design philosophy.
However, a basic sense of aesthetics and adequate reading on the subject helps in understanding
design concepts well enough to be able to develop one's career in this niche of journalism.

Architecture journalism as any kind of journalism is reporting the new advances in the
architectural world, existing unknown and hidden facts and interesting concepts of buildings,
innovative designs. In short documenting anything related to architecture can be termed as
architecture journalism. The various articles we read in design magazines about the buildings,
space planning, reporting architectural conferences, reporting about various architectural
colleges, new architects,etc, all fall under this category.

Anyone with a passion in architecture or buildings has the potential of contributing in

architecture journalism.

WHAT DOES ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALISM MEAN?

One can categorize Architectural Journalism into diverse subparts, namely: design interpretation,
perceptional thinking, creative writing, paper writing, documentation in terms of photography,
exploration, beginning research and finally, a research paper.

The profession of Architectural Journalism is gaining much value in comparison to that of being a
conventional architect across the globe. This can be attributed to the fact that apart from designing,
explaining the same holds sheer importance as far as formulating a brand is concerned.

An Architectural Journalist is someone who not only has advanced architectural skills but also
has the ability to interpret his design methodologies and prowess.
HOW IS ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALISM MORE THAN JUST WRITTEN ARTICLES
ON ARCHITECTURE?

Publications related to architecture are categorized as magazines, journals (referred and researched),
development monthlies, local quarterlies, conference proceedings (national/international), scientific
journals (for example Scopus Index-Journal, Elsevier, ABACUS, Spandrel et cetera). Some of the
popular architectural magazines based abroad are: Architectural Record, Architectural Review,
Concept, Soiled, Landscape, Architect, Architectural Digest and many more; whereas those based in
India are: A+D, Domus, Indian Architect & Builder Magazine, Home Trends, Inside Outside, How
Architect Works, Society Interiors and the like.

As architecture students, perceiving one’s own design and taking viva voce is one of the major
troubles, if they are not confident enough about what they have conceived on paper they may end up in
a disaster and their entire hard work shall seem of no significance. Diverse people can have diverse
thoughts and since we belong to a multi-cultural society, this becomes even more likely. Thus, making
a client pay money for and buy one’s design isn’t an easy job. However, one can enhance their own
thought process by discussing a lot more with the people who are the benefactors and shall be most
affected by the development. Moreover, brainstorming on what is the priority, in terms of
understanding on humane grounds and giving proposals accordingly for the benefit of the larger
audience can be of help.
Although we have 450+ architectural colleges in India, the sorry state of affair is that only a few of
them have Architectural Journalism as an interdisciplinary course. Some of those colleges are CCA,
CEPT, NIT-H, SPA Delhi, KRVIA, Rachana Sansad, PVPCOA Pune and McGAN'S Ooty School of
Architecture etc. Hence, we very well understand that awareness is a big deal as far as this new
emerging subject is concerned and there are many more efforts required to increase this figure in
comparison to the increasing number of Architectural Colleges in India in the recent years.

As an architecture student, one could start learning and understanding this subject by
undertaking online internships at various portals of architecture and design, some of which are
Arch2O, de-zeen Magazine, Arch Daily etc. Other than these, one could take up full-time summer
internships/training after graduation in offices of Indian architectural magazines like Architectural
Digest, Architecture Update, A+D, WFM, IA&B, etc.

If one understands the sensitivity of the subject and leads oneself to the latter part that shall come with
the maturity to start up analysis, documentation, exploration, study, and research of architectural
interventions. One could join research organizations related to architecture in India, specifically: CSIR,
CBRI, Research Cell at – CCA, CEPT, and building centers like LBC, Trivandrum and Anangpur
Building Center, Faridabad.
WHAT IS THE CRUX OF THE COURSE?

ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALISM — yet another kindred profession

AN UNDERSTANDING :
Architectural designing & planning, interior designing, landscape architecture,etc. are a few
disciplines integrated under the big banner Architecture. Drawing relationship between the
exterior and interior, what goes well with which design element and what adds on to the aesthetics
of the building has always been the task every other designer needs to satisfy. The designer tries
to exude emotions and experience in the design he composes. But does a designer always
communicates to his audience and his clients only by his designs ? Does he just build a
masterpiece and let the experience and the traverse untold?

Every emotion needs to be communicated either by means of action or through language and it is
this communication that draws attention to any emotion to be expressed. Likewise, every other
masterpiece needs a professional write up for the explanation of the product or its service. Or, in
other words, a interpreting document for the design which actually draws communication between
the reader and the architect. A well planned interior and a best design can change the look of a
space, but an explanation proficient enough about the design is necessary to establish a proper
communication and understanding of design.

“Ideas improve but the meaning of words participates in the improvement.“- Guy Debord

ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALISM :

Architecture refers to the planning, designing and constructing of form, space and ambiance.
Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures.
Architectural journalism is this aspect of realizing buildings, its structures and expressing it with
the power of words. It is a profession which expresses different architectural masterpieces, on
understanding its motive, concepts and service. And this could be done with technical and logical
skill and linguistic style based on strong knowledge of technical architectural course, the writer
ought to have pursued. It is a profession which brings to light the character and nature of the
architect, his architectural piece and makes it easy for a common man to understand its functional
and design aspects.

YET ANOTHER KINDRED PROFESSION:

This is not a profession that is mistaken by many as a mere documentation of the projects. Rather,
it gives life, in a literary sense, to the documentation of the project with an objective and style.
Architectural journalism as mistaken by many, is not a mere escape from architectural designing
as a career ,rather, is one among those different approaches and services to the architectural field
like interiors and landscaping are. This is not a pure journalistic service too. There needs to be a
lot of dedication, involvement and basic knowledge in architectural field, to understand things
better.

WHY ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALIST AND NOT JOURNALIST (with non-

architectural background)

Each reader requires his own specific approach, varying from a connoisseur reader of a page 3
magazine or an architecture / design based magazine. There is no ‘one — size — fits — all’ for
communication and style of writing. It is really necessary that the text needs to be sound
structurally, linguistically and with regard to the context. And this is where an architect can
understand an architectural piece, far better than a writer or a journalist, who doesn’t belong to the
field [in technical sense]. Just a glimpse and looking through the design doesn’t suffice, but
requires a fair facelift, by adorning it with fine lines, trendy lingo and chic clichés.

Only an architectural journalist can probably understand things better and take liberty to give a
rationale in a technical, linguistic, logical, stylistic and a dramatic fashion. Only an architectural
journalist can communicate the approaches of architects to architecture, its vast statements of
description and interpretation and can produce works chiseled by literary criticism and make open
to interpretations. An architectural piece contains a number of co-existing strands of thoughts,
addressing different concerns. And probably the best one to exhibit them would be an
‘architectural journalist’.

ARCHITECTURAL JOURNALISM IN INDIA :

Though this profession is slowly gaining attention in India, it is really sad to know that many
architecturing schools don’t offer such courses. Introduction of such courses into the core
curriculum [may be as an elective] would definitely bring in a lot of scope for the architecture
students. We would be surprised and probably disappointed to know that, the international
committee of Architectural Critiques doesn’t even have one Indian as a member.

Abroad, there are many colleges and universities which offer facilities for such courses. You can
choose to pursue this course at universities like The McGill University, School of Architecture ,
Canada, or, Goldring’s arts Journalism programme at Syracuse University , New York, and a few
more in the US and UK universities which offer diploma and certification programmes in
architectural journalism.

India definitely falls a step behind when spoken about, in this profession. A very few
professionals [architects] have taken up architectural journalism as a career and have literally been
recognized for their work. People like Apurva Bose Dutta, a Bangalore based architectural
journalist who has written many articles for magazines like A+D magazine, Livingetc, Times of
India, Architect & Interiors India,etc. and whose work has been recognized and awarded for
Creative Excellence in Architectural Journalism, Oct 2010, A3F award in Architectural
 Journalism for the year 2009–2010 etc, have really stood apart , and are one of the role models for
many aspiring architectural journalists . Architectural journalism has also been recognized with
awards like Richard Solomon Award for Architectural Journalism, International Building Press
National Journalism Awards, the President’s Award in Architectural Journalism (by the Royal
Architectural Institute of Canada) and the Haskell Awards for Student Architectural Journalism.

ON A CLOSING NOTE:

Thus architectural journalism needs to be given a second thought, not because of its novelty in
expressing the design but because it is that vital role played by a person to bring in conversation
between the [idea, aspiration, motive and the innovation of the] architect and the reader.

Frank Gehry said, “Man, there’s another freedom out there, and it comes from somewhere
else, and that somewhere else is the place I’m interested in.” I would take pride in interpreting
this statement, that this ‘somewhere else’ here, is that freedom of choice for choosing
architectural journalism as a profession and rendering service to the field of architecture.

“Architecture arouses sentiments in man. The architect’s task therefore, is to make those
sentiments more precise.” Said Adolf Loos . Probably, it is an architectural journalist’s task to
exhibit those sentiments more precisely in phrases & words.

An architectural journalist is probably one who can take you into a journey of fantasy of
experiencing the masterpieces, at your coziest drawing rooms, at your leisure with a small effort
to bring forth the aspects of architecture and unveiling the path to view the beauty of the art piece
speaking volumes and volumes.”

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