Saturday February 04, 2012

CCJ Books

The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect

Completely updated and revised
"The most important book on the relationship of journalism and democracy published in the last fifty years." – Roy Peter Clark, The Poynter Institute
We Interrupt This Newscast: How to Improve Local News and Win Ratings, Too

Just Released
A landmark study on what people watch and why. The most exhaustive study ever of local TV news -- what helps ratings, what drives viewers away, and what editorial approaches and story-telling techniques most influence viewership.

Capturing the Reaction

NewsLab, July 30, 2007

CCJ intellectual partner NewsLab is an online resource center for television and radio newsrooms, focused on improving journalism.

In a tool entitled "Capturing the Reaction," NewsLab writes:

The "reaction" story is a staple of television news coverage of major events. There's a reason we do these kinds of stories: to show the community how it's coping; to share opinions and inform our viewers.

But too often, reaction stories are made up of random M.O.S. (man-on-the-street) interviews, either slapped together or connected by meaningless B-roll. How have you covered the reaction in your community to major national and international events? And how will you cover the reaction to come? Here are a few options to consider...

  • Find a listening place.
  • Think of specific groups you'll want to hear from.
  • Consider a town hall.
  • Include relevant detail.
  • Be open to ambivalence.
  • Let people talk.
  • Listen in.

For details on these options, visit NewsLab.com.