The fifth edition offers a practical overview of the challenges and opportunities contemporary journalists face. The first unit of the book offers a thoughtful examination and helpful tips for addressing hot issues from citizen journalism and convergence, to the public’s changing media consumption patterns, the ever-increasing role of social media, and new financial models for Web-based journalism.
A renewed focus on writing for digital media prepares journalism students to compete in an increasingly technological environment. A heavily revised and updated Chapter 8 addresses the realities of online writing and readers’ expectations and offers practical tips for success — from the best use of hyperlinks in the story to writing with search engines in mind. In addition, digital media writing is highlighted throughout the text, with help on using social media to tease stories and drive home public relations messages, write compelling blogs and tweets, and much more.
More practical and thorough coverage of online research than ever before prepares students for this essential journalistic skill. Today’s journalists must be adept at using a variety of online sources to find information, and Telling the Story addresses this need with deeper coverage of online sources, the possibilities for discovering information via social media; and evaluating online sources (particularly regarding the source’s credibility). Throughout the chapter, the authors provide helpful tips and practical advice on conducting research.
The best models — of journalistic writing and professional practice — offer students the support and encouragement they need to succeed.
- 8 new visually annotated model stories (for a total of 14) offer helpful marginal callouts to exemplify good writing skills. These new models identify different types of story structures and also help students write across media platforms, including writing news releases and writing for a Web site.
- 10 new On the Job boxes portray today’s newsroom realities by highlighting working journalists. For example, new to this edition are tips and insights from Jenifer Langosch (in Chapter 8), who wites features and breaking-news stories, blogs and tweets, and captures news on a digital camera and camcorder for MLB.com.
New, integrated VideoCentral clips help students see contemporary journalism in action. This new marginal feature connects ideas and situations in the text with online video interviews of leading media professionals talking about journalism trends. Topics for discussion and reflection include bloggers and legal rights, citizen journalism, real vs. fake news, and more. In addition, accompanying reflection questions give students the opportunity to analyze, critique, and respond to issues raised in the videos. These assignable videos make excellent journal assignments or class discussion tools.