TYPES OF NEWS STORIES IV:COMPLEX NEWS, Forms of Government, Monarchy

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Radio News, Reporting and Production MCM515

LESSON 10

TYPES OF NEWS STORIES IV

COMPLEX NEWS

These are, as a matter of fact, stories which involve complexities of the nature of the beat, of the language

that is to be employed while penning down the news item, of the jargons which are frequently used in the

writings or in the conversation about the field.

These are the news stories which demand reporter's special knowledge about the beat he is covering. The

reporter covering this type of stories must be well versed in the basic knowledge about the beat.

Actually this is where comes up interpretative reporting to facilitate people with back and foreground of

the event covered by the reporter so that they may not find any lack or ambiguity while listening to the

news item.

The following are the essentials to be made a part of complex news items by a reporter:

Reporter must incorporate extra explanation in the news item.

Technical vocabulary is to be made easy.

Expert knowledge of the reporter about the beat must be evident from the coverage of the event.

What interpretative reporting is will be gone through in detail in the coming lessons. Now let us have a

glance at some complex news story types `that require interpretation from the reporter's background of

specialized information.'

Court, Trials, Lawsuits:

Court stories are considered among the most difficult and challenging stories to report since they involve

complexity of legal process. The reporting of a trial especially when it is under hearing in any court is a

pretty sensitive task. The reporter needs to be very careful and cautious while reporting owing to the strong

possibility of the fact that any of his comment or information given in the report may create problems for

either defendant or the plaintiff or even for himself. An even insignificant expression of carelessness and

there will be a notice from the court demanding explanation from the reporter.

Another thing, as discussed above, while reporting court related stories, reporter has to simplify the terms

used while the trial by the lawyers and the judge since these terms, though can be understood by the ones

who have special knowledge of law, may not be understandable by a layman.

Court stories, normally, have already been reported in news bulletins before they become court stories. A

murder, for instance, has been done and its facts have already been known to people. Now the matter is in

the court for hearing so that the accused be declared murderer or be set free from the allegation. Hence

while reporting this case; background of the case will also be the part of the report.

Government & Policies:

One of the prime objectives of any news channel is to keep people informed with the policies and projects

announced and initiated by the government in the interest of the people. So the coverage of news stories

regarding different departments and organs of government is pretty important and it demands reporter to

be well conversant with the following areas:

Forms of Government:

Presently there are three types of government found in different countries.

Democracy

It means government of the people, by the people and for the people. Countries enjoying democracy have

opted either for presidential system reposing the maximum powers in the president as the head of the state

Radio News, Reporting and Production MCM515

or for parliamentary system letting the prime minister enjoy the status as the head of the state.

It is important to be noted that in democracy the head of the states are elected by the representatives of the

people and they are answerable to the people for every of their act or decision.

Monarchy

Monarchy is a kind of government in which the power rests with one person whose decisions cannot be

challenged. The monarch or the king is the ruler and the head of the state the right to rule is transferred to

any one of the heirs of the king like any transferable commodity.

Dictatorship

In dictatorship one person manages to become the ruler of the state and enjoys the power as long as he

wishes. To run the affairs of the state he may select a band of ministers and technocrats of his own choice

and his decisions can not be challenged in any way by anyone.

Different Parliaments and Constitutions

A reporter must study the nature and the functioning of different parliaments in the world. Most important

countries in this connection are United States of America, England, France, Russia, India, and Germany.

Likewise the constitutions of these countries must also be known to a good reporter. A reporter must be

well familiar with the constitution and parliament of his own country. He is to be well aware of all the

members of National Assembly, Senate, Provincial Assemblies, Federal and Provincial Ministers with their

respective ministries.

Local governments with the entire set-up and working must be in the knowledge of the reporter.

Business & Commerce News:

Stories pertaining to business and commerce also demand a reporter to equip him with special knowledge

of terms, jargons and economic trends of business and commerce sphere.

Given below are some special areas of news on business and commerce;

Markets

Stocks and bonds

Livestock and commodities

Local, national and international market trends

Real Estate

Routine transfer

New additions

Large sales

Improvements and expansion of buildings and housing schemes

Construction permits issued.

Merchandising

Retail and wholesale stores

Expansions and improvements

New corporations and partnerships

Mergers, Bankruptcies, Prices, Cost of living

Financing and Banking

Stockholders' meetings

Dividends

Bonds

Radio News, Reporting and Production MCM515

Interest rates

Money market in general, Currency exchange rates.

Industry Related News:

Knowledge about industries in Pakistan

Leather & Surgical instruments

Textile & Sports industry

Imports /exports

New industries, products, shares, mergers

Transportations

Changes in schedules

New policies regarding transportation

Labour:

Wages and hours

Unemployment

Strikes, lockouts, relief

Labour unions,

Labour problems and laws

Int'l Labour organization

Business and Government

Taxes

Legislative acts

Court decisions and business

Regulations and enforcements

Agriculture:

Crops, Sales, Droughts

New methods of farming

Land reforms

Regulations by government

New varieties in seeds and seedlings

Seed & Seedling crops

Winter & Summer crops

Sowing, Reaping & Harvesting season

Arid lands

Irrigation lands

Canal system of Pakistan

Medicine & Psychology:

Stories regarding medical technology and psychology demand a reporter to make special terms easy for

listeners. Some of the terms are given below:

By pass

Angiography

E.C.G. (electrocardiogram)

Anatomy

Migraine

Schizophrenia

Hydrophobia

Kleptomania

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