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Special
writing the news
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Neil Paddison talks
For many undergraduates and explained how
Working as an
on journalism courses, The journalism has changed in
educator and
to Richard Keeble
Newspapers Handbook recent times. I wanted to
journalist, is
about some critical
is required reading. Its know what skills a student
there any tension
author, Richard Keeble is would need to survive in
between promoting informed position. I always
issues for would-be
Professor of Journalism at journalism, and how to
professional standards include a piece I’ve done
journalists.
the University of Lincoln. deal with some of the big
and demystifying because I incorporate in
He is also the editor of issues...
the process of news that a self-critique – I’m not
Ethical Space, the quarterly What advice would
gathering and news separating myself from that.
journal of the Institute of you give a sixth-
production? What are the most
Communication Ethics. former interested in
My role has been in important skills a
Following the Handbook’s journalism as a career?
trade union journalism, journalist needs?
advice, ‘whenever you have I would firstly encourage
which has been very much It is the ability to
an opportunity to see a them to read the media in
a conscious critique of capture the unusual,
source face to face, take it’, all its aspects: newspapers,
mainstream journalism the interesting, the
I bagged an interview with magazines, online, etc.
– the news values and newsworthy, in words,
him for this special edition If they find it in any way
routines. I’ve always and to sustain clear
of MediaMag. boring then journalism isn’t
found the ideology writing or clear delivery of
Interviewing an authority for them.
of professionalism speech in broadcast. Also,
on ‘the art of interviewing’ The second thing is to
problematic, so there a sense of the organisation
may sound like a bizarre write, whether it’s a diary,
is at the heart of the of society so that one
prospect. But we got off a review of a book, a letter
way I teach a critique can move into society
to a good start when I to their local media, their
of professionalism and deal with groups,
said I had listened to the own blog, etc. Most people
and ultimately that is organisations, institutions
interview Keeble had given who enter journalism, if you
about demystifying and campaigning groups,
for an NUJ (National Union ask them why they entered
the aloofness and so that one is confident
of Journalists) archive it, will say ‘I love writing’.
separateness of about covering society. The
project. It turned out he I’ve been very concerned
professional journalism. better students will have
was shocked to find it was in my teaching to develop
The special skills which an awareness of the great
on the internet for all to students’ sense of the
we are teaching here – the political dramas of the day
hear! (You too can listen creativity of writing – it’s
emphasis on accuracy, and the underlying factors
to it by searching for file very easy for them to enter
on ethical awareness, there. Beyond that, they
number 000000900 at a journalism programme
sensitivity to sources, a will be aware of the ethical
www.onrecord.org.uk) and see journalism as being
global awareness – these issues and the political
In the NUJ interview about convention more
I suspect come with being issues involved in dealing
Keeble described his own than creativity.
a dedicated journalist. But with those.
experience as a journalist Journalism is about
that can be applied to both Let’s turn to some
building up contacts, so
a professional and a non- of these issues now.
they should have a sense
professional. Starting with one of
of it in their lifestyles: to
I tell students they have the toughest current
be thinking ‘this person is
to think seriously about debates: is Britain’s
incredibly interesting’ or ‘I’m
their attitudes to politics, press inherently or
going to a really unusual
the media, the organisation institutionally racist?
place; maybe I could write
of the media, global I think that there are very
about it.’ If they get into
poverty, environmental powerful elements in our
that way of thinking they’re
issues, and to position society which are racist.
getting into the journalistic
themselves in relation to Elements of discrimination
experience.
that. That’s what I’ve done are clear in terms of the
They should use every
– all my writing has been, police handling of suspects,
opportunity to get to
if you like, partisan. When for instance, following
know their local media
writing a seminal textbook the anti-terror legislation.
– newspapers, free-sheets,
like The Newspapers The figures suggest that
internet sites, sports teams,
Handbook, how do I ethnic groups are far more
PR operations, fanzines.
legitimise my partisanship? searched and arrested than
If a student can have the
Well, I think the message whites. In the media the
confidence to go and say
comes through that you representation of blacks
to these media, ‘I’d really
can be partisan but it and ethnic groups in
like to come and see what
doesn’t stop you from being general, whilst improving in
you’re doing or I’d like to
someone who loves the some cases, is scandalously
contribute,’ they’re very
media and criticises them low. I don’t think
open to it these days.
from a very interested, institutionally the media are
english and media centre | February 2008 | MediaMagazine 23
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