News: Concepts and the ‘Actor’Pertemuan 15 – 16

Matakuliah : O0394 – Teknik Reportase dan News CasterTahun : 2010

Learning ObjectivesThis section will discuss on three aspects of news: the concept, the

‘actor’, and the language that are used during broadcasting

process.

Upon finishing this material, it is expected that the students will

understand that the word ‘news’ is limitless in meaning and that

the understanding will significantly improve. It is also expected

that students will learn about person who present the news and

the kind of language that should be used when presenting news.

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News or Bluff? (1/10)In the column, entitled “The Future of News,” Jeremy writes about how difficult

to talk about the future of news without admitting that the idea it’s

of what we call “news” has changed, and is continuing to change. As he puts its:

“There is no news. Or at least there is no longer a traditional,

established and establishment definition of what is news.”

(

http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/10/04/expanding-the-concept-of-new

s/

)

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News or Bluff? (2/11)

“True, if someone hits a tall building with an airliner,

that’s news to all of us. The U.S. invades or leaves Iraq;

that’s news. But the rest of the time, news is a slippery

beast that means different things to different people.”

(

http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/10/04/expan

ding-the-concept-of-news/

)

So, are there concepts for News?5

News or Bluff? (3/11)George Fox Mott, New Survey of Journalism (1958), reminds that there

are at least 8 (eight) concepts of news:

1.News as the fastest report

2.News as recording

3.News as objective facts

4.News as interpretation

5.News as sensation

6.News as human interest

7.News as prediction

8.News as picture

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News or Bluff? (4/11)1.News as the fastest report. How fast is fast?

Today, the term "breaking news" has become common as

broadcast and cable news services use live satellite technology

to bring current events into consumers' homes live as they

happen. Events that used to take hours or days to become

common knowledge in towns or in nations are fed

instantaneously to consumers via radio, television, mobile

phone, and the Internet.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News)

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News or Bluff? (5/11)

2. News as recording

Recording in the form of documentation can be

presented by inserting voice and picture of the source

person, live report as the recording the events (Errol

Jonathan and Mirza, 2000: 70).

News recording is for all form of mass media: radio,

newspaper, tabloid, magazine, pictures. In the news as

recording.

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News or Bluff? (6/11)3. News as objective facts

Certainly unbiased, fact based reporting is valuable, but it also can’t

really exist.  Criticisms against the News Media are often targeted on a

lack of objectivity, an obvious slant.  I think the real problem is that our

news is presented to us as objective in the first place.  We get facts,

usually from a well trusted, status quo source and very little

interpretation or analysis.  While this may be factual it is not always

truthful.  By admitting to personal bias and opinion I think we could

arrive at more truthful news and coverage.

(http://www.progressiveu.org/192622-facts-and-truth-in-journalism)

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News or Bluff? (7/11)4. The data obtain can be analyzed and interpreted and presented in mass

media in the form of newsFurther Interpretation of Seismic Data Expands Estimates For Potential Oil Contained in Infinity Energy Resources' Offshore Nicaraguan ConcessionsAnalysis and interpretation of the seismic data was conducted by Brazilian-based Consultoria em Geologia Geofisica e Informatica do Petroleo LTDA ("CGGIP") and its senior geological consultant, Luciano Seixas Chagas, working in concert with Thompson & Knight Global Energy Services LLC in Houston, Texas… (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/further-interpretation-of-seismic-data-expands-estimates-for-potential-oil-contained-in-infinity-energy-resources-offshore-nicaraguan-concessions-79887562.html)

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News or Bluff? (8/11)5. Is the news on cartoon boyfriend a sensation for you?

In Japan, girls are crazy over virtual boyfriends. Webkare (Web Boyfriend

in Japanese), a mix between a social network and dating simulation site,

is Nippon’s newest web sensation. Geared exclusively towards girls, the

site attracted over 10,000 members just 5 days after its release on

September 10, racking up 3.5 million page views in the same time frame.

The site is a huge hit over here. Girls sign up and become members of a

social network…

(http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/20/webkare-a-girls-only-

combination-of-social-network-and-dating-game-from-japan/)

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News or Bluff? (9/11)6. Racism, among other human interest issues

Racism in the News: A Critical Discourse Analysis of News

Reporting in Two Australian Newspapers

The aim of this study is to probe for ideological construction of racism

imbricated within the structure of newspaper reporting. The study

focuses on news reports relating to a Vietnamese gang in Australia

whose violent and drug-dealing activities have received publicity in two

Sydney-based newspapers: The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily

Telegraph... (http://das.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/11/1/7)

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News or Bluff? (10/11)7. The polling result is presented in a mass media as news

Americans split on Obama first year: polls

WASHINGTON — A new sheaf of opinion polls show Americans sharply

divided on President Barack Obama's first year in office, as his ratings on

key issues like health care and the economy hit new lows. Polling also

suggests independent voters are turning away from Obama as he nears

the anniversary of his January 20 inauguration -- though in a sign of hope

for his administration, he remains more popular than his policies…

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jBG0gOcMbcN9gL

y7aSEdPAL-Dy1A

13

News or Bluff? (11/11)

14

8. News as picture in line with the saying:‘A picture speaks a thousand words’.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Puck112188c.jpg)

News ‘Actor’… (1/11)

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News Readers, News Caster, and Anchor

What Do They Do?

Are They also ‘Actor’?

News ‘Actor’… (2/11)

A news reader is a person who ‘simply’

reads the news prepared by a reporter.

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News ‘Actor’… (3/11)

A newscaster (short for "news broadcaster”) is

a presenter of a news bulletins. This person

may be working journalist and news gatherer

as well as a participant in compiling the script

to be delivered in a news bulletin.

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News ‘Actor’… (4/11)News anchors

In the United States and Canada, news anchors (also

known as "anchorpersons", "anchormen", or

"anchorwomen") present material prepared for a

news program and, at times, must improvise

commentary for live presentation. Many anchors are

also involved in writing and/or editing the news for

their programs.18

News ‘Actor’… (5/11)

What do they say on news ‘actors’ (1/4)

David Dunhill, BBC Former News Reader:

Authority is not a sound. Authority is a state

of knowing what you are talking about and

being able to explain it convincingly and

readily to somebody else.”

19

News ‘Actor’… (6/11)

What do they say on news ‘actors’ (2/4)

Wahyudi, 1994:

“Radio and television news presentation is

performed by news readers/ newscasters/ anchors

and reporters based on their job function. Ideally,

a news presenter is a reporter and vice versa.”

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News ‘Actor’… (7/11)What do they say on news ‘actors’ (3/4)

Harry Radliffe, CBS News:

“I’m not interested in news readers-actor reading the news.

Many of them don’t know what the hell they’re reading.

When they interview somebody, they read questions

somebody else has written. That’s wrong. The news ought

to be told by journalists – they have more credibility.”

21

News ‘Actor’… (8/11)

What do they say on news ‘actors’ (4/4)

Judith Melby, CBS:

“I’m not particularly interested in pretty faces

or pretty voices. I’m such more interested in

credibility. An anchor should have worked as a

reporter and know what a story is about.”

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How ‘Actor’ Should Perform (1/7)

According to Boyd (1990) there are requirements that

newscaster/ anchor must have:

1.Authority over the news he/ she presented

2.Credibility

3.Voice clarity

4.Strong and good personality (communicative)

5.Professional

6.Good performance23

How ‘Actor’ Should Perform (2/7)Are there different requirement for radio reporter to

television reporter?

Radio reporter will report the news on the spot and voice

over with certain requirements below:

a.Have standard voice volume

b.Have mastery over news reading techniques

c.Have mastery over their vocal

d.Have mastery over the issues/ news

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How ‘Actor’ Should Perform (3/7)

How about the television reporter?

a. Have charismatic figure

b. Have no unusual/ strange movements on their face

c. Have standard volume voice

d. Have mastery over techniques on news reading

e. Have credibility over the issue they present

f. Intellectual and professional

g. Communicative

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How ‘Actor’ Should Perform (4/7)

The task of a reporter both on radio and television

is to present facts, and opinion in fast, factual,

clear, balance without adding any of their personal

opinion. The news reporter must mention the

source (if not off the record), honest and open.

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How ‘Actor’ Should Perform (5/7)

How to become a Professional News Presenter? (1/3)

Go to school to become a professional newscaster;

Pick a school with a good communications program;

Volunteer at the local TV station, or get involved on

the campus station if you're a student;

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How ‘Actor’ Should Perform (6/7)

How to become a Professional News Presenter?

(2/3)

Realize that you will be judged on your

appearance and mannerisms;

Find a mentor or pattern your style after a

newscaster you admire;

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How ‘Actor’ Should Perform (7/7)

How to become a Professional News Presenter? (3/3)

Prepare for the environment and the life of a

professional newscaster;

Have ideas for stories. Search for entry-level

positions at small stations.

(http://www.ehow.com/how_2074372_be-professional-

newscaster.html)

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ClosingAt the end of discussion, it is expected that the students will have

a comprehensive understand on the definition of news.

Furthermore, the students will be ready to prepare a good news

composition (script) later on.

It is also expected that the students will have adequate

knowledge on being professional anchors/ newscasters. How they

should perform during the assignment and what they should do to

improve their working performance.

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