Journalism has a lot to offer for those who want to use their writing skills. If you are interested in this field, then you need an eye for the detail, understand the impact of the right words in the right place and must have people skills so that you can get both jobs and information. You also need to have a penchant for being as accurate as possible so that your readers are not led astray. Unlike almost any other writing job, journalism calls for a way of writing that reflects the facts because the readers are expecting you to provide just that. The question is how to improve your journalistic writing in keeping with the rules of good conduct. Read on to learn more.
1. Research well
It is of utmost importance for a journalist to write accurately and present facts that can be verified as true by any reader. This will increase your credibility as a journalist and along with that, comes a larger readership and better opportunities. In order to ensure accuracy, check and double check your facts before putting them down in black and white. You can read old records, interview the relevant people and gather all the relevant information before you begin to write. In addition to accuracy, it is also important to understand the context of what you are reporting. In short, to improve your journalistic writing, you need to learn to do your research and to present yourself within the context of all the relevant details.
2. Keep it simple
There is no need to talk down to your readers or to assume that they have no knowledge of what you are talking about. Your job is to pass on information to them without fancy frills. You are not writing literature, so just keep it simple. Try to avoid ambiguity in your words and express clearly what you mean. The language must be concise and specific, so that readers can immediately understand what you are trying to say. Every journalistic piece must be kept brief and succinct with no extra words wasted in order to avoid writing a lengthy and rambling piece that most people might not have the patience to read.
3. Write professionally
When you set out to be a journalist, you need to have impeccable control over the language. There are several tabloids which show dismal use of language, often have headlines that are completely irrelevant to the body of the article, and can make you wince with the lack of formal language. You don’t have to sound like a lawyer, but it is good to avoid slang expressions. Spelling mistakes, bad grammar and irrelevant punctuation are enemies of journalists. Understand the nuances of the language in which you plan to report and check to make sure your basic grammar is correct. If you are not confident, it is fine to use smaller sentences and simple words.
4. Know your readers
When you are a journalist, you need to judge the pulse of your readers. This is not because then you can bring them news specifically designed to please them. To know your readers means to know how far to delve into a certain subject in order to increase their understanding on the topic. When tackling a subject for reporting, keeping your readers in mind will enable you to tailor your language and the angles you explore to things that would be interesting and informative to them. If you are catering to a large readership base with different kinds of subscribers, then it is best to go with a detailed and clear reportage and following up on it regularly.
5. Suspend judgement
One of the first rules of serious journalism is not to take sides ostensibly. Obviously, the kind of publication you work for might have its own views on different issues and you might have to take that into consideration. But avoid hitting the reader over the head with opinions. Your job is still to present facts, no matter for whom you are working. While it is impossible for anyone to be completely objective, that is what you must strive for as a journalist. You can start by completely avoiding heavy-handed opinions in your writing and then gradually ease into a more nuanced fact-based reporting style.
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Kavitha is a freelance content writer and French translator, and has been working in this field since 2008. She has degrees in computer applications and international business and has a background in business and international trade. She enjoys learning languages and is currently learning Japanese. Her interests vary from books and writing to travelling and history.