Successful Strategies For Computerassisted Reporting

Computers have changed the landscape of both gathering and disseminating information throughout the world. As journalists move quickly toward the 21st century and, perhaps, a new era of electronic journalism, they need resources to understand the newest and most successful computer-based news reporting strategies. This book is designed to show both professional journalists and students which of the newest personal computing tools are being used by the nation's leading news organizations and top individual journalists. It describes how these resources are being used on a daily basis and for special projects. The book assumes a minimal familiarity with computers, but no advanced knowledge of computer operation.

Computers have changed the landscape of both gathering and disseminating information throughout the world. As journalists quickly move toward the 21st century and perhaps, a new era of electronic journalism, resources are needed to understand the newest and most successful computer-based news reporting strategies. Written to serve that purpose, this book is designed to show both professional journalists and students which of the newest personal computing tools are being used by the nation's leading news organizations and top individual journalists. It further describes how these resources are being used on a daily basis and for special projects. In recent years, computers have taken on new and dominating roles in the process of news analysis, newsgathering, and news processing. Today's forward-thinking journalists often seek guidance over what they can do to strengthen their ability to be society's information processors and managers. This volume focuses upon how successful journalists are using computers through a major national computer-assisted reporting (CAR) study of daily newspapers. The study included two national surveys and a series of personal interviews with many of the nation's leading CAR specialists. Several current examples of stories used for successful database- and online-oriented news assignments are provided as part of a series of case studies incorporated throughout the book. The additional depth of description and the presentation of portions of stories themselves should help readers to understand the complete process involving CAR-oriented journalism. Substantial analytical detail is used to discuss the extent of computer use in newsrooms, computer training, CAR projects, CAR in daily reporting, hardware and software most commonly used, levels and types of online services used in news research, and portable hardware and software. The book concludes with the author's assessment of the effects and impact of personal computing in the newsroom and the future of personal computer applications in newsgathering. Explaining and defining advanced applications or terminology for readers, the approach to the book assumes a minimal familiarity with computers, but no advanced knowledge of computer operation.

Reporters in the newsroom are becoming more involved in computer-assisted reporting and online news research than ever before. This edition introduces readers to computer-assisted reporting and to describe how leading journalists are using personal computers for news gathering in modern print, broadcast, and online newsrooms. It provides a thorough discussion of technology and its applications to news reporting. Computer Assisted Reporting focuses on the computerization of newsgathering, highlighting the fact that the computer assists journalists by making writing easier, and also makes gathering and organizing information more efficient. As it begins, the book demonstrates methods for journalists to get more from their computers, such as data retrieval, data analysis, information storage, and dissemination of that information in both processed and unprocessed forms. It concludes with a refined proposal, originally proposed in the first edition, for five stages for development of computer literacy in the newsroom.

The present book has been brought into being in view of incessant demand pertaining to the subject Journalism, inherently requires that stories be told in-depth. Many newspapers have cut out long articles even before the Internet. They have followed the example set by television news. They have been hit by the rising price of newsprint, and the renewed emphasis on cost cutting. They are convinced that readers are pressed for time, impatient with detail, and conditioned to ingest the news in pellet-like form. The bulk of broadcast news is reporting in the sense that is used is different rather than journalism. It is epitomized by the two-minute wire service radio bulletin on the hour already a fast disappearing format. In this incisive and well-presented work, the book has synthesized the findings to lay down principles of sound journalism for both those in the industry and the citizens, who rely on the free press as a fundamental element of democracy. First and foremost among these principles is journalism's obligation to the truth. It will immensely benefit students, teachers, mass communicators, theoreticians and practitioners alike. Something usable today, a ready reckoner for years to come and a collector's item for all times. A must read endurable and preservable

First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The new edition of this successful text gives advanced writers and reporters a thorough look at newspaper, magazine, and newsletter feature writing. It includes computer-based research tools and a discussion of online publications and resources. This edition emphasizes three primary aspects of feature writing: *introduction and writing skills--the basics, *article types, and *the collegiate and professional writing life. Readers learn from the narrative, from the advice of professionals, and by example. Each chapter contains excerpts and complete articles from some of the nation's leading publications to illustrate points made in the text.

This book explores the growing phenomenon of online news from a variety of perspectives, identifying trends in online news and presenting a collection of original research investigations about the newest medium of mass communication.

An essential up-to-date resource for journalists and students who need to know how to use computers, data bases, and online resources for research and reporting.