1.7. From event to story – making it to the news

You will hear a two-part lecture given by Ms. Sarah Coleman, a journalist. She will explain the steps journalists take and the difficulties they face as they write the stories we read in the newspaper.

Part 1. The Work of a Journalist

Task 1. Match the words with their definitions.

civic to anticipate a police log credible a newsroom

deserving or able to be believed or trusted to expect that something will happen and be ready for it the office in a newspaper or broadcasting company where news is received and news reports are written relating to a town or city an official record of events made by the police

Task 2. Listen to the first part of the lecture and find answers to the following questions. Remember to take notes.

1. Who stands behind all the news? What kinds of journalists does Sarah enumerate?

2. How does the reporter do her work? What organizations should she keep in contact with? How does the system work?

3. What are the two types of stories she could write about? What events are more exciting?

4. How can a journalist report crime?

5. What are the four very important facts that every reader wants to know at the beginning of every story?

6. Besides a police officer, whom can the reporter interview when investigating a crime?

7. Why is it very important to know some details about a witness?

8. When interviewing has been done, what is the next step? Does the reporter decide herself whether a story is newsworthy?

Part 2. Getting a Story into Print

Task 3. Listen to the second part of the interview and answer the following questions. Remember to take notes.

1. Why is it important for a story to be accurate? How may it influence the newspaper’s reputation?

2. What should every controversial fact be supported by?

3. What is one of the main functions of the editor?

4. “The reporter has done his job well”. What does it mean? What skills must a reporter acquire to write a good story?

5. “When the story is written, it goes into the computer”. Who does the job? How many people are involved on that stage?

6. What makes a good story?

Task 4. Recall the words from the second part of the listening that mean the following:

• correct and true in every detail;

• to print something for people to read;

• to give someone information that is incorrect;

• to make a legal claim against someone, especially for money, because they have harmed you in some way;

• defamation of character;

• causing a lot of disagreement, because many people have strong opinions about the subject being discussed;

• not supported by any proof.

  READING&SPEAKING