Journalism helps us to explain the events that impact our lives and is developed in a number of forms and styles. Each journalistic form and style uses different techniques and writes for different purposes and audiences. There are five principal forms that journalism interacts with the society:
Straight News
When you tell a story just as it is, it is also called a News report. Straight news is ideally succinct and straightforward. Simply to inform us about the happening just as it is. Facts are relayed without flourishes or interpretation. A typical news story often constitutes a headline with just enough explanation to orient the reader. News stories lack the depth of a feature story, or the questioning approach of an investigative story. Rather, they relay facts, events and information to society in a straightforward, accurate and unbiased manner.
Feature Article
Feature writing provides scope, depth, and interpretation of trends, events, topics or people. Features aim not only to thoroughly explore a topic by conducting interviews with numerous experts or the key people involved, but to offer a previously unseen perspective on an event, issue, or person. Feature writing commonly wins prestigious awards when it manages to achieve this goal. They rarely have news leads. Instead, they more often have novelty. They apply all the principles of effective writing to achieve unity, coherence, and emphasis.
Editorials
McNair (1998) says editorial is a way a newspaper or periodical ‘speaks out’ in its public voice. Editorial is a kind of journalism that helps to establish the position of a newspaper (media house) on an issue. It is used by a newspaper to express their opinion or viewpoints. The modern editorial page has developed its own technique. It came more in touch with the social sciences. It began to be based on survey reports, analysis of public finances and reference material and began to provide an intelligent, comprehensive analysis of puzzling situations.
Commentary/Column
This is a journalistic style in which the journalist presents his or her readers with an authoritative viewpoint on a particular issue. Columns are based primarily on the personality of the author, allowing him or her to write about subjects in a personal style. Column writers can take a humorous approach, or specialize in a particular subject area or topic. It’s important for columnists to develop their own voice that is recognizable by their readership.
Interviews
In journalism, interviews are one of the most important methods used to collect information, and present views to readers, listeners, or viewers. The interview probes the views and policies of those in the news or those who make the news especially politicians and celebrities. It is also a survey of views or opinions of an individual who is an authority and powerful or an influential person.
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