June 20, 2013

Media Workers and the Unknown Bias

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24:  Pauline Graham...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Many reporters, media workers and news casters are the only way that the general public gets their information about the world’s events and what is happening in the world. That means that the way that the media worker presents the story can really play an impact on what the person believes or doesn’t.

The news and newspaper are trusted media outlets that many people turn to as their trusted source of information. This type of thinking puts a lot of pressure on a media worker to be able to present that story with as must neutrality as possible. There can be no sharp tone to their voice, no condescending note when they are talking to others and certainly no aggressive measures while reporting the story.

This can be an incredibly hard thing to do especially when a media worker has such strong views on something. Say a person is required to report on the war in Iraq, but they do not currently believe that the war should be allowed to continue or even given the green light as far as funding and ability. They must cover this story or face termination.

Most news reporters will go out there and report the story to their best of their ability as a neutral source. However, they really are showing what side of the story they are on. There are non verbal communication skills that go into this type of story. Say a reporter cuts someone off, turns to the side a bit or talks quickly. These are all signs that they did not want to be there and that they are forced to portray a story that they did not want to.

The general public begins to pick up on these items and their ideas are influenced by what they see on the tv. So while a bit of bias is not intended it happens anyway and the public’s opinion could be quickly swayed by it.

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Media Workers: Who are They, What do They Do?

from CN8 at the Petco gas explosion.
Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to the different types of media forms out there, there are a lot of different varieties to choose from. There’s TV, radio, newspaper, magazines and even the Internet. All of these are media outlets and all of these have hundreds of workers working behind the scenes to bring you the news and information that you need.

Here is a look at the various types of media workers out there and a little bit about what they do.

Reporters. Many media forms hire reporters to research all the news stories that they bring you. These reporters head to the scene of the action and get the scoop on the story that they want to bring you. There are reporters that work both in front of the screen and behind the scenes. Reporters can work for newspaper, TV and Internet forums.

Camera Crew. The camera crew is every bit as important as the reporters. Although they are not directly responsible for the type of news that you get, these people bring you the sights and sounds of whatever news piece is being shown. Camera crews can come in the form of still shots for newspapers and magazines as well as live action film for TV and Internet.

Writers. In some cases writers and reporters are the same. In the case of TV news there are actual writers who write up the news story for the newscasters to read off of. The research and information gathering is all done beforehand and fed through a prompter in the newsroom.

Newscasters. These are the people that serve as a sort of mouthpiece for the news. They read the various stories that are written and give you the facts and information directly. Rarely are newscasters responsible for the research of the stories or the type of stories that are put on the TV.

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How Do You Become a News Reporter?

Merle talking with a TV news reporter
Image via Wikipedia

You’ve seen all those reporters on the local and national newscast. They bring you the top stories of the day and provide you with the most up to date information on weather, news and even sports. They even become a part of your daily routine and a part of your family. However, the main purpose of their job is to bring you the news the way that you want it.

With all the appeal that being a reporter has it might be a career choice that you have. So how does one become a news reporter?

Here is a quick guide to help you become a news reporter.

Attend College. Of course there is no college degree in news reporting but there is in journalism. A journalism degree will show you exactly what you need to do to become a news reporter. It can also help you network so that you get in with the various TV stations in the area.

Work on Local Shows. Many local tv stations have local TV shows. Try and gain an internship with them so that you can get in with the local station.

Intern on Local News Sets. Interning is the best way to gain a world of experience. This allows you to see what the professionals really do and how they work. It also allows you to get your name out there and that you are interested in this line of work.

Work on College News. Many college and high schools have news programs just for the students. Work for them as a news reporter and you’ll be able to gain experience. You’ll also be able to try your hand at this type of career. The experience that you get from them is very valuable and can help you when you set out in the career field.

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