There are several Types of news reports , Which are possible to classify them according to purpose. They are the demonstrative, the descriptive, the narrative, the anecdotal and the autobiographical. But other types can also be differentiated according to the ordering of the content. These are: events, action, dating and investigative reporting.
The report is one of the most extensive and complex journalistic genres that exist in terms of narrative elaboration. It consists of the extensive development of a topic of general interest. In it, the author is dedicated to delving into all kinds of details such as background, circumstances, causes and repercussions of the fact or central theme.
This journalistic genre investigates, describes, entertains, informs and documents. And this is achieved thanks to the fact that it is information that has a deep character. It is not linked to the most immediate news, since the immediacy is not what is important in the report. Certainly the reports usually start from a news event. However, in this case the key is the extension and deep investigation of the news.
The report allows the journalist to have greater expository freedom and offers him the opportunity to develop his own literary style. Although that does not mean that there must be subjectivity.
Here they narrate the facts as they have happened, since the objective does not stop being the one to inform. For this reason, the report must always be accompanied by a thorough investigation. Only in this way can it be guaranteed that the information is complete and totally faithful. The objective is to expose everything on the subject so that the reader can draw their own conclusions.
Types of reports
According to the purpose
- Demonstrative reporting
In this type of report, the journalist is dedicated to discovering problems and bases his work on social demands. Like all journalistic work, the writing can not remain in the exposition of the facts, but must go deeper into the causes of the problem in order to offer a more complete picture.
In this type of reporting the readers need to make an effort to understand the information and pay close attention. And in order to attract the reader, the journalist should try to soften the story.
- Descriptive report
This type of report is based on the detailed observation of the reporter, who must provide through his writing a clear picture of all the characteristics of the subject to be discussed.
This includes objects, human beings, sensations, cities and every aspect of reality. It should be able to describe each element to locate the reader in the story. In the descriptive report, the investigation is important, but the reporter's capacity for observation is elementary.
- Narrative reporting
In this type of reportage, the time factor plays a major role. For this story the event or problem must be structured very well. Its evolution must be presented in time and for this it is necessary to establish what happened first and what later.
To carry out a narrative report is not only necessary to analyze documents and make descriptions of people, objects or places, but also collect different opinions. Although it is important that these are from authorized persons or official bodies.
- Retrospective-anecdotal report
This type of report has the purpose of reconstructing the details of a past event. History is built through the analysis of information, which is usually collected from the study of documents or from interviews with witnesses of the fact that is wanted.
Retrospective-anecdotal reporting should keep its focus on people's daily events. It can be based on the discovery of facts that were not known. Or you can bet on other accounts of the same event.
- Autobiographical report
This type of report was created by the American journalist Tom Wolfe , Recognized for having made important innovations in the journalistic style. The autobiographical report is nothing more than a research paper in which there are no more protagonists than the reporter.
That is, who writes the story happens to be the character of the report itself. This type of work is usually done when the journalist has something important to tell and does it from his perspective.
According to the ordering of the content
- Event reporting
The report of events consists of presenting a static view of the facts. The journalist acts as an observer who is responsible for talking about the facts but from the outside.
In this case, events are not presented in chronological order but in order of importance and simultaneously.
- Action report
Cappa, outstanding photojournalist and author of great reports related to war conflicts
Unlike events reporting, events occur in a dynamic way, as if something were occurring. The journalist must keep pace with the evolution of events, as he writes the story from within the event.
And so it should make the reader feel. This type of report is associated with the narration, since the story must follow the temporal evolution of the event.
- Dating Report
This is the story that is commonly referred to as an interview. The facts are clear from what the interviewee tells. And to set the story alternate descriptions or narrations of the journalist with textual words of the person questioned. This is supported by what is said.
There are no standards for interviews. However, it is best to avoid forcing the dialogue. There should be a pleasant conversation, with questions of interest so that the interviewee can provide all the information required.
- Research report
Although it may seem obvious, since every report is based on research, in this case is much deeper.
In the investigative report the journalist must perform a practically detective work to capture all the details, especially those that are unknown.
Moreover, it is a work that requires very reliable and even confidential sources that provide evidence of what is said in the writing. This type of report usually contains either statistical data, updated figures and documents with official information.
References
- Patterson, C. (2003). The good report, its structure and characteristics. Journal of Social Communication. Panama university. Recovered from ull.es.
- The press, a resource for the classroom. Analysis of the press. Journalistic genres. (without date). Network Training. Retrieved from ite.educacion.es.