The parts of a report are the headline, initial paragraph or entry, body of the report and final paragraph. The report is an informational text in which a specific topic is developed.
It is a journalistic genre that narrates the events or facts of any type of action. It is documentary work planned and organized in clearly distinguishable parts.
The reports are longer and complete than the news and are often accompanied by interviews, or images that give more truth and body to the news.
The subject that can deal with the report is varied; Real facts of a general nature, related to society, travel, sports, politics, economics... The key to a good report is that it attracts the attention of the reader. They can refer to some news that has transcended and through the report is analyzed in more depth.
The reports usually use channels of diffusion of the traditional means, as they are the television, the radio and the magazines. They are created by providing data, testimonies, expert statements and photographs.
Structure of a report
The reports, in general, are divided into four parts:
Headline
As in the news, the owner may be accompanied by a title and a subtitle. In this part of the report is where the information about what the article is about. The headline has to arouse the reader's attention or curiosity.
Initial paragraph or entry
The initial paragraph, like the headline, has to engage the reader. In this part of the report the summary of the same is raised.
That is, the list or sequence of points of the report. In addition, it has to be descriptive, that is, it has to outline the place where the action takes place, or a small description of the situation or the fact.
It is good that it is also used in a contrasted way, placing two situations and signaling what has changed. And usually an appointment of some of the personages or experts who participate in the report is also included.
It is important that in the opening paragraph the context in which the report is carried out is clear. In addition to a small development of the facts.
In this part of the report it is clear what kind of report is being made:
- S I is scientific and highlights developments and discoveries.
- If on the other hand is explanatory and focuses on transcendent facts of a news.
- Of investigative nature if you inquire about unknown facts of a news, in this type of reports it is very important to cite the sources.
- Of human interest, if it is focused on a specific person.
- We continue with the formal character, which is very similar to a news.
- Narrative reporting is based on storytelling using the form of a chronicle.
- The interpretive is one in which the editor explains the subject in an intelligent and understandable way for the readers.
- The autobiographical if the reporter himself becomes the subject of his report. The informational, where the technique of the inverted pyramid is used.
- And finally the descriptive, where the characteristics of the subject are related.
Body of the report
Within the body of the report we can distinguish several parts according to which paragraph we are referring. These paragraphs can be:
First paragraph or lead paragraph
It can also be found as the opening paragraph of which we speak above, but this indicates the first paragraph of the body of the report in which one enters a little more in detail in the situation.
You can also develop the appointment of one of the characters of the report or the experts who have been consulted for the writing of the same
Introductory paragraphs
In these first paragraphs of the body of the report is introduced in a limited way the subject to be treated.
It outlines the points to follow in the report and in what aspect will focus the body of the report.
Contextualizing paragraphs
These paragraphs provide the historical context or concepts needed to understand what the story is about.
They are necessary so that the reader understands the subject that is being treated in the article and obtains the necessary information that concerns the central subject, before entering full in him.
Information Development Paragraphs
It is at this point that we develop the topic to the maximum. This paragraph explains in detail the facts on which the report focuses.
In addition, citations, whether direct or indirect, of the people portrayed in the report, or of the experts consulted, are added to give their opinion on the subject and help the reader to gain a broader view of the subject being dealt with.
It is at this point also, where statistics or comparison data are included with other similar related topics.
It is important to include in these paragraphs the sources and quotations on which we rely for the writing of the report.
Conclusion paragraph
In this last paragraph of the body of the report, it begins to close the subject, which will be closed completely with the final paragraph.
A small summary of the topics that have been dealt with is given establishing the final paragraph.
Final paragraph
- The final paragraph offers a close to the article. It offers a conclusion or invites the reader to reflect on the subject.
- The types of closure can vary depending on if they are:
- One conclusion, where the reporter quickly sums up the topic discussed in the report.
- A suggestion; Where the editor encourages the reader to take a stand on the exposed history.
- A resounding closing, where the report closes definitively with a phrase.
- A moral, where the editor expects the reader to obtain a teaching for what is reflected in the report.
References
- [Links] Idea and life of the report . Trillas, 1994.
- HERRERA, Earle. The report, the essay: from one genre to another . Caracas, 1983.
- RÍO REYNAGA, Julio del. Interpretive journalism: the report . Mexico, 1994.
- MARRERO SANTANA, Liliam. The multimedia report as a genre of current digital journalism. Approach to its formal features and content. Journal of Social Communication , 2008, vol. 11, no. 63.
- LARRONDO-URETA, AINARA. The metamorphosis of reporting in cyberjournalism: concept and characterization of a new narrative model. 2009.
- MONTORO, José Acosta. Journalism and Literature . Guadarrama, 1973.
- OSSA, César Mauricio Velásquez. Manual of journalistic genres . University of La Sabana, 2005.