Fundamentals of Interactive Journalism

Sometimes readers run across articles that are considered offensive or just plain hilarious. In this case, prepare for the funeral of the name “Diddy” and make way to a beginning of numerous “pet names” for the Hip-Hop mogul after this event.

It was just an ordinary day for the celebrity, with an entourage close by, and someone who had a camera on hand. One step out of his vehicle, and the photo taken; who would have thought this could happen to Diddy. Is there anyone who would? Maybe it was staged since the the person who took the picture had a good angle. Nevertheless, this man will continue to make more money and not care about this incident. Forget about not caring, he’s probably fuming because it happened to expensive golden sneakers. 

But this can raise the inquiry of sensationalizing the mishaps of celebrities and is it really necessary as journalists to capitalize on them. 

In the book, The Elements of Journalism by Kovach and Rosenstiel, “the purpose of journalism is to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing” (pg.5)

Ten guidelines are given to support this statement and they are:

1. Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to citizens.
3. Its essence is a discipline of verification
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
7. It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and and in proportion.
9. Its practitioners have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience.
10. Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news.

Now let’s dissect Diddy’s story and see if they were applied.

Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.

• In a sense, it is the truth because it was an incident caught on camera. (You can be the judge)

 Its first loyalty is to citizens.

• There are some people who are interested in this type of human interest story.

Its essence is a discipline of verification.

• There was a witness on the scene. But do you think there should have been another POV on the matter?

Diddy has a studio in the neighborhood, and office workers on the block rushed to their windows when they heard the booming car-stereo bass coming from the maestro’s Jeep.

“He stepped right out the Jeep and right into it, and he wasn’t happy,” said a worker who witnessed the Diddy-on-doody incident. “It was hysterical.”

Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.

• This reporter is just stating the facts. (Could be wrong if he/she is an acquaintance of Diddy.)

It must serve as an independent monitor of power.

• Not applicable here as well; there was no corruption of power. (Somebody forgot to carry a plastic bag resulting Diddy’s unexpected surprise.)

It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.

• It definitely was and the relevance was another mishap for a celebrity, but there was info on Diddy being affected by the recent events on the economy as well.

  It’s been a rough few weeks for the hip-hop mogul. Diddy recently admitted that the country’s economic downturn and high fuel prices have grounded his private jet.

Shockingly, Diddy has been forced to roll on commercial flights.

Is this really allowed without having attribution to where the information was found?

It must keep the news comprehensive and and in proportion.

• Possibly can agree with this, if someone wants to keep up with celebrities. (It’s human nature)

Its practitioners have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience.

• Give one reason why this story was reported. Do you think he/she cared?

Last but not least,

Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news.

• And don’t forget the bloggers. A blog named ”Evil S***opia” (viewer discretion advised) expressed concern on the NY Post’s front page headline. The photo was taken by someone sourced as NFphoto.com, but no site was found when searching that name. 

So there you have it, ten guidelines to consider when writing a story.