2 CBBJ3203: Topic 1: Broadcast Journalism Then and Now.

2 CBBJ3203: Topic 1: Broadcast Journalism Then and Now.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Discuss the definition of broadcast journalism;

2. Describe the history and background of broadcast journalism;

3. Differentiate between the printed media and the electronic media reporting; and

4. Explain the evolution of broadcast journalism.

INTRODUCTION

Broadcast journalism is an important area in the field of broadcast and journalism. This field is becoming important in its role in the era of media globalisation. As viewers, we get to be updated on what is happening in the world from the radio, television and on-line (now Internet) from where we are. We get the chance to follow news continuously from sources such as BBC World, CNN and many others. What is happening behind the scenes of every radio and television news units that enables news to be broadcast, before the news becomes outdated? Expectations towards broadcast journalism today is different from what was experienced by broadcast journalists in the early 20s, Information technology and communication innovations have changed the speed and the way of information is being transmitted now. However, the process of gathering, editing and reporting information to audience of the electronic media is still complex and challenging.

The term “broadcast journalism” connotes that this field highly prioritises the skill of writing, but the approach in broadcast journalism is different from printed media news writing, such as newspaper and magazines.

1.1              BRIEF HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF BROADCAST JOURNALISM.

Journalism is gathering information, sorting out of the relevant material, creating a news story to meet a certain, a quick turnaround, demand for immediacy …

SELF-CHECK 1.1

We always listen to or read reports on current local or international issues. In your opinion, what is the role of journalists and how is the broadcast news reported and how are they able to change the perception of some viewers when they listen to the reports?

In the west, especially America, broadcast journalism started as early as the 1920s during the First World War in the form of a radio broadcast. The peak of broadcast journalism was in the 1950s. Broadcast journalism started with the broadcasting of Presidency election results through KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, America on 2 November 1920 (Stephens 1997: xxi). Television news broadcast on the other hand started in 1941, when Columbia Broadcasting System television (CBS) broadcasted two TV news in New York for about 15 minutes every day to a number of audiences (Stephens, 1997). At that stage, news broadcast was in the form of newsreel as below.

Radio coverage and the value of news broadcasted during war in the late 1930s left a deep impact on the society. For the first time in radio history, news broadcast had more listeners compared to entertainment programmes. According to David Brinkley, a famous broadcast figure in America and one of the pioneer of broadcast news at NBC (Quoted from Biaggi 1996: 161):

The skills of seeking, gathering, recording or reporting radio news later opened more opportunity to report news through television.

At initial stages of television news broadcasting, the problem faced was inadequate expert workers as most senior producers who were involved with radio broadcasting refused to be involved in the television productions. Said Brinkley (Quoted from Biaggi 1996: 161):

Unlike radio broadcast, television news broadcasting needs visual materials. At the early stage of television broadcast journalism, there were no suitable visual materials to accompany the news reported. Even if there was, it was difficult to acquire and could not fulfil the requirement and the actual concept of news broadcasted. As a result, news broadcast became a chalk talk. It is reporting was uniform: a newsreader would stand in front of a map of a country as a backdrop. This method was used to replace the non-available visuals.

From a historical view, most of them who were involved in broadcasting started their careers as journalists in the printed media. Kierstead Report (1976) had mentioned that radio stations initially employed reporters from newspapers due to difficulty in getting exceptional reporters who are involved in radio news broadcasting at that time.

Figure 1.1 below illustrates the development of broadcast news (radio and television), which was identified by Stephens (1997: xxi-xxiii):

Table 1.1: The Development of Broadcast News

Year	Development of Broadcast News
1920	KDKA, the first private radio station in the United States
1926	Radio Corporation of America (RCA) launched its subsidiary, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
1927	Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) was formed in America.
1933	Franklin Roosevelt was the first president of the United States to talk on the radio in his programme “fireside chats”.
1941	Mutual radio network was covering a football match when the news on the bombing of Pearl Harbour was announced on the radio. On the 1st of July, 18 TV stations started their services. In this year, CBS broadcast two 5 minutes news to viewers in New York.
1949	There were more than 100 TV stations in the United States - CBS TV News and NBC’s Camel News Caravan. In France, TV news was broadcast three times a week.
1952	The term “anchor person” was used for the first time to name Walter Cronkite’s role while reporting for CBS TV in the presidential convention in 1952.
1960	For the first time, two presidency candidates - Richard M. Nixon and J.F.Kennedy - debated on television.
1963	On the 1st of May, CBS started broadcasting a half-hour CBS Evening News, presented, managed by Walter Cronkite. The continuous news coverage about the assassination of President J.F.Kennedy on 22 November. About 68% of Americans received the news half an hour after the incident occurred.
1974	Barbara Walters was one of the first women to become a “star”, renowned as the television host of the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) with an income of one million American dollars..
1991	The world news system enabled the world community to follow the development of Gulf War live on TV live.
1993	The cable television channel could be used to channel phone calls. Amalgamation of media technology, information and communication took place.
1995	News organisation and technology companies competed with each other to put news in the Internet. Disney took over ABC. Time Warner bought CNN. Westinghouse bought CBS. Giant global media corporation became bigger, fully equipped with world television network, film studios, and news operations respectively.
1996	The President of the United States’ campaign coverage was on TV networks, websites and MTV.

Source: Stephens 1997: xxi-xxiii

The following is the history of broadcast news journalism, related to entertainment in Hollywood.

In economically developing countries, broadcast journalism started after the introduction of television broadcasting. In Malaysia, its existence was enhanced with the increase in private television and radio stations.

The rapid development of broadcasting further created jobs and working opportunity in the related field, especially TV broadcast reporters. “News Department” or News Room became one of the most important divisions in a TV station. In fact, news department is said to be the backbone of a TV station because news is considered as the prime mover of broadcast station.

1.2 NEWS BROADCASTING TODAY

SELF-CHECK 1.2

Mahadzir Lokman and Wan Zaleha Radzi, were once TV3 personalities and now freelance hosts for several radio stations and TV in Malaysia.

In your opinion, among the local TV personalities, who has the potential to be a renowned newsreader not only in Malaysia but also in the world? Why?

Broadcast journalism has a big potential because news broadcast has become the societies’ daily diet. News broadcast by Cable News Network (CNN), Cable National Broadcasting Company (CNBC) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is becoming the centre of attention today, especially when there are world crises such as the Wars in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and ecological catastrophe that are happening around the world. Famous newsreaders in the United States like Dan Rather, Barbara Walters, Christine Amanpour and others are among “newsreaders” who became popular because of their appearances on television news broadcast.

The following is a speech by Chris Cramer, President of CNN International on 17 March 2003, about broadcast journalism:

1.2.1 News Broadcasting in Malaysia

SELF-CHECK 1.3

Have you accessed the local TV stations websites? What differentiates the information you receive online with the information received from a broadcast journalist on TV?

In Malaysia, news programme has become the main TV programme, which is aired at peak hours for all local television stations public or private. News programmes like Buletin Utama TV3, has become the programme that receives the highest programme viewers. The same goes to news broadcast on RTM (TV1 and TV2) and ntv7, who news in various languages like Berita Tamil and Mandarin. It is obvious that language varieties in news broadcasting in Malaysia has given the opportunity to the public to acquire information needed through television in their preferred language.

Today, there are more than two million viewers who watch Buletin Utama every night. The programme also lists the top 10 programmes that get the highest rating of viewers for all channels and TV stations in Malaysia (http://www.tv3.com/ratings/my). Newsreaders of Buletin Utama like Yusanani Yusak, Azizah Ariffin and others have become the idols of many young viewers in Malaysia.

The multiracial, society in Malaysia is a challenge to broadcast journalism in this country. News broadcasting must satisfy all sections of society. Besides serving them with entertainment, it must also function as an agent of persuasion, education and source of information for society.

Like printed news, the electronic news in Malaysia is also prepared in four main languages; Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin and Tamil. This is to cater to every different race and culture.

Technological advancement also influences the development in this field. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, news was received through the printed media. After the invention of radio and television (terrestrial and satellite), news is now available in electronic media and through online in the Internet. Online news provides wider choices and alternative sources for audience and society as prepared by Berita Harian, BERNAMA, Harian Metro, Utusan Malaysia, Malay Mail, New Straits Times, The Star, and etc.

You can read the history and development of news broadcasting in Malaysia by surfing the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) website http://www.rtm.net.my TV3 is the first private television station in Malaysia. You can surf http://www.tv3.com to know the development of the TV station and, the activities and programmes aired.

ACTIVITY 1.1

Based on the development of broadcast news in Malaysia, what differentiates broadcast journalism and printed media journalism?

1.3       MALAYSIAN NATIONAL NEWS AGENCY (BERNAMA) AND ITS FUNCTIONS IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM.

Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) is a statutory body, formed under the Parliament Act 1967. BERNAMA started its operation in May 1968. BERNAMA coordination is executed by the Supervisory Council, which consists of five members appointed by Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This council is formed to monitor BERNAMA’s operation so that it always adheres to the act’s allocation in implementing its objectives.

A General Manager heads the administration of BERNAMA with the assistance of a Management Committee in implementing the agency’s programmes and activities as well as the Board of Director’s decision. BERNAMA has its branches in every state in Malaysia and its representatives in Singapore and Jakarta. Besides that, BERNAMA also has retainers in Washington, London, Manila, New Delhi, Dhaka and Melbourne.

The entire operations of BERNAMA utilises the computer and it provides the services of general news, economies and surfing on real time basis financial information to its customers in Malaysia and Singapore.

BERNAMA’s function as source of latest and reliable news is renowned to the media locally and abroad, government and private agencies, universities and individuals in the country. Most newspapers and electronic media in Malaysia, as well as other news agencies abroad, are BERNAMA’s customers. BERNAMA’s operation in the information industry is highly competitive and has the potential to go further.

In executing its operation as the source of latest news, BERNAMA practises several principles in order to ensure the news and information disseminated can fulfil the aim of accurate and save news circulation to the audiences.

Before September 1998, BERNAMA offered news and information in the form of texts and pictures, but after BERNAMA TV came into existence, that was its audio-visual unit, latest audio-visual news and information were available. BERNAMA also has its own website and this enables the public to access to news and information directly from BERNAMA.

You are encouraged to surf this website http://bernama.com/ to get more information about the history of the formation of BERNAMA, the service provided and the latest articles prepared by BERNAMA. 1.3.1 Principles of BERNAMA’s Operation Principles of BERNAMA’s operation are as follows:

4 PRINCIPLES OF BERNAMA

(a) Truth BERNAMA covers news about activities that are really happening;

(b) Accurate BERNAMA writes accurate news and does not rely solely on journalists’ assumptions or creations;

(c) Complete The news written is complete and fair. BERNAMA’s journalists are directed not to be bias; and

(d) Quick BERNAMA distributes news to customers as fast as it can after an incident occurs.

In order to guarantee the effectiveness of the news, BERNAMA also provides the equipment installation service for the reception of online service. This facility is given to customers within the duration of two weeks after the subscription agreement is signed. In terms of complaint from customers, BERNAMA will respond to complaints within 45 minutes in the Klang Valley. For customers from other areas, action is taken two hours after complaints about technical and other problems are received.

1.4 PRINTED, ELECTRONIC AND WEB NEWS.

The advancement of information technology and communication also revolutionised broadcast journalism. The development of TV news and online media has brought an excitement in broadcasting and news reporting to the public. However, every communication medium, be it in the form of printed media or electronic, still plays its roles respectively in disseminating information to the public in the form of news reporting.

1.4.1 Difference between Printed and Electronic Media

SELF-CHECK 1.4

In a news broadcast in Buletin Utama, Nor Azlina Ridzuan reports news from the news department, while Karam Singh Walia reports news from the location of the incident. In your opinion, what differentiates their roles?

In whatever form of reporting, the public will have to concentrate on the news being reported in order to understand the contents of the news. Nevertheless, there are factors that make news in the newspaper more complete than news on TV. Compared to TV, news in the printed media presents detailed information and facts. There are some apparent differences between news in the printed and electronic media. Some of the apparent differences between the two types of reporting are shown in Table 1.2:

Table 1.2: Differences between News in the Electronic and Printed Media

Issues	Electronic Media	Printed Media
Extent	News is shorter.	News is longer and in detail.
Writing Style	News is presented in conversation form.	Writing is in a complete and detailed form.
Sentence	Structure Sentence is not necessarily complete. Presenter will use punctuation marks like comma (,) or full stop (.) to indicate a stop.	Sentence is written in a complete form and uses proper grammar.
Transition	It needs a transition from one news item to another. Example: In the meantime. In the same incident…	Does not need a transition to switch from one news item to another, except if the news is in the same column.
Form of News	The news element is presented in linear form. The public is brought to listen from one news item to another. Therefore, the public has to wait for each news item to end before they can listen to the next news item.	The reader can choose to continue reading or turn to another news item according to their interest and priority. The reader can also choose to read news in whichever page they want without flipping it one by one.

In order to understand this topic in detail, please refer to Topic 5, which discusses the writing style in broadcast journalism.

1.5       DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND ITS EFFECT IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM.

The development of information technology and communication (ICT) has greatly influenced the development of news broadcasting. Back then, a film camera was used to record news but today it has been taken over by various lightweight electronic cameras. The new electronic equipment used is called Electronic News Gathering (ENG). ENG is a technology, a concept and is considered a new approach to news gathering, to do news coverages and to present it immediately to the audience. This immediacy is enhanced by new media devices such as laptop News Gathering.

The use of ICT as a journalistic tool can be traced in news reported. Among them is the news coverage of an attempted murder of the American President, Ronald Reagan. In just eight minutes, American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News could broadcast the news throughout America.

The ENG system is seen to have advantages, especially in terms for its speed in the search of news (Cremer et al: 1996). Videotape and digital disc equipment usually can be edited right after the news is recorded. It also has the capacity to provide a flexible editorial service. It can be brought anywhere and news can be wired through microwave and satellite very quickly.

ENG is also able to give an opportunity to journalists to do a live and instant coverage. In general, ENG provides great flexibility to the way news is reported. This has given an effectiveness to organisations in both, operational as well as management of the news department.

New challenges and skills needed, have challenged journalists' scope and editorial processes. The job today, is not limited to the studio but can it also strengthen the relationship between journalists and staff in the technical, administration and management departments. In fact, when the news is reported live using a mobile system, the studio facility would be used for more complex functions to broadcast news. ENG will be discussed in detail in Topic 7. To test your understanding, please answer the following question.

EXERCISE 1.1 What differentiates broadcast journalism and printed media journalism?

ACTIVITY 1.2

3G technology is in the last stage of trial by telecommunications companies in Malaysia. Its aim is to enable users to receive video streaming and texts simultaneously compared to today’s technology, which only enables short texts messages display. How far do you think this technology is able to change broadcast journalism in Malaysia?

- This topic has described the history and background of broadcast journalism as well as its development process in the United States and Malaysia.

- This knowledge is important to help us understand broadcast journalism, which has been defined according to the current perspective.

- This topic has also described the differences between news in the printed media and news in the electronic media or broadcast news.

- The following topic will discuss the criteria of news and broadcast journalism.