1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY

The core journalism 47
journalist to establish the scale of the problem, and gauge
whether a story should be written at all. Second, the student
representative can be quoted as an authoritative source because of
their knowledge and elected position. Without this, unless the
complaint is dramatic or unique, you will get the dreaded ‘so what’
response from your readers. Two students are up in arms about
their accommodation – so what?
This does not mean that the individual view has no place in any
story. Journalism that relied solely on the representative view
would be bland and colourless. People want to read and hear
about people. They want the eye-witness and personal account. It
is the human condition. Effective journalism humanizes stories
whenever appropriate and possible.
The individual view can be used most effectively if it is
demonstrably representative of a wider concern. You need both
perspectives. It is a little like a bottle of lemonade. The liquid is the
representative view, the individual accounts are the fizz. If you put
your nose in the fizz, but don’t drink the liquid, it is unsatisfying,
insubstantial and irritatingly ticklish. If you drink a liquid that is
lacking fizz . . . well, we all know what flat lemonade tastes like.
Be confident
Journalists must begin with the belief that they will get the story,
i.e. with confidence in their own abilities. This does not mean that
only screaming extroverts will become successful journalists.
Most editors like a balanced ticket on their news team – some who
will stick their foot in the door, but others who are more reflective.
The latter are less prone to a common affliction among reporters
– the knee-jerk association (see the next section). However, even
the quiet types need the determination and the self-confidence to
be able to pick up the phone and ask someone awkward questions.
Journalists must feel able to challenge any viewpoint. To do so
successfully, they must be well briefed and confident.
Keep an open mind
‘Assume’ should be a banned word in all newsrooms. Assuming
what the reader wants, assuming the best angle of your story,