By: Terfa Naswem
From my experience as a journalist and a researcher, I have seen a lot of reports, news, research works, and articles among others where writers lack the basic knowledge of news and research writing.
Journalism and research writing practices have principles and ethics that make your work reliable, credible and valid.
In news writing in relation to information usage, we have First Hand Account, Second Hand Account and Third Hand Account of information.
First Hand Account is when the Journalist or reporter is directly involved in the observation of an event or situation and has a first- hand account of the event or situation.
Second Hand Account is when a journalist or a reporter gets information from those present at a scene of an event or situation or from eye witnesses.
Third Hand Account is when a journalist or a reporter gets information that has been filtered through a second person. Such information is considered the type in which an eye witness tells someone about an event who then tells a journalist or a reporter.
In giving attribution to your source of information, there are six (6) basic types of attribution that must be taken into account:
1. ON THE RECORD: all that is said can be quoted and attributed.
2. UNATTRIBUTABLE: what is said can be reported but not attributed.
3. OFF THE RECORD: the information is provided to inform a decision or provide a confidential explanation, not for publication.
4. NOT FOR ATTRIBUTION: The comments may be quoted directly, but the source may only be identified in general terms (e.g., “a government insider”). In practice such general descriptions may be agreed with the interviewee.
5. ON BACKGROUND: The thrust of the briefing may be reported (and the source characterized in general terms as above) but direct quotes may not be used.
6. DEEP BACKGROUND: the information may not be included in the article but is used by the journalist to enhance his or her view of the subject matter or to act as a guide to other leads or sources. Most deep background information is confirmed elsewhere before being reported.
In order to make your reports and information to be reliable, credible and valid, you must apply the core principles of news writing and at all times give attribution to your information.
When I read certain news stories and information on facebook, I don’t just comment until I am sure of the reliability and credibility of the source. I always ask writers on facebook about their sources because since information on facebook is not regulated or censored, anybody can write anything and post on facebook to create confusion.
I appreciate UKAN KURUGH, PROMISE UZOMA OKORO, and AUGUSTINE ANYANWU among others who have been doing very well in their online journalism which I have closely observed. May God give you all the grace to continue the good work.
CITIZEN JOURNALISM, THE VOICES OF ALL
