Journalism genres Facts for Kids

Journalism genres are different styles or types of writing used by journalists to tell stories about events. Think of them as different ways to present information, whether it's a quick news update or a deep dive into a topic.

Sometimes, newspapers and magazines have special articles called feature stories. These are often longer than regular news reports. Journalists who write features focus on making the story interesting and creative, not just reporting facts. They often use photos or drawings to make the article more appealing.

Writing a feature story can be tricky. A journalist still needs to get all the facts right, just like with a news story. But they also have to find a fun and engaging way to write it. The first part of the story, called the lead (or lede), is super important. It needs to grab your attention right away and give you a good idea of what the article is about.

In the past, there was a clear difference between straight news and feature writing. But today, journalists often mix these styles. Some news shows on TV even try new ways of presenting information. However, most newspapers, TV, and radio news still keep news and features separate.

Types of Journalism
Other Genres
See also

Types of Journalism

Ambush Journalism: Unexpected Questions

Ambush journalism is when journalists suddenly confront people with questions. They do this in places like homes, vacation spots, or parking lots. The person might not want to talk to the journalist. It's like catching someone off guard.

This style was first used by Mike Wallace on the TV show 60 Minutes. Later, Geraldo Rivera and Bill O'Reilly also used it. They would often target people who disagreed with their views.

Using ambush interviews raises questions about what is fair in journalism. Some people think it's wrong because it can feel rude or like an abuse of power. Others say it should only be used if a journalist has tried every other polite way to get an interview and failed. If an ambush interview only gets a "no comment," showing it on TV might just be for drama, not real news.

Celebrity Journalism: All About Famous People

Celebrity journalism focuses on famous people like actors, singers, or members of royal families. This type of reporting is often found in tabloid magazines. It sometimes involves paparazzi who take photos without permission.

Churnalism: News from Press Releases

Churnalism is a term for journalism that mostly uses information from press releases or news agencies. This means the journalist doesn't do much original research or fact-checking. They just "churn out" the news from what they are given. This term was made popular by Nick Davies.

Gonzo Journalism: The Journalist is Part of the Story

Gonzo journalism is a unique style made famous by writer Hunter S. Thompson. In this type of journalism, the writer doesn't try to be objective. Instead, they become a part of the story themselves. They share their own experiences and feelings.

Gonzo journalism often uses strong language and doesn't follow traditional writing rules. It mixes ideas from pop culture, sports, politics, and literature. It's a very personal and often wild way of reporting. You can still find this style in magazines like Rolling Stone.

Investigative Journalism: Digging for the Truth

Investigative journalism is about deeply researching and uncovering hidden truths. Journalists doing this work often look into unethical, immoral, or illegal actions by people, businesses, or governments.

This type of journalism can be very complex and expensive. It might take teams of journalists months of research, many interviews, and travel. They might use computers to analyze large amounts of data or legal help to get documents.

Because it costs a lot and can be confrontational, investigative reporting is sometimes cut from budgets. If done poorly, it can also lead to problems for the journalists. But when done well, it can bring important issues to public attention. It can also win awards for the journalists and news organizations involved.

New Journalism: Storytelling with Facts

New Journalism was a style of writing popular in the 1960s and 1970s. It used literary techniques that were new for news writing at the time. Tom Wolfe helped define this term.

This style uses storytelling methods like:

Conversational speech
First-person point of view (the writer says "I")
Including everyday details
Telling the story through different scenes

Even though it sounds like fiction, New Journalism still sticks to the facts. The writer is the main source of information. To understand what a person was thinking or feeling, the journalist would simply ask them. This style is often used for longer feature articles or books. Many New Journalists also wrote fiction. Famous writers like Norman Mailer, Hunter S. Thompson, and Joan Didion used this style.

Opinion Journalism: Sharing a Viewpoint

Opinion journalism is different because it shares a subjective viewpoint. This means the writer expresses their own thoughts or feelings. Often, it takes a political stance on a current issue.

Science Journalism: Explaining Complex Ideas

Science journalists need to understand very detailed and technical information. Then, they must explain it in a way that is easy for everyone to understand. They choose which new scientific discoveries are important enough for the news.

They also cover disagreements within the scientific community fairly. However, science journalism has sometimes been criticized for making small disagreements seem bigger than they are. It can also be criticized for presenting guesses as facts.

Sports Journalism: More Than Just Games

Sports journalism covers many parts of human athletic competition. It's a big part of most news, including newspapers, magazines, and TV. Some people don't think sports journalism is "true" journalism. But sports are so important in many cultures that journalists pay a lot of attention to them. They cover not just the games, but also the athletes and the business side of sports.

In the United States, sports journalism often has a more creative and opinionated style. But it still focuses on being accurate and fair. It's also important to accurately describe the statistics and performances of athletes.

Other Genres

Advocacy journalism
Citizen journalism
Comics journalism
Community journalism
Data journalism
Drone journalism
Enterprise journalism
Entertainment journalism
Environmental journalism
Fashion journalism
Innovation journalism
Medical journalism
Online journalism
Participatory Media
Photojournalism
Service journalism
Social news
Society reporting
Solutions journalism
Trade journalism
Video journalism
Video game journalism

Journalism genres facts for kids

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