Newspaper Structure, Sections, and Journalistic Language
Newspaper Structure
Sections
All newspapers are divided into sections. They always start with the cover, including the head (the most important headline), photographs of the day, and calls (small headlines highlighting notable news inside). These calls, displayed on the first page, always include the page number of the corresponding article. Advertising appears on the cover and inside the newspaper, as it is the primary revenue source for publications.
Inside, the newspaper is divided into sections like international, national, opinion, economy, culture, education, communication, entertainment, society, technology, events, sports, and TV.
Opinion
The opinion section usually appears on the pages including the newspaper’s masthead. These pages include:
- Newspaper editorials: expressing the newspaper’s stance on a topic.
- Opinion articles and columns: presenting a particular person’s opinion on a topical issue.
- Letters to the editor.
Newspaper Types
National
National newspapers have wide distribution, covering most of the country. Their content reflects major national events with varied themes and broad geographical reach. They sometimes have different editions for different regions and an extensive network of international correspondents.
Regional
Regional newspapers focus on events significantly impacting their readers’ territory. They include international and national information from correspondents or agencies, but most of their journalists cover regional news. Some produce special editions for specific localities.
Local/Provincial
Local or provincial newspapers’ coverage area is a particular locality, region, or province. They focus on local events relevant to their readers. Their reach is smaller, but their readership is more homogeneous, making them attractive to local advertisers.
Newspaper Laws
Key laws governing newspapers include:
- The 1978 Constitution, Article 20: Right to truthful information.
- Laws protecting honor, privacy, and self-image, also derived from the Constitution.
- Rectification Law: Obligation to publish corrections.
Journalism Roles and Language
Journalists
- Writers (Desk): Process information from various sources, primarily editing and correcting texts.
- Writers (Street/Reporters): Work outside the newspaper, gathering information and conducting interviews, often specializing in specific topics.
- Correspondents: Journalists based outside the newspaper’s location, sending reports from their area of coverage.
- Special Envoys: Travel to locations with important events to provide unique and in-depth coverage.
- Chroniclers: Experienced journalists with deep knowledge of their reporting areas, working either outside or within the newspaper office.
Journalistic Language
Journalistic writing aims to convey messages effectively to the recipient using concise language without abbreviations. It employs written, spoken, or visual language to engage the reader or audience. Key features include:
- Clarity: Short, straightforward messages.
- Brevity: Precise word choices and conciseness.
- Compressibility, Naturalness, Rhythm, Color: Making the content engaging and entertaining.
- Readability: Using accessible language and design for the target audience.
Effective techniques include short sentences, personal references, names, quotations, and questions to establish connection with the reader. Long sentences and excessive paragraphs should be avoided. A simple sentence structure (Subject + Verb + Predicate) is often preferred.