Product Description

Product Description
Writing and Reporting the News, Third Edition, is a comprehensive and accessible introductory text for journalism students. Jerry Lanson and Mitchell Stephens provide thorough instruction on writing and reporting, hundreds of examples of good and bad writing and extensive opportunities to apply their advice through practical exercises. Based on the authors' careers as journalists and journalism professors--and on the experience of dozens of other first-rate reporters--this unique textbook/workbook gives students a clear, logical introduction to the craft of journalism. The book is designed to accomplish three goals:

* to teach clear, concise and accurate writing
* to teach students how to find reliable information about newsworthy events and issues and how to set this information within an understandable and meaningful context
* to explain the workings of print, online and broadcast newsrooms and how the gathering and delivery of news are changing in today's increasingly digital and cross-media age

Discussions and examples have been updated throughout for this new edition. A new section covers writing for the Internet, and the authors have also added boxed sections in which reporters offer tips on how to cover specific types of stories and beats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book for learning journalism
This book helps to each introductory journalism.It gives great examples from newspapers and the author takes time to explain what the problems that journalist have with writing the news.

Well Done!!!
I needed this item for a college course and although it took a little longer than I expected, the customer service that I was able to contact replied to me promptly and made sure I received my shipment before too long.

Easy to understand
It's easy to understand and they give good simple examples to show the concept in the chapter.There are also exercises at the end of every chapter -- so you can practice.

A good introductory overview
Without question this is the best introductory journalism textbook on the market.I have used it in my classes for several years.The chapters are short but informative, andthe exercises realistic.Primarily focussed on print, the discussion of broadcast journalism is sounder than that found in many books dedictaed to that subject. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to teach how to gather, write, and edit news stories, The Complete Reporter discusses the techniques that are used every day in the news business. Through a combination of descriptive text, examples, demonstrations, and exercises, this book makes fundamental concepts clear while instilling task-specificnews and feature story writing skills. Along with introducing students to basic discussions about the field of reporting and basic writing, editing, and design skills, this text provides them with key guidelines and tips for writing general and specialty stories (see Parts IV-VII).Practical exercises throughout each chapter give readers experience with realistic writing situations. Based on actual newspaper articles, the exercises present a series of reporter's notes prepared at the scene of a story. Usable facts, libelous and/or unethical statements, and trivial tidbits are lumped together in order to test and help build judgment skillsand abilitities to create tightly woven stories from a jumble of information. For anyone interested in basic news writing and reporting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must for anybody wanting to write news.
I've read the fifth edition and found it to not have the number of typos other reviewers found in the 7th Ed., so I presume the typos were intentional as is common among publishers to protect their copyrights.

At any rate, this book is intended for the journalism student. It can get somewhat dry. In such a setting one can't expect cotton candy and Reese Peanut Butter Cups!

The people that can best benefit by reading this text are the people at your local weekly newspaper and the reporters for Fox News Corporation. Objectivity and source attribution are sadly lacking at many community newspapers, at Fox News and at Al Jazeera. Okay, that's a bit harsh. But I digress.

When I was younger I obtained more than two years college credit simply by obtaining business books, reading them, and working each and every exercise at the end of each chapter and then taking College Level Eaxamintions through CLEP. This book is one in which the reader could do likewise and obtain at least sufficient knowledge to earn one year credit.

Then, even if you choose not to enter the workforce as a news gatherer, writer or editor, at least you would have an appreciation for the process.

I highly recommend this book for anyone involved in writing news or features or for those who interface with newspeople.

I have mixed feelings about this book.
This book has plenty of important information and it presents it in a simple way with concrete examples.That's good.HOWEVER, the edition I had was absolutely riddled with typos, misspellings, and incorrect punctuation.It's hard to take this book about newswriting fundamentals seriously, when one of the fundamentals - accuracy - is so obviously not a priority.Also, I'm not sure that a book is the best way to teach writing, at least this kind of writing.I fell way behind in the reading, but I still got an A in the class.I learned much more from On Writing Well by Zinsser than I did from this book. ... Read more

Product Description
TV news provides the most compelling and persuasive source of information on earth. Whatever field you work in, the news affects your life. To protect yourself, more effectively tell your story, and advance your own agenda using television, you must understand the process.News professionals and students planning a career in television face a different challenge. Today's economy pressures news departments to produce more with less. You must offer greater versatility and depth of skills to keep the job you have, or get the job you want.Part One of this book details the language, style, and techniques of TV news writing, enabling you to control the flow of information, avoid creating an adversarial relationship with news media, and get your message across in your words.Part Two presents tough decisions you'll make about personal goals, family, relationships, and integrity illustrated through the author's own confrontation with those choices. He's been fired, gave away a #1 job in a top-ten market because it wasn't worth the cost, and struggled to balance career and family while learning the most important lesson of all: you carve your professional and personal life with choices. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Advice and Storytelling
If you are interested in a career in TV news, or just want to know what really happens "behind the scenes," this is the place to start.

For would-be TV newsers, Steve's straightforward advice for skill building provides you with insights that you can't learn in school.
His storytelling style is "tell it like it is."He doesn't hold back in giving you a sense of what the newsroom life is really like.

If you grew up in the Detroit area watching Steve on TV, you will like hearing what really happened to him. ... Read more

Product Description
Using examples, models and exercises, this workbook introduces the electronic media student to the theoretical and practical aspect of radio-TV news writing, covering style techniques, methods and mechanics. It also covers major legal and ethical concerns in radio-TV news writing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great intro text for the broadcast student
A good primer and practice guide for the beginning broadcast journalism student.Excellent glossary and exercises to help students master the art of writing for the broadcast medium. ... Read more

Product Description
Teaching by example through vivid writing, Professor Mencher shows students the fundamentals of reporting and writing news in this new edition of a classic text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

No book received.
I ordered this book at least three weeks ago at pre-registration. The dates listed are NOT ACCURATE. I still have no book. Every time I pulled up status, it said a different date of arrival. I have homework and no book. The seller's dates are NOT ACCURATE. I could have driven to get it from the destination much faster. NO BOOK YET.

Very insightful
This book helps tremendously for those interested in what makes a story as in how to structure a story. I had to purchase this for a news writing class but I do not plan to ever sell this. Since I am a Broadcast Journalism major, I know this will come in handy throughout my career. I think this is essential for any person who is studying this field, wants to get in the field, is interested in the field and for those who may already be working in the field. It has essential elements to help you discover stories you never thought were news worthy.

A must read for every aspiring journalist
The book is easy to read and gives lots of tips about reporting and news writing. The CD-ROM contains many more examples about good news writing. Certainly a good book.

Melvin Mencher's News Reporting & Writing - 10th Edition
I was required to buy this book for a journalism class I am taking.I found the book fascinating after only the first couple of chapters.It is well written.Definitely not your typical bland, boring text book.The style and format of the book makes the subject matter interesting and holds your attention.Although I am still new to journalism, I foresee using this book as a reference for my entire career.

A LifeSaver
I purchased this book on-line for my niece who is attending junior college.She told me that Amazon is amazing and the book was in EXCELLENT condition. She also, appreciated how quickly it arrived!! ... Read more

Product Description
This teach yourself CD-ROM and book enables students to learn the basics on their own.New teaching tools put students to work, but let them proceed at their own pace, and let them run stroll or walk through a series of exercises on screen.They can take these exercises whenever and as often as they wish.Each round of exercises is a learning experience.Students learn the Dos and Don'ts, Cans and Cant's, Musts and Mustn'ts.They learn them and learn how to apply them with a relaxed approach.This breakthrough training program can be used in the classroom, in the newsroom, and by broadcast writers on their own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Get it, it's worth it
This is a great book for anyone interested in becoming a better newswriter.It's easy to read, easy to understand, and even funny at times. You learn all the basics and the rules not to break when writing newsstories.I work at a news/talk radio station in upstate NY.I'm not onthe air yet but I write news stories for the anchors every day.The newsdirector was shocked and suprised at the quality of my writing since I hadno previous experience in radio news.Writing news can be hard but it'ssimple if you follow the rules taught in this book.

Great writing practicum at your fingertips
This book is extremely informative and convenient for the aspiring journalist who desires to break in the competitive industry of tv news. The material is comprehensive and effective. Students and professionals canbenefit from the demanding exercises this amazing text offers. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing on the insights and experiences of reporters, anchors, producers, assignment editors, web journalists, graphic artists, and newsroom executives from across the country, Writing and Producing Television News: From Newsroom to Air is not merely a production manual, but rather a guide to newsroom writing and producing. The book immerses students in the everyday challenges that face journalists in professional television newsrooms, largely through the device of a fictional town called Lakedale, where many of the examples and exercises are set.

From the very beginning of the book students are thrust into the roles of decision makers, learning about the many factors that will enable them to function as producers and reporters. Functioning as both a text- and a workbook, it integrates dozens of original examples, exercises, and assignments covering a broad spectrum of material, from breaking news to features. The book also introduces a wide range of story formats, from simple anchor readers and voiceovers to such complex structures as sound-bite stories and news packages. In addition to scriptwriting, the exercises and assignments cover such ancillary areas as graphics, headlines, teases, newscast organization, live reporting, web-based journalism, and anchoring, as well as news judgments and ethical decision making.
Writing and Producing Television News is an ideal text for undergraduate courses in broadcast journalism. ... Read more

Product Description
This book offers readers a real reporter's guide to using the Web for reporting. Taking a comprehensive approach to the evolving field of online journalism, this book discusses such topics as how to set up an online journalism program, using the Web for a full array of online journalism, and launching an online journalism site. With the experience of an author who is a practicing professional and an instructor in the field of online journalism, this text provides readers with everything they need to know to be successful in the fastest growing occupational field for today's journalists. For those involved with online journalism. ... Read more