ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF A NEWSPAPER
#Introduction to – Reporting Skills#
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Structure of The Lesson :
5.0 Objective
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Definition
5.3 Qualities of Reporter
5.4 Classification of Reporters
5.5 Summing Up
5.6 Self Assessment Questions
5.7 References
5.1 Introduction :
The organisational structure and culture of newsrooms in India’s newspapers militate against the effective application of readership research recommendations. A lack of communication between and within departments, fear of the loos of editorial independence, and the absence of adequate review funcitons in leadership roles condemns to continuing failure to implement recommended content changes.
Indian newspapers are confronted by the same visceral problem that confronts newspapers around the world – declining circulations. As circulations fail to keep pace with population growth, newspa-pers everywhere are forced to ask themselves: What are we doing wrong? The answers to that question are manifold and far from unanimous. Reasons proposed for falling circulation range from competition from other media (most recently the internet), to declining levels of literacy among the population in general, to the proposition that newspapers represent a “mature” industry approaching its sunset. This lesson aims to show the effectiveness of organisational structure which exists in Indian newsrooms.
Most Indian newspaper organisations reflect a top-down management approach typical of large organisations. They provide a generally clear line of command, with line managers reporting upwards to their immediates superiors, and they are generally highly Departmentalized. Ultimate authority generally lies with the owner and is delegated through a publisher to a chief executive officer, and then on to indi-vidual line managers. Although there is no such thing as a “typical” Indian newspaper organisation. the major publishers of newspapers in India share many of the characteristics of a “generic” model which could be characterised by the following table.
OWNER/Publisher
CEO
Advertising Manager – Editor – Production Manager – Distributor./Circulation Manager
(Individual department structures)
In a “normal” management structure, an organization like that above would have executives in each level of management reporting to the executive in the level above. In the Editorial Department, then, editorial executive would report to the editor or editor-in-chief, if one existed.
But to whom does the editor report?
The structure would indicate that the editor reports to the chief executive officer, as do the other line managers. In many day-to-day bureaucratic issues, such a line of reporting is efficient and sensible. A newspaper’s editor is deemed to have total control over the content of the paper, ensuring a church/state
type of division between the editorial functions of the paper and the commercial functions of the paper. Such a division is necessary because the “public responsibility” role of a news media organisation can sometimes conflict with its commercial aims. But if the editor is the final arbiter on editorial content that implies seniority over other line managers such as the advertising manager and production manger – and a blurring of the chain of communication and between the editor and those above.
If the organisational structure of Indian newspapers provides the capacity for conflict upwards over editorial content between the editor and the editor’s superiors, it also provides the capacity for conflict downwards between the editor and the editor’s staff. A typical newspaper editorial department could be characterized by the following table.
Editor
Assistant editor (s)
Department editors – Chief of Staff – Chief Sub-editor
Copytasters – Chief Reporter – Copy tasters
Reporters – Reporters – Sub-editors
5.2 Definition :
In this paper, the term copytaster is used to describe any senior journalist who has come influence on the stories that get into print or that are discarded. It is meant to include journalists from the “rank” of chief reporter/senior reporter up through department heads for departments like Features, Finance and Sport, to chiefs of staff and chief sub-editors, to associate editors and assistant editors, up to editors in chief. The key to inclusion in the term lies in individual having some control over the publishability of a report, It is not meant to include reporters who may decide to report or not report on an issue, or sub-editors who have control over the size or positioning of a story once it has been assigned to a page.
If an editor wants to respond to audience research findings by implementing change in the paper’s content mix, that change with largely be implemented at the level of the copy taster the journalist respon-sible for deciding that a story is atleast worthy of being brought to the attention of the daily news confer-ence, or of filling a space left open on a page. But as Figure 2 shows, there can be three and even more organisational layers between the editor and the copy-tasters. In small newspapers, where the copy-tasting function might be performed solely by department heads, or the chief of staff/chief sub-editor, the number of layers can be reduced, but even that will not improve the chances of research recommenda-tions being implemented unless other conditions are present. One of those conditions is communication in the newsroom.
5.3 Qualities of Reporter :
A reporter’s job is full of responsibilities; therefore, he is required to possess some of the qualities enumerated below:
- Talent to Understand:
A reporter is expected to have a common talent to have a grasp on various social prob lems. If he doesn’t understand the depth of an event, the news reports sent by him would lack the punch. A reporter can be compared with the mythological character ‘Narada’. Any situation a reporter faces, he can reach its depth and roots through his ingenuity and inquisitiveness. A reporter has to take help of his wits to each at the roots of any event.
- Sharp Eyes and Ears :
Ability to view the scenes keenly and listening to the whispering is another quality that makes an efficient reporter. Lacking this sense, he won’t be able to understand the depth and importance of any event and he would not be able to dig out the real impact of such an event.
- Nose for News :
A dexterous news-reporter can feel the importance of even an ordinary event and present it in the context of its significance. His research in this respect gives new turn to the news.
- Emphasis to know, Curiosity, Responsibility :
A reporter who is curious to know the things and who understand his responsibility to go in details can bring elegance to the art of reporting. Lacking these basic qualities the sharp ness of his reports also becomes dull. A reporter is responsible for the authenticity of the news covered by him; therefore the qualities enumerated above make him an authentic and responsible reporter.
- Reliability, Boldness and Truthfulness :
A reporter is supposed to be reliable. He meets with various persons to meet his profes sional requirements. At times, some people come forward at their own and give news, but they want to remain anonymous. A true reporter accepts all these challenges, doesn’t give in to pressures and he cannot be lured by any temptations. He doesn’t compromise and he cannot be lured by any temptations. He doesn’t compromise with his responsibility under any circumstances and at any price.
- Unlimited Resources for News :
A reporter has to disposal unlimited resources; therein only the necessity to know them and seek the possibilities.
- Knowledge of Geographical work Limit :
Every reporter should know his jurisdiction; what shape he wants to give to his work? He is supposed to limit his reporting to a pre determined level of his reporting on cultural activities, sports, commerce and trade, education and such other fields.
- Knowledge to evaluate News Value :
News published in the morning newspaper becomes stable by the evening. Delay in reporting news can has its effect on the news values. In this age of information technol ogy, the information undergoes changes from moment-to-moment. A reporter, under such conditions is required to make evalution of news in the context of present and future possibilities.
- Enlarged Studyy Field :
News reporter is expected to keep himself abreast in the context of day-to-day events. There should be coordination between what he reports and the events. The vast the area of his coverage, the better will be his presentation.
- Enlarged Study Field :
Besides its authenticity, if a newspaper’s style of reporting has a touch of style, it attracts more readerships. It has direct effect on circulation as well.
- Introduction to Different Parts of Knowledge :
A reporter has to apply various methods and means to get to the roots of an event. He has to apply all the techniques like a teacher, psychiatrist, police, lawyers and detectives to dig out the truth. He can extract the truth of any matter by making his personal contacts with the people in every possible way.
This way, if a reporter possesses the qualities enumerated above, he can become a pillar of the newspaper he works for.
5.4 Classification of Reporters :
The classification of reporters can be clarified under the points mentioned below.
Official Reporter :
These are the reporters who are closely related to the office of a newspaper; their main responsibility is to compile and analyse the news received from various reporters.
Special Correspondent :
The readers expect not only news, but also its details, background and possibilities, News is a mere description of an event. A special correspondent goes deeper in the basic facts, various aspects of an event and makes analysis based on the related matters. He also evaluates these facts in the overall context of the society.
Local Correspondent :
The correspondents covering the small areas are called the local correspondents. They have a good hold on the local activities and affairs.
Foreign correspondent :
The reporters feeding in the foreign activities are called the foreign correspondents. Specialists are generally employed on this job, as the situation demands. Such a correspondent analyses the event and feeds back the information as per the subject matter. He also predicts the consequences and works as ears, eyes and advisor of the editor.
Apart from the Editor, every newspaper organization has various other journalists, whose appoint-ments and duties are given below.
Editor :
An editor is the person who examines and directs the work related to the editorial department. He is the head of the editorial department and is considered responsible for any material published in the newspa-pers. The ‘1867 Press and Registration of Book Act’ states that it is mandatory to publish the name of the editor on every edition of a newspaper. An editor calls for a meeting with his associate editors to decide the subject the editorial is to be written. He signs the job of writing editorial to his associates depending upon their specifications in a particular field.
Joint Editor :
He carries out the duty of the Editor in the absence of the incumbent. He also assists the Editor in his daily routine work.
Assistant Editor :
An Assistant Editor is directly related to the views. His responsibility is to write leading articles, editorial comments, features analyses of national and international events, perspective of the far-reaching aspects of the government policies & plans, their analysis and guidance of the public in this context and expressing the views in conformity with the policy of the newspaper. In addition, he is responsible to analyse the literary and cultural activities; therefore, he is required to be a keen student, thoughtful, sunsible and logical person.
News Editor :
A News Editor is responsible for all the news published in all the editions of a newspaper. He super-vises the works of the newspaper department. A News Editor is the backbone of any newspaper. He coordi-nates all the activities of the staff of the newspaper department and also gives necessary advice and direc-tions. For the analysis and arrangement of the news collected through various news reporters, there are joint news editors to assist him in his daily routine.
Special Correspondent :
A special correspondent occupies an important place among the other journalists. He is not tied to the daily routine of the other correspondents and works independently. He views the various aspects and forms of life at the expense of the others. He is confined to a special field alone. An editor or news editor has no control over the special correspondent. Special correspondents get opportunities for accompanying the prominent leaders or other important personalities in the press conference. The analysis of the national and international events is generally done by the special correspondents.
Chief Sub-Edtor :
Chief Sub-Editor assigns and allocates works to various sub-editors working under him and also coordinates and supervises their work. His duties include classification the collected news, distribution of collected, news to sub-editors, examining the copies of the sub-editors, determining the lead, selection of the news page-wise, etc. Making available to the press the material for the first page is the most important task of the Chief Sub-Editor; he has to be alert to collect the latest and important news.
Sub Editor :
A Sub Editor is a presenter of news and reports. His responsibility includes, selecting important points from the mass material sent by the news reporters and condenses them, giving a shape in a logical and interesting way. He has to give suitable headlines and where necessary, revise and condense the mate-rial to suit the available space. Some of the news agencies disseminate news in English only, which have to be translated in the language of the original newspaper. The Sub editor has to select the importance points, while doing so.
The other staff working under the editorial department is as under:
Leader writer :
The writer who writes regularly for a newspaper. He also sends news reports on reactions. analysis and criticism, etc.
Chief Reporters :
He is the head of all the reporters working for all the branches of the publication. He leads his associates, supervises their tasks and also collects news himself.
Sports Editor :
He is the head of the sports department of the newspaper. He is responsible for providing feedback on the various sports events. His main responsibility is to collect the news on various sports activities and the news related to it.
Financial Editor :
He is responsible to collect and analyses the news related to professions, finance, business and industry, etc. He analyses such news and make critical comments on them. He sub-divides the work to the sub-editors also.
Film Editor :
He is the head of the film department of the newspaper. His job is the selection and analysation of the news related to films. He also supervises the taks of the journalist under him.
Sunday Editor :
He is the head of the literature department and is responsible for the Sunday page as well. He is responsible to select the material for the Sunday edition and also to supervise and direct the staff under him.
Cartoonist :
He does the work of caricature on the current topics or events. A cartoonist is the identity of a newspaper.
Press Photographer :
His job is to take photograph of various current events and send the photographs to the newspaper. A press photographer is expected to have a keen eye for detail. Dexterity of a photography brings reputation to the newspaper.
Artist :
It is the task of an Artist to prepare drawings, layout, maps and graphs etc for the newspaper.
Rewrite Man :
He is responsiible to receive the news through the phone and rewrite them. An expert rewrite man writes the news as if he was present at the scene of the news.
Librarian :
He is responsible to take care and keep in custody various news reports, articles, features, books, autographs and barographs of important personalities which are helpful for writing news reports.
5.5 SUMMING UP:
Today, the newspaper is a corporate institute. Depending upon the size of the newspaper whether large, medium or small the organizational structure of the newspaper is planned. Every newspaper has various departments and the editorial department is the nerve centre of the newspaper. The editorial depart-ment is headed by an Editor and followed by a hierarchy with reporters and subeditors which are discussed in the lesson in detail.
However, without the marketing and circulation departments the editorial department alone cannot function in isolate. The team work of these three department gives credibility and profits to the newspaper.
5.6 Self Assessment Questions :
- Explain the hierarchical setup of an editorial department in a newspaper organization and the responsibilities of the editor?
- What are the functions of the subeditors and reporters?
