This presentation is about key issues to consider when reporting/about environment and business news
Media plays a pivotal role in shaping our attitudes towards environment and also providing a platform to debate as to what kind of development we want, thus creating a discourse on and about sustainable development. Mass media facilitates and creates environmental discourse through environmental reporting Hence, the role of media professionals becomes significant. Environment reporters are important source of disseminating information about the environment to the general public and their reportage becomes a key information source for policy makers and the government, while addressing environmental concerns.
2. Environmental reporting – Introduction
• A natural-environment is basic to all creative activity.
• The current rate at which the natural resources are being consumed is
unsustainable.
• The problems of pollution, degradation of natural environment, climate change,
ozone layer depletion, sustainable food production and loss of biodiversity have
put responsibility on each one of us to preserve and protect our environment.
• Forests, coastal regions, wetlands and eco-fragile zones are being over
exploited for the ever-increasing demands of the human population.
• As environmental concerns grow and become more serious, there is a strong
need for a well-informed citizenry to express our concerns about environment
and become proactive in conserving it.
• Environmental reporting has a a major role to play in this scenario. Journalists,
especially those covering environment hope to make people aware about their
relationship with the world they live in.
3. Key Issues for Good Environmental
Reporting
1. Use a brief but definitive title: The title conveys the subject of the report
and thus should convey to the reader the main message of the report/story.
2. Be accurate: Don't misinterpret data and findings. Be accurate in what you
observe and convey.
3. Do necessary homework before going to the field. Prepare in advance
Understand the issue thoroughly.
4. Be easy to understand: Translate environmental and technical jargon into
simple and easy to understand terminology.
5. Find and use diverse sources of information: Talk to more than one person
who are directly or indirectly affected by any environmental change or
accident. Likewise, take more than one scientific view from experts.
6. Fact checking and verification: Investigate records, probe the underlying
causes and check their accuracy.
4. Key Issues for Good Environmental
Reporting
7. Be objective and balanced: Distinguish between facts and beliefs on both
sides of the issue. Talk to all the stakeholders involved to get a balanced
view.
8. Reporting of scientific aspects: Report the science and technical side of the
story carefully, giving latest statistics (if any). Always speak to two or more
experts to cross check facts
9. Provide context and background: Frame the event in a larger context and
place the event in proper perspective to others.
10. Ask critical questions and analyse the issues properly.
11. Make your story interesting and appealing: Make the story interesting by
linking its central idea with everyday life of those who live around the scene.
12. Look for hidden interests: Be it an investigative report you are writing about
or any environmental issue you are deliberating upon.
13. Do follow-up stories.
5. Major Themes in Environmental Reporting
• Climate change and global warning
• Pollution: Air, Water and soil
• Biodiversity loss
• Water crisis
• Plastic & Micro plastic pollution
• E-Waste
6. Specializing in business reporting_1
•Business journalism is a highly specialized and in-demand
field
•As the country advances in its growth, new industry leaders
emerge,
•Highly qualified, specialized journalists are needed to make
sense of what is going on in the business world.
7. Importance of specializing in business reporting
•Business journalism is more than simply a record of how the
markets react to the country's political developments; it's
also a record of how the country is progressing.
•Business journalists are also the observers who keep an eye
on how the government spends the money of investors and
the general public, as well as the expansion of
infrastructure
8. Importance of business news
Provision of Information about Economic Activities
Provides valuable insights
Helps to make subjects understandable
Is an essential part of everyday
Makes Lives Better
9. Source of Business news_1
Good contacts and sources can be made among the
following:
• Bank officers, tellers.
• Savings and loan officials.
• Chamber of Commerce.
• Union leaders.
• Securities dealers.
• Financial analysts.
• Real estate brokers.
10. Source of Business news_2
• Trade organization officials.
• Teachers of business, economics.
• Transportation company officials.
• Federal and state officials in agencies such as the Small
Business Administration, Commerce Department, various
regulatory agencies.
• Employees and former employees.
11. Reading basic economic indicators_1
GDP
Employment/unemployment
Industrial production
Consumer spending
Inflation
Stock market
Consumer price index (CPI)- (Price paid for goods)
Producer Price Index (PPI) - price changes in almost all goods-
producing sectors
Balance of Trade
13. Making business stories relevant to readers_1
• Before you write a story, ask why it might be important or interesting
to ordinary readers — so that you don’t end up writing only for your
sources and experts.
• Accuracy takes precedence over speed. Business news must be
reported as quickly as possible, but above all you must ensure that
figures are accurate and add up.
• avoid writing the story until you understand what the issue is about.
• Objective Be clear in your mind as to what you want to say .
• Put good quotes and human interest angles high in the story.
• Do not report numbers by themselves. numbers only have meaning in
context. Try to look for the bigger, broader picture. Too many
numbers and statistics overwhelm the readers and viewers, becoming
daunting and difficult to comprehend. Avoid using figures that are
not crucial to the story.
14. Making business stories relevant to readers_1
• when writing about economic data, it is not necessary always to put the
numbers in the first paragraph.
• Numbers should be double‐checked before the news is sent for
publishing.
• Put relevant illustrations (graphics, pictures) or anecdotes high in the
story.
• No reporter can be completely impartial, however, and business stories
are often concluded with a reference to the journalist’s individual opinion.
An effort to present every side of the story can eliminate reporter bias in
business stories. so consider and present other perspectives, alternatives,
and all sides to a story. Do not tell just half of the story. Do not hide one
side of the story. Avoid passing judgments and inferences. Let the facts
do the talking and leave the final interpretation to the readers.
• Avoid raising questions that you cannot answer in your copy.
15. Making business stories relevant to readers_1
• It might be about business, but it is still journalism — so find real news
and make it interesting and simple enough for all readers to
understand. There is nothing duller than a business story written in
isolation of the events in the outside world.
• Try to translate economic jargon by using simple, ordinary words rather
than opting for big words, complicated language, and run-on sentences.
• As general rule, when referring to organizations, programs, or people, you
should avoid the use of acronyms and abbreviations and give the full or
partial name of an organization when referencing it for the first time in a
story (e.g. Central European Free trade agreement - ceFta).
• Bring relevant general news into all economic stories.
16. Making business stories relevant to readers_1
• Stories should be directed at a local audience.
• Take extra care when you source information from websites like Wikipedia
and Facebook. Wikipidia and Facebook are useful information sources, but
there is no guarantee that their content is accurate, that facts and figures
are not tampered with and that the information is true to rely on without
harboring fears or doubts.
• Do not rely solely on press releases. Go beyond them! the journalist is not a
porter who transports press releases from the government or companies to
newspapers or television. a good journalist puts the information in a press
release into context and explains the significance of the news to readers.
17. Making business stories relevant to readers_1
• It might be about business, but it is still journalism — so find real news and make it interesting
and simple enough for all readers to understand. There is nothing duller than a business story
written in isolation of the events in the outside world.
• Try to translate economic jargon by using simple, ordinary words rather than opting for big
words, complicated language, and run-on sentences.
• As general rule, when referring to organizations, programs, or people, you should avoid the use of
acronyms and abbreviations and give the full or partial name of an organization when referencing it
for the first time in a story (e.g. Central European Free trade agreement - ceFta).
• Bring relevant general news into all economic stories.
• Stories should be directed at a local audience.
• Take extra care when you source information from websites like Wikipedia and Facebook. Wikipidia
and Facebook are useful information sources, but there is no guarantee that their content is
accurate, that facts and figures are not tampered with and that the information is true to rely on
without harboring fears or doubts.
• Do not rely solely on press releases. Go beyond them! the journalist is not a porter who transports
press releases from the government or companies to newspapers or television. a good journalist puts
the information in a press release into context and explains the significance of the news to readers.
18. Making business stories relevant to readers
Think of 5w’s and 1H
Authenticity
Have a clear objective
Editor's Notes
Media plays a pivotal role in shaping our attitudes towards environment and also providing a platform to debate as to what kind of development we want, thus creating a discourse on and about sustainable development. Mass media facilitates and creates environmental discourse through environmental reporting Hence, the role of media professionals becomes significant. Environment reporters are important source of disseminating information about the environment to the general public and their reportage becomes a key information source for policy makers and the government, while addressing environmental concerns.
This is an increasingly important field of journalism
Business reporting covers such areas as industry and agriculture, commerce, finance and economics
People want to know The ways wealth is created and distributed,
At first sight it may seem a very complicated area - full of theories, rules and numbers - you can report it well as long as you remember some simple principles.
This is an increasingly important field of journalism
Business reporting covers such areas as industry and agriculture, commerce, finance and economics
People want to know The ways wealth is created and distributed,
At first sight it may seem a very complicated area - full of theories, rules and numbers - you can report it well as long as you remember some simple principles.
Business journalists inform practitioners, the general public, other business experts, and investors about corporations and economic activity. They play a critical role in information sharing, allowing consumers to make well-informed decisions about which companies to do business with, invest in, or work for.
Business journalism does more than only inform us about business, money, and other relevant topics. This branch of journalism exists to maintain tabs on society's most powerful organizations, especially corporations, and their growing influence. Business journalists will always be able to tell us what firms are looking for when they employ, which companies are having difficulty hiring or managing their funds/issues, and whether firms meet their promises or not. Essentially, business journalism may provide us with significant information on a variety of topics, not only business, through research and tracking, even if these topics are not the primary focus.
As previously stated, business journalism is capable of informing and demonstrating everything we need to know about large organizations, businesses, and corporations. However, if we were given that information in its raw form, as journalists do, we wouldn't be able to make much sense of it. This is because, despite the fact that economics and business are two of the most powerful forces shaping our lives, they are often mysterious or hidden. As a result, we, the general public, are frequently duped, lied to, and duped into believing something we don't want to believe. Business journalism has the ability to reveal to us the information that governs our lives in a way that we can comprehend and analyze.
Business Journalism encompasses practically everything; nevertheless, it can also be viewed as the core of every big story around the world. Even if these tales are not about business, they can be related to it. It goes without saying that all of the foregoing is based on finance, business, and economics and that business journalism will almost certainly continue to cover tales like these in the future. Business journalists will track, analyze, and document everything that has anything to do with money and economics. Even influencers are likely to be the subject of these case studies, especially in light of recent evidence that most influencers are worthless without a corporation to back them up.
Because they are committed to seeking the truth and delivering it to the public, business journalists are required to deliver a balanced viewpoint. The Business News serves a purpose in people's lives. As a result, it provides people with the most up-to-date information possible so that they may make well-informed decisions in all parts of their lives.
An economic indicator is a piece of economic data, usually of macroeconimic scale, that is used by analysts to interpret current or future investment possibilities. These indicators also help to judge the overall health of an economy.
Balance of trade is a lagging indicator. It’s the net difference between a country’s value of imports and exports and shows whether there is a trade surplus or a trade deficit.
https://tradingeconomics.com/indicators
When interest rates increase, borrowers are more reluctant to take out loans. This discourages consumers from taking on debt and businesses from expanding, and as a result, GDP growth may become stagnant.
If interest rates are too low, that can lead to an increased demand for money and raise the likelihood of inflation. Raising inflation can distort the economy and the value of its currency. Current interest rates are indicative of the economy’s current condition, and can also suggest where the economy might be headed.
Currency strength is a lagging indicator. When a country has a strong currency, its purchasing and selling power with other nations is increased. A country with a strong currency can import products at a cheaper rate and sell its products overseas at higher foreign prices. However, when a country has a weaker currency, it can draw in more tourists and encourage other countries to buy its goods since they are cheaper.
Manufacturing is a leading economic indicator. Durable goods orders are an indicator of manufacturing activity. The term “durable goods” refers to consumer products that usually aren’t replaced for at least a few years, such as refrigerators and cars.
Income and wages are lagging indicators. When the economy is operating properly, earnings should increase to keep up with the average cost of living
Parameters will help you develop an engaging story that makes sense to your audience. Set the scene so that consumers know exactly what you’re talking about. Most importantly, establish why you’re telling them this story. This will guide the audience through the narrative and hook them all the way to the end.
Who is telling the story?
Why is the story being told?
When and where is the story taking place?
Who are the people in the story?
What are the people trying to achieve?
What challenges are faced?
Where is this happening/going to happen?
How can we engage/avoid?
A genuine narrative is more likely to connect with consumers than one without a shred of truth.
A great business story leaves your audience with something. What lesson was learned in the story, and what should consumers learn from hearing it? Provide a hopeful, thought-provoking message with actionable points that compel your audience to connect with your brand.
