MJM 021
Reporting Techniques
Indira Gandhi National Open University
(School of Journalism and New Media Studies)
Block
3
BEAT REPORTING-1
UNIT 9
Political Reporting 115
UNIT 10
Crime Reporting 136
UNIT 11
Sports Reporting 154
UNIT 12
Legal Reporting 168
113
,BLOCK INTRODUCTION:
BEAT REPORTING- 1
This block has four units and it deals with the different beats of reporting. It
discusses various aspects of four reporting beats - political reporting, crime reporting,
sports reporting and legal reporting.
Unit 9: Political Reporting discusses how to cover political news. It talks about
various aspects of political reporting. A political reporter should have complete
knowledge of the country’s political system. This unit also provides brief information
about India’s political system. In this unit, political newsgathering, sources and
writing have also been discussed.
Unit 10: Crime Reporting focuses on coverage and presentation of crime related
news. Importance, types and trends of crime reporting are discussed in this unit.
In addition to this, the unit also explains the sources of crime reporting and the
characteristics of a good crime reporter.
Unit 11: Sports Reporting discusses various aspects of sports journalism. This
unit describes the reporting of sports news for various media (print, radio, TV and
online) as well as discusses the writing of sports news. The skills and qualities
required for a good sports reporter and the emerging trends of sports reporting are
also included in this unit.
Unit 12: Legal Reporting explains the important aspects of court reporting. This
unit talks about the importance of legal reporting, its methods and the precautions
to be taken therein. Apart from this, some important legal terms have also been
discussed in this unit, which a legal reporter should be aware of.
This is the third block of the course. After reading it, you will go to the fourth and
last block which will discuss some more important reporting beats
,UNIT 9 POLITICAL REPORTING
Structure
9.0 Introduction
9.1 Learning Outcomes
9.2 The Indian Political System
9.3 Parliamentary Business and Political Reporting
9.3.1 News from inside the Parliament
9.3.2 News from outside the Parliament
9.4 Role of Political Parties
9.4.1 Formation of Political Parties and Internal Elections
9.4.2 Registration/Recognition of Political Parties
9.4.3 Funding of Political Parties
9.5 Activities of Political Parties and Political Reporting
9.5.1 Public Meetings/Rallies
9.5.2 Demonstrations/Processions
9.5.3 Press Conferences/Briefings
9.5.4 Party Meetings/Conventions
9.5.5 Press Release/Social Media Platform
9.6 Elections and Electoral Reforms
9.6.1 Basic Premise of Indian Elections
9.6.2 The Election Commission of India
9.6.3 Conduct of Elections
9.6.4 Electoral Reforms
9.7 Political Newsgathering and Writing
9.7.1 Coverage under Political Beat
9.7.2 Political Newsgathering and Sources
9.7.3 Political News Writing
9.8 Let Us Sum Up
9.9 Further Readings
9.10 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers
9.0 INTRODUCTION
In this Unit, we shall discuss about the broad spectrum of Indian political system,
role and functions of political parties and conduct of elections at various levels.
Also, we will look at some of the skills you need to have to be a good political
reporter, especially how to develop contacts for newsgathering, and how to
write in an informed way so that your readers or listeners can understand.
115
, Beat Reporting-1
9.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After reading this Unit, you will be able to:
understand the basics of Indian political system required for good political
reporting;
learn various aspects of political newsgathering; and
develop skills of political news writing.
Activity 1
You must be reading lot of political reports in the newspapers every day.
Please undertake a small exercise to understand about political news reports.
You may find that the name of a local political leader has been published
in the newspaper that you read. Read the news report to get the following
details:
Which political party does the politician belongs to?
What post does he holds in the party’s District or State Unit?
What statement has he made?
What is the issue that he has raised?
Whether he has issued a Press Release or addressed a Press
Conference or written on any Social Media platform?
Whether he has addressed a public meeting or led a
demonstration/procession?
Whether his statement/action is for the good of the people or
merely a political gimmick?
What is your assessment as a reader regarding the coverage given
to that politician? Is it appropriate or overplayed?
9.2 THE INDIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM
The activity given above was a small exercise to make you understand what
a political report is. But, a holistic understanding of political reporting is not
possible without getting into the basics of parliamentary democracy, the Indian
political system and various issues of governance. So, let us first look into them.
Democracies follow two forms of political systems, Parliamentary Form (Britain)
and Presidential Form (US). The Indian Constitution prescribes for parliamentary
form of democracy in which the Parliament/Legislature assumes a very significant
status in the political system. Why? Because the Executive (the Prime Minister
and his Cabinet) is drawn from the Parliament/ Parliamentarians. The executive
is accountable to the parliament. This is unlike the presidential form where the
Executive (President and his Cabinet) is not drawn from the Parliament/
Parliamentarians, and is not accountable to the Parliament to that extent.
Like in all other democracies, the Indian Parliament (and also the State
Assemblies) perform the basic function of law-making. At the initiative of the
116
Reporting Techniques
Indira Gandhi National Open University
(School of Journalism and New Media Studies)
Block
3
BEAT REPORTING-1
UNIT 9
Political Reporting 115
UNIT 10
Crime Reporting 136
UNIT 11
Sports Reporting 154
UNIT 12
Legal Reporting 168
113
,BLOCK INTRODUCTION:
BEAT REPORTING- 1
This block has four units and it deals with the different beats of reporting. It
discusses various aspects of four reporting beats - political reporting, crime reporting,
sports reporting and legal reporting.
Unit 9: Political Reporting discusses how to cover political news. It talks about
various aspects of political reporting. A political reporter should have complete
knowledge of the country’s political system. This unit also provides brief information
about India’s political system. In this unit, political newsgathering, sources and
writing have also been discussed.
Unit 10: Crime Reporting focuses on coverage and presentation of crime related
news. Importance, types and trends of crime reporting are discussed in this unit.
In addition to this, the unit also explains the sources of crime reporting and the
characteristics of a good crime reporter.
Unit 11: Sports Reporting discusses various aspects of sports journalism. This
unit describes the reporting of sports news for various media (print, radio, TV and
online) as well as discusses the writing of sports news. The skills and qualities
required for a good sports reporter and the emerging trends of sports reporting are
also included in this unit.
Unit 12: Legal Reporting explains the important aspects of court reporting. This
unit talks about the importance of legal reporting, its methods and the precautions
to be taken therein. Apart from this, some important legal terms have also been
discussed in this unit, which a legal reporter should be aware of.
This is the third block of the course. After reading it, you will go to the fourth and
last block which will discuss some more important reporting beats
,UNIT 9 POLITICAL REPORTING
Structure
9.0 Introduction
9.1 Learning Outcomes
9.2 The Indian Political System
9.3 Parliamentary Business and Political Reporting
9.3.1 News from inside the Parliament
9.3.2 News from outside the Parliament
9.4 Role of Political Parties
9.4.1 Formation of Political Parties and Internal Elections
9.4.2 Registration/Recognition of Political Parties
9.4.3 Funding of Political Parties
9.5 Activities of Political Parties and Political Reporting
9.5.1 Public Meetings/Rallies
9.5.2 Demonstrations/Processions
9.5.3 Press Conferences/Briefings
9.5.4 Party Meetings/Conventions
9.5.5 Press Release/Social Media Platform
9.6 Elections and Electoral Reforms
9.6.1 Basic Premise of Indian Elections
9.6.2 The Election Commission of India
9.6.3 Conduct of Elections
9.6.4 Electoral Reforms
9.7 Political Newsgathering and Writing
9.7.1 Coverage under Political Beat
9.7.2 Political Newsgathering and Sources
9.7.3 Political News Writing
9.8 Let Us Sum Up
9.9 Further Readings
9.10 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers
9.0 INTRODUCTION
In this Unit, we shall discuss about the broad spectrum of Indian political system,
role and functions of political parties and conduct of elections at various levels.
Also, we will look at some of the skills you need to have to be a good political
reporter, especially how to develop contacts for newsgathering, and how to
write in an informed way so that your readers or listeners can understand.
115
, Beat Reporting-1
9.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After reading this Unit, you will be able to:
understand the basics of Indian political system required for good political
reporting;
learn various aspects of political newsgathering; and
develop skills of political news writing.
Activity 1
You must be reading lot of political reports in the newspapers every day.
Please undertake a small exercise to understand about political news reports.
You may find that the name of a local political leader has been published
in the newspaper that you read. Read the news report to get the following
details:
Which political party does the politician belongs to?
What post does he holds in the party’s District or State Unit?
What statement has he made?
What is the issue that he has raised?
Whether he has issued a Press Release or addressed a Press
Conference or written on any Social Media platform?
Whether he has addressed a public meeting or led a
demonstration/procession?
Whether his statement/action is for the good of the people or
merely a political gimmick?
What is your assessment as a reader regarding the coverage given
to that politician? Is it appropriate or overplayed?
9.2 THE INDIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM
The activity given above was a small exercise to make you understand what
a political report is. But, a holistic understanding of political reporting is not
possible without getting into the basics of parliamentary democracy, the Indian
political system and various issues of governance. So, let us first look into them.
Democracies follow two forms of political systems, Parliamentary Form (Britain)
and Presidential Form (US). The Indian Constitution prescribes for parliamentary
form of democracy in which the Parliament/Legislature assumes a very significant
status in the political system. Why? Because the Executive (the Prime Minister
and his Cabinet) is drawn from the Parliament/ Parliamentarians. The executive
is accountable to the parliament. This is unlike the presidential form where the
Executive (President and his Cabinet) is not drawn from the Parliament/
Parliamentarians, and is not accountable to the Parliament to that extent.
Like in all other democracies, the Indian Parliament (and also the State
Assemblies) perform the basic function of law-making. At the initiative of the
116
