What is a special report? The role of dramaturgy in a special report. “Reporter changes profession”

1. Event-based

The most common type of reporting is one that quickly reflects socially significant events, which are presented in chronological order. The main features of event reporting include efficiency and relevance. The first quality is manifested in the fact that event reporting is always an instant and even momentary response to what is happening. Therefore, this particular type of reporting is especially characterized by a chronological following of the event, an exact indication of the place and time of the action, due to which the “effect of presence” is created. The subject of a reportage description is an event that occurs before the reporter’s eyes and is visually reflected in the text as a result of the author’s direct observations. From the point of view of relevance, an event report is always devoted to a socially significant topic.

Thus, it can be noted that the basis of an event report, on the one hand, can be events that require their operational coverage, and on the other hand, those that need insight into the inner essence. But in both cases, a selection of the most striking and significant elements of the event is required, as well as showing them through dynamic action or through a description of internal tension. It is especially important to create a “presence effect” - the reader must see through the eyes of the author, empathize with him, and visually imagine the time and place of the reporting action. The means by which this effect is achieved are varied:

- Use of bright details and details– through this kind of content elements one can describe various objects or objects of the material world, give characteristics of people’s behavior, outline the external setting of an event, etc.

- Using speech strategies– mini-dialogues, mini-interviews, remarks, etc. help to reproduce the speech of the current characters in the report, thereby introducing the living voices of real-life people into the fabric of the report.

2. Analytical (problematic)

Often the scope of a purely informational report turns out to be too tight for the author. He is not limited to recreating the picture of an event, but seeks to subject it to analysis, compares facts, explores their connections, studies causes and consequences. This type of reporting is focused not only on describing a one-time event, but also on finding out the reasons for its occurrence and development, “carries elements of analysis of the event, the author’s generalizations and conclusions. To do this, the author has the right to involve additional facts, figures, and refer to other events. Such material is close to correspondence. With the help of problem reporting, journalists raise current economic, scientific, and other issues, focusing attention on them for further more serious study. This type of genre provides great opportunities for criticizing shortcomings." .

Therefore, in this type of reportage we observe a symbiosis of various genre elements. An analytical report may contain sketch elements (description of the scene, characteristics of its participants), informational (facts, figures, evidence), and analytical (evaluation, commentary, forecast). All these heterogeneous elements, as a rule, are united by a single theme, which is revealed by the author in a logical sequence. The movement of the topic unfolds according to the scheme: thesis - argument - conclusion. Therefore, in an analytical report, the most important thing for the author is to show the logic of the development of the event, all previous and accompanying facts and cases that, to one degree or another, can shed light on the life situation.

To reveal the essence of a particular problem, a journalist can consider not one, but several similar events that occurred at different times and in different places, but due to the same reasons. Therefore, temporal and spatial shifts are possible in the analytical report. The dynamics of the narrative can be achieved by developing the author's thoughts, judgments and versions, as well as showing the internal driving forces of the problem. Unlike other varieties, in an analytical report the facts are presented in a generalized form, as a kind of summary of the data already comprehended by the author.

3. Educational and thematic

According to its functional purpose, this type of reporting can be divided into special and investigative. In these cases, the reporter puts first place a description of an interesting life situation: “This could be a story about the everyday life of a work team, a scientific laboratory, etc. Such materials are planned by the editors in advance; they are not as prompt as event materials. In this case, the author arranges the material at his own discretion.” . Therefore, the main thing here is not the operational reason, but the disclosure and knowledge of new and unknown aspects of the life of society.

- Special report prepared in cases where a particular situation or problem requires a thorough and comprehensive study from the reporter. As a rule, special reports are written on the most current and socially significant topics. To highlight the most interesting from among numerous events, you need a special reporter's flair. At the same time, as theorists note, a special report must live up to its name. Therefore, it is worth thinking about whether it is possible to make a report from that event with the remark “special”: “Not every event is worthy of coverage in a report. The criterion for choosing an event is its relevance, social significance. The reporter’s story should reveal to the reader some new side of reality, the process of its change.” .

So, a special report should always be based on a current topic. What is more important is not the prompt presentation of facts, but rather their relevance and significance to the public.

IN investigative report, unlike a special report, the main emphasis is on the very process of the reporter’s understanding of the situation. At the same time, much depends on the role that the journalist chooses. As a rule, such reports use the “participant observation” method. It is for this purpose that they change their profession or are actively involved in various kinds of experiments. The founders of the “change of profession” method in Russian journalism were L. Reinsner and M. Koltsov. A report - an investigation, according to researchers, is a dynamic description of an obstacle course overcome by a journalist in search of information that they are trying to hide.

4. Report-commentary

This type of reporting is not focused on detailed coverage of an event, but on its detailed commentary: “A commentary report is a combination of two genres with an answer to the question “why?” (so-called explanatory journalism). It is built on three elements: 1) information, 2) interpretation, 3) opinion. As a rule, it has an intriguing beginning" . Using the elements of commentary, the reporter can explain or interpret to readers the essence of the event, that is, isolate the most important thing from what is happening, but not interpret it deeply, involving additional arguments, without which serious analysis is impossible, but give room for thought and imagination to the readers themselves.

The following types of commentary can be used in a commentary report:

- Extended comment- a lengthy explanation of the fact. - Synchronous comment– explanation of facts down to the smallest detail. - Expert commentary– the fact is commented on by a professional, more competent person; polar commentary-interpretation, explanation of a fact by various specialists.

In all these cases, the reporting commentary must necessarily be correlated with the event being described or with this or that document, human action, or life situation. So, it can be noted that reporting as a genre of periodicals requires special structural rigor and integrity in the implementation of the results of observation (in addition to the initial requirement of recording direct observations of an eyewitness or participant in an event). In addition, the reporting genre requires a fairly clear focus of the observer’s point of view, skillful selection and mutual subordination of observation details while simultaneously conveying “momentary” sensations and associations of the observer-author. All this makes reporting a unique way of expressing journalistic thought.

5. “Reporter changes profession”

This report is based on “participant observation”, when an editorial employee temporarily changes his profession. He does this mainly in order to delve deeper into the essence of what is happening in one or another area of ​​human existence. In addition, participant observation allows Firstly, collect imaginative details about people, places and events, Secondly, check information or impressions received from other people, Thirdly, obtain evidence (evidence) that cannot be found in any other way, fourthly, restore the event for readers and radio listeners. A camera and tape recorder are very useful tools for accurately recording what is happening.

Journalists - reporters have been changing their profession for a long time. Since then, they have become everything: uniform performers in the circus, salesmen, homeless people, prisoners... And yet this is a very dangerous type of reporting. First of all, it is necessary to agree on the possibility of participant observation with the editorial management, then ensure the safety of the sources of information or those who provided assistance, and take care of your own safety. Finally, you should consult with a lawyer. But the reporter often works on the verge of a “foul”, or even directly breaks the law. Meanwhile, the Constitution of the Russian Federation proclaims the right of everyone (including journalists) to seek, receive, transmit, produce and disseminate information in any legal way.

It is obvious that the modern world, with its inherent dynamism and information saturation, cannot be imagined without television journalism. Its leading genre today can be considered reportage and its varieties.

N.V. Vakurova and L.I. Moskovkin give this definition: “ Report -- a genre of information journalism, including three forms: event-based (direct synchronous or silent), staged (provoked situation) and thematic. Reporting is an inherent property of the vast majority of journalistic genres. The entertainment value of a report, without which it is unlikely to be broadcast, is determined by the correspondence of the information it contains to a possible acute or unexpected perception of the audience, coupled with the participation of the reporter in the event itself.” Vakurova N. V., Moskovkin L. I. Typology of genres of modern screen production. M., 1997. URL: http://evartist.narod.ru/text3/08.htm (access date: 01/30/2016). Note that L.P. Shesterkina and T.D. Nikolaeva give a more specific formulation , speaking of reporting as « a genre of journalism that promptly reports on any event, an eyewitness or participant of which is a journalist” Shesterkina L.P., Nikolaeva T.D. Methods of television journalism. M., 2012. P. 115. Indeed, many theorists consider the work of a correspondent to be one of the main components of good material. The completeness, reliability and vitality of the picture of what is happening depends on his intervention or, conversely, non-interference in the surrounding reality during filming.

If we talk not so much about theory as about practice, here the nature of reporting is very correctly noted by G.V. Kuznetsov. In his collection “TV REPORTER,” published back in 1976, the author summarizes: “Reporting is when the camera is present at an event, without interfering in its course, when it is impossible to say: stop, let’s do it first.” Kuznetsov G.V. TV REPORTER. Ed. E.G. Bagirova. M., 1976. P.25.. As we see, this law does not change and to this day remains one of the conditions for correct work on the material.

From all that has been said, it follows that reporting is a generally accepted genre form and has its own specific features.

Having studied the works of V.L. Tsvika Tsvik V. L. Television journalism: History, theory, practice. M., 2004. P.210-276., A. Ermilova Ermilov A. Live report: Professional advice to a television journalist. M., 2010. P. 14-95., L. P. Shesterkina and T. D. Nikolaeva Shesterkina L. P., Nikolaeva T. D. Decree. Op. pp. 52-71. Let's draw conclusions about what features can be called mandatory. These include:

• - information content
• - evidence or persuasiveness
• - entertainment
• - vitality
• - reporting

Informativeness involves the reproduction of important information in a capacious form accessible to the viewer. It involves collecting information, processing it (an in-depth analysis of the problem posed by a journalist) and transmitting a message to the audience in a condensed form. The correspondent must be able to highlight the most important things.

Evidence is provided through details, actions of characters, dialogues, etc.

Entertainment is what holds the audience: emotions, feelings and experiences of the characters, intensity of action, etc.

Vitality can be achieved through the actual reproduction of reality, the documentation of a specific fact. To add this very vitality to the report, but not to deviate from the idea of ​​​​considering the problem on a global scale, the method of moving from the particular to the general turns out to be quite effective. As Eric Fichtelius notes: “A story about the fate of an individual helps the viewer, listener, reader to identify themselves with the news even when it is not about disasters or accidents. It is easier for audiences to understand complex issues or policy decisions through the example of an individual family or individual. One of the basic principles of journalism is to cover large and complex phenomena and events using the example of ordinary people.” Fichtelius E. News. The complex art of working with information / Transl. with Swedish V. Menjun. M., 2008. P. 75..

Reporting can be characterized as an original, exclusive and pervasive (from the point of view of journalistic work) way of understanding the world around us. Thanks to this, we, as spectators, can feel the “effect of presence”, and the journalist takes part in the event itself being described. This is an ideal scheme according to which reporting becomes a genre where “a person talks about a person for a person” Vasilyeva T.V., Osinsky V.G., Petrov G.N. Radio and television journalism in the system of professional coordinates. Part 1. St. Petersburg, 2002. P. 99.. Also note that L.P. Shesterkina and T.D. Nikolaeva call reporting “a technique of manipulating public consciousness” Shesterkina L.P., Nikolaeva T.D. Decree. Op. P.70.. Which is logical, because reporting reinforces that very vitality and evidence, and therefore has an impact on the viewer.

The following types of television reporting are distinguished:

• - “event-based (situational or planned)” Maidurova O.F. Working on a television report. St. Petersburg, 2004. pp. 5-6. - based on the event itself, as an information occasion, classified as an information genre;
• - “analytical (or problematic)” Ibid. pp. 5-6. - based on the analysis of the problem, cause-and-effect relationships, belongs to the analytical genre;
• - “special” Ibid. pp. 5-6. - can be based on an event, problem, phenomenon, or a specific topic.

Let's take a closer look at the nature of a special report, since on modern television it is becoming the most popular, relevant and rated journalistic work.

For the first time on television he appeared on the NTV channel Tsvik V.L. Decree. Op. P. 244.. In the information program “Today” such materials were assigned the role of bait. When the viewer lost interest in short news stories from the “on the agenda” series, a special report was launched with an extended timing and a topic related to or not at all related to the main news events. This was supposed to bring the audience back to the screens. Nowadays, a special report often becomes the highlight of a news release. And within the framework of information programs, the topic of a special report logically does not go beyond the information grid, but rather makes the issue holistic and relevant, reinforcing the main idea of ​​the program layout. For example, special reports from hot spots by correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny, developing the theme of the crisis in Ukraine, form the basis of the logic of an entire block of news and complement other stories devoted to this topic in the program “News of the Week” Program “News of the Week” [Official website] . URL: http://russia.tv/brand/show/brand_id/5206 (accessed 03/14/16). (TV channel "Russia 1"). The same pattern is observed in the “Time” program. “Time” program [Official website]. URL: http://www.1tv.ru/news/ (date accessed 03/14/16). (Channel One) with reports from Irada Zeynalova. However, it is worth noting that theorists and practitioners argue whether special reporting is a type or whether it can already be distinguished as a separate genre of journalism.

The fact is that this type is most susceptible to the “diffusion of genres” by O.F. Maidurova. Decree. Op. P. 6. - from the group of information genres and the format of information programs, it grows into a group of analytical genres into the format of independent materials within a cyclical framework. Therefore, due to this evolution, disputes arise regarding its unambiguous membership in a specific category.

Interesting is the opinion of T.V. Vasilyeva, V.G. Osinsky and G.N. Petrov, who consider the special report to be just a “metaphorical name for the section”, which arose against the background of mutual influence, interpenetration of many elements of the journalistic television arsenal, against the background of the use of a wide set of journalistic tools” Vasilyeva T.V., Osinsky V.G., Petrov G.N. Course of radio and television journalism. St. Petersburg, 2004. P. 210..

Indeed, this format, unlike, for example, information genres, also has elements of essays and sketches that are inherent in artistic journalism. Therefore, a special report has a strongly expressed author’s origin, especially in independent cyclic author’s programs, for example, such as “Special Correspondent” (TV Channel “Russia”). Even the creators call their project a “popular journalistic program” Program “Special Correspondent” [Official website]. URL: http://russia.tv/brand/show/brand_id/3957/episode (date accessed 03/14/16).. And this means that the journalist, as the author, himself has the right to choose and build a model by which he will address the viewer. In such materials, the correspondent simply needs to build the dramaturgy correctly in order to present the material in an interesting way, have a greater impact on the viewer, and convey the necessary information.

This idea makes the previous theorists and G.V. Kuznetsov similar. He says that special reporting as a genre has existed for quite a long time, but we call it “problem reporting”, “thematic reporting”, “positional reporting”. Kuznetsov G.V. This is how TV journalists work. M, 2004. P. 34. G. V. Kuznetsov considers the special report to be the most detailed material in a television broadcast, slightly isolated from the main news story due to the depth of immersion in the problem. It is emphasized that the correspondent in this case is simply obliged to have his own point of view on the proposed topic, which is expressed in a factual selection and synthesis of various opinions and heroes.

It turns out that despite all the discrepancies, theorists agree on a clearly expressed author’s principle within the framework of this format. This is the first distinguishing feature of a special report.

Another difference could be the extended timing. And if an event report lasts about 90 seconds, an analytical report lasts 6-7 minutes, then a special report can reach the length of a documentary film. Based on this, two options for special reporting are considered: in information and analytical programs (as we noted earlier and considered using the example of the Vesti and Vremya programs) and in cyclical programs (as a separate work). Thus, a special report can already exist outside the news program and be an independent, non-mediated material.

This format is becoming quite popular within the cyclical framework, since it has its own original format with its own approaches, ways of presenting material and personification of journalists. Thus, the program “Profession Reporter” (NTV channel) positions itself as a “cycle of television film reports Program “Profession - Reporter” [Official website]. URL: http://www.ntv.ru/peredacha/professiya_reportyor/m720/o326399/ (date accessed 03.14.16). ». Such cyclical releases help to increase competition between channels that are fighting for their viewers.

The increased timing contributes to the emergence of another difference in the special report - its variability in terms of dramatic solutions. As mentioned earlier, this format is at the intersection of information and analytical genres, and also includes the features of artistic journalism. This is where the journalist’s creative potential and his ability to hold an audience are revealed. The quality of the work and the rating depend on how the plot-shaped system is built, what components of the plot are used, and how the journalist uses expressive means (video, sound and editing). Here you should understand what components a journalist who has the footage can appeal to. In our opinion, a successful and understandable scheme (Figure 1) by O.F. Maidurova. Decree. Op. P. 9. suggested by O.F. Maidurova.

Picture 1.

One way or another, these elements make up any special report. A journalist, when working on his work, draws up an outline of the future report, and enters all the necessary elements into it. scenario plan. However, the correspondent must be able to go beyond this plan, since it is impossible to accurately predict what will happen during filming. A. Ermilov advises in such cases: “Of course, life is full of surprises (which is good), during the reporting you will have to make changes to your plan. It’s okay, but this plan (albeit modified) must be there. Otherwise, during editing you will end up with gaps that cannot be plugged with anything other than banal voice-over text.” Ermilov A. Decree. Op. P.16. .

As mentioned earlier, television is of an audiovisual nature, therefore the main components of the material, as shown in the diagram, are video and sound. To attract the viewer, the video sequence in a special report must provide entertainment and be “alive.” A. Ermilov concludes that “live reporting presupposes a professional level of journalistic training” Ibid. P.6.. It turns out that a professional journalist, when creating his work, will always rely on the filmed video material, and only then write the soundtrack in the form of voice-over text.

Synchronization and stand up can be called boundary elements that capture the image at the moment of speech of the person speaking on the screen. In synchronization, this is done by the speaker, who gives the commentary necessary for the correspondent to prove his material. In stand up, this is done by the journalist himself. I.N. Kemarskaya calls the presenter's stand up - “the author's commentary in the frame, the writing of which requires the participation of the editor” Kemarskaya I.N. Television editor. M., 2004. P. 129.. If we talk not about presenters, but about correspondents, then their participation in the frame can be called more authorial. At the scene of events, they can even change a speech prepared in advance depending on the circumstances, without the participation of other persons.

The participation of a journalist in the frame is justified if:

• 1. “There is no video that can illustrate the story
• 2. It is necessary to make a clear and flexible transition from one part of the material to another
• 3. Journalist in an unusual setting
• 4. A journalist demonstrates something in the frame” Maidurova O.F. Decree. Op. pp. 26-27..

Based on this, we can assume that when recording stand up, a journalist has a large number of options for presenting himself in the frame and the necessary information.

Note that the scheme proposed above lacks such an element as life - an image with live sound (recording during the filming process), clearly reflecting the surrounding reality.

All these components of the script plan, when staged in a certain way, can be a powerful means of expression, reflecting the author’s dramatic decision. We will talk about other expressive possibilities of a journalist in the next paragraph.

To summarize, we can conclude that a special report is a complex work from the point of view of development, creation and activities of a journalist. The format is in demand today and goes beyond news programs, becoming cycles or even independent films. The main components are reporting, authorship and expressive means. Here it is worth talking about the dramatic solution, which reflects all these components in the finished journalistic material.

The reporting genre has been extremely popular in the Russian and foreign press since time immemorial. No self-respecting publication can do without it, because reporting opens up many informational and descriptive opportunities for the journalist, which help convey to the reader the maximum amount of information about any current event in social reality.

The term "reporting"

The explanation of why the reportage is unique is contained in the definition of this genre. So, reporting is a genre of information journalism, whose main goal is to convey current information directly from the scene of the event, that is, through the “eyes” of the author. This helps to give the reader the impression that he himself is present in the process of events unfolding and sees everything described in the report.

It should be noted that the term “report” appeared in Russian from the English report, which means “to convey.” The translation of this concept in itself limits the reporting to the framework of the system of information genres of journalism, since transmitting information does not mean analyzing it, looking for relationships, finding out the reasons and predicting possible consequences. The author simply must tell the audience what he sees, notice some small but important details that will be invisible to the average eye and that will help recipients get the clearest possible idea of ​​the event taking place, the people present at the scene, and the surrounding environment.

Reporting history

In its initial meaning, reporting is the notes of travelers, people who were present when a miracle was performed by the hands of God, during some kind of disaster, etc. It was not a genre of journalism, but, one might say, was born before it, before how it took shape into a coherent system.

One of the first unwitting creators of the report was the ancient Greek scientist and traveler Herodotus, who explored Asia Minor and the Middle East. He wrote down everything he saw. These notes subsequently made up a travel journal, which, in essence, was a report.

With its advent, the reporting also changed. It was already an almost formed genre, to which journalists constantly turned. In the 18th century in England, newspaper staff received the right to attend parliamentary meetings and report information “from the ground up.” Correspondents took shorthand notes of the information they heard, made notes about the meeting participants, the atmosphere, and wrote relevant material, naturally, in the reporting genre.

The late 19th century saw a "golden age" of reporting in America and Europe. The genre has finally taken shape and acquired today's features. Journalists paid special attention to travel to uncharted parts of the planet (forests, jungles), as well as the secrets of the surrounding society, the most egregious crimes that were difficult to solve. William Stead, Nellie Bly, Henry Stanley are just a few of the journalists who worked in the reporting genre. These were true masters of their craft, taking the most desperate actions to understand any problem.

Types of reporting

The most striking, characteristic and frequently occurring types of this genre include event reporting, special reporting, investigative reporting and commentary reporting.

Event reporting is a narration about important and relevant incidents, as well as events in which their inner essence is important, and not just an external description. The author should not talk about everything he sees. He needs to select the most striking facts and episodes. The most important thing in such a report is to create a “presence effect”.

A special report is a type that involves the development and description of a current topic, as well as introducing the audience to the results of a situation.

Investigative reporting involves obtaining information on a problematic case from numerous sources, using interviews to explain the whole picture of what is happening.

A commentary report is focused on a detailed study of the facets of the event being described. The author must explain every detail competently and clearly.

Functions, subject and method of reporting

It is from the point of view of these parameters that it is necessary to characterize any journalistic genre. Thus, the subject of the report is a significant current event that will be of interest to society. The function is to convey the author's impressions, a detailed description of everything that is happening. The method is to create a “presence effect” in recipients.

Composition of the report

To write an incisive report that will be interesting to read, you need to adhere to a certain structure. It can be divided into three parts: the beginning of the action (must contain a bright event that attracts attention), the main part (description of what is happening) and the results of the report (the author’s attitude to the event, his comments). It is important to understand that reporting is not an analytical genre, therefore, when writing material, a journalist should not look for reasons, relationships and make forecasts.

A report is a message that contains a story about an event or a series of events that happened before the eyes of the journalist. In the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary, the concept of “reporting” is defined as follows: “(French reportage, from English report - “to report”) - an information genre of journalism that promptly, with the necessary details, in a vivid form reports about any event, by an eyewitness or of which the correspondent is a member of the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary/Slovari.ru// slovari.299.ru/enc.php.

Depending on the channels of mass communications (print, radio broadcasting, television) for which the report is intended, the methods of presenting the material have some specific features. A report in the press (mainly in a newspaper) has the character of an event, thematic, describing events united by one topic, but occurring at different times; Typically, these types of reports contain illustrations with photographs from the scene of events; recently, independent photo reports have become widespread. A report broadcast on the radio always adheres to a strict chronological sequence of events; its task is to reproduce the picture of what is happening. A television report is often referred to as a chronology of video events that develop into commentary on the material shown on the screen.

According to another source, “the concept of “reporting” arose in the first half of the 19th century. and comes from the Latin word “reportare” “to convey,” “to report.” See: Killenberg G. Public Affairs Reporting (Governing the News in the Information Age). N.Y. P. 3-45.. Famous journalism theorist A.A. Tertychny claims that the origin of the report comes from the essay: “Initially, the genre of reportage was represented by publications that informed the reader about the progress of court hearings, parliamentary debates, various meetings, etc. Later, this kind of “reporting” began to be called “reports.” And “reports” began to be called publications of a slightly different type, namely those that in their content and form are similar to modern Russian essays. Thus, outstanding Western reporters John Reed, Egon Erwin Kisch, Ernest Hemingway, Julius Fucik and others were, in our understanding, essayists rather than reporters. And now, when a European journalist says something about a report, he means what we call a feature story. It is Western essays, from the point of view of their “name”, that are the genetic predecessors and closest “relatives” of the current Russian reportage” Tertychny A.A. Genres of periodicals. - M.: Oasis. - 2007, p.84.

At the present stage, reporting should be perceived as synonymous with efficiency, relevance and documentary accuracy. The cognitive and expressive potential of reporting should enable modern journalists to visually and objectively recreate even the most extraordinary events in the media.

By and large, we can say that the goal of reporting is sensation - the constant, desired companion of reporting. Being a good journalist requires an emphasis on something new and fresh. A single series of “classic news elements” (conflict, a famous name, increased “human interest”, especially the effect of an emotional push) inexorably guides the reporter towards material that has signs of sensation.

The news is given a touch of sensationalism not only by the extraordinary features of the incident, but also by its suddenness. If the news takes us by surprise, it is “doubly news.”

About two dozen genres are used in modern television broadcasting. They form a kind of chain, the links of which make it possible to move from the simplest genres to more complex ones. Depending on the purpose of the genres, they are combined into several groups. The first of them is the genres of news information: note, report and report.

These genres are turned to when they want to tell the audience news. By news we mean something that is unknown to everyone or at least parts of it are unknown. However, not every fact, not every event can be of interest to readers and become news. It depends on the relevance of the fact - its social significance. What is relevant is what attracts the attention of viewers, arouses their interest - personal and public. A fact can remain relevant for a long time or quickly lose it - it depends on many circumstances. Including - from the scale of the fact. Some facts are relevant only to a limited audience, others are of broad public interest. In determining their relevance for a television report, its type and level play a significant role. So, for example, the decision of a university student to start a new family is unlikely to become a reason for a city or regional television journalist to create a report or at least an essay - it is too small for such a scale and these facts have become rather ordinary events in our time. But a grassroots university newspaper may publish a note about this; for a narrow student audience it remains relevant.

When looking for up-to-date information, you should distinguish between news and new. News is something that is unknown to all or the vast majority of readers. New is the unknown about what is already known. Let's illustrate this with an example. More than a century ago, one of the German doctors discovered the remarkable healing properties of aspirin, which has since become a common medicine for colds, flu and other infectious diseases. The press hastened to inform a wide audience of this very relevant news. However, only recently was the previously unknown ability of aspirin discovered to prevent human blood clotting and the formation of blood clots, which are the cause of many heart attacks and strokes. Journalists, of course, did not hesitate to inform readers in their notes of this new, relevant information for many about a medicine known to everyone. For many readers suffering from heart disease, it became sensational news.

Getting news that is of interest to all readers and has a strong impact on their feelings is the desire of all television journalists. Such news remains relevant for a long time, it is highly valued and leads to a rapid expansion of the audience of programs.

The author's goal - to inform the reader of current news as quickly as possible - determines the main features of the genre of newspaper publications. First of all, their structure: they usually represent a kind of inverted pyramid - starting with a supporting fact containing the news, and then detailing it in subsequent sentences. This structure of the text makes it easier to perceive and, if necessary, shorten it - from the last paragraphs or lines, the essence of the message remains unchanged in the initial paragraphs. The desire to ensure prompt transmission to the reader of the information contained in a note limits its volume: usually it does not exceed two to three dozen lines, and is often limited in an extremely laconic operational message - a variation of this genre - to just one or two sentences. The same explains the peculiarities of the note's style: it avoids stylistic beauty, it is businesslike, sometimes dry, but accurate.

The author of the note does not require detailed descriptions and characteristics. But he is obliged to answer a “triad” of questions: What happened? Where did it happen? When did it happen? Sometimes this is accompanied by an answer to the fourth question: Who participated in the event? This is enough to report the news. Its significance will be explained in subsequent reports and correspondence.

The title of the note has its own characteristics. Often notes are published in blocks, collections, without headings - under thematic headings. More often, however, the note has a title. Usually it contains an indication of the supporting fact of the note, then the title conveys its essence: “A monument to the legendary priest-surgeon has been unveiled,” “Oil exports are increasing,” “Car accident in Novosibirsk,” and the like.

The role of the author of the note is limited to communicating information and is sometimes indicated by his signature. However, this does not mean his passive attitude towards the fact that he reports in the note. The very choice of this fact fixes the author’s position - his interest in obtaining this information.

The journalist's attitude to the event that attracted his attention is revealed with even greater certainty in the report - a genre that very often appears on newspaper pages. The author of the report does not limit his text to answers to questions required for the note. Its purpose is to report significant details of the event it describes. The volume of the text increases, as does the role of the author, who can, if he considers it necessary, accompany the message with his commentary and assessment. The report has its own subject of display: an event unfolding over time, consisting of a number of details. Most of the events depicted in this genre have a specific oral form of expression of content; they can be heard - then reports on a conference, meeting, meeting of politicians, court hearings, etc. are published. Sometimes an event can be observed and a report of a sports match or demonstration appears in the newspaper.

Newspapers use different types of reporting. The simplest of these is a direct information report. It reproduces an event in full accordance with its course in time. Often here are the speeches of the participants of the event - meetings, conferences and the like - in a condensed retelling, presentation of the most important thoughts and positions, interspersing this with quotes from the most interesting statements. The author's assessment of speeches is expressed in the selection of facts, details and details. Everything that the journalist considers unimportant, he leaves out of the report.

Often the author of a report not only reports an event, but also seeks to comment on it. He plays a more active role in his text. His commentary can take various forms of concise characteristics that give an idea of ​​the meaning of a speech or the reaction of other meeting participants to it, or it can be expressed in brief authorial digressions and even in a concise polemic with the speaker. Sometimes the commentary takes the form of an introduction to a report, revealing the purpose of its publication, or in the author's conclusion, summing up the discussion. As a result, an analytical report appears in the newspaper. The point of view of the journalist and the editorial board receives detailed expression here.

A type of analytical report is a thematic report. It is dedicated to the most pressing topic, the most important problem raised at a meeting or gathering. In accordance with this, the report material is grouped, minor details and details are omitted. Such a report sometimes reports only a few speeches that are thematically related. Or they devote it to one most important speech, reporting the rest in a brief retelling.

Sometimes the reporting of an event in a report is used only as an excuse to raise pressing questions. The author refuses detailed coverage of the event as a whole, using its individual elements. In such a problem report, the analysis goes far beyond the initial event, capturing new facts necessary to pose an important problem. The author of the problematic report not only assesses the event, but also reveals the significance of issues of great public importance. The report acquires features that bring it closer to the problematic article. It differs from a direct information report both in its freer composition and style. In general, the reporting style is characterized by efficiency, economy, and the rejection of everything that interferes with the transfer of the main thing. However, if necessary, in an analytical and especially a problematic report, figurative language means are used - metaphor, vivid epithet, comparison, etc. They help the author express his attitude to what is being reported and recreate the atmosphere in which the event took place.

Expressive language means are especially often used in reports on events taking place in visible form - folk festivals, sports competitions, etc. Such reports are characterized by an emotional style.

It is useful to plan the publication of reports in the newspaper. This will allow, on the one hand, to avoid overloading the newspaper issue with texts in this genre. On the other hand, it will give the journalist the opportunity to better prepare for writing a report, and to get at least a preliminary idea of ​​what the event will be devoted to. The choice of the topic of the report and its form usually occurs at the scene of the event, in the process of its development. This predetermines the need for the author of the report to be present at the scene of the event about which he is going to report. Only in some situations, when it is impossible to ensure the presence of a journalist at a meeting or assembly about which he must publish a report, is he allowed to write it using minutes, text or abstracts of the report, voice recording of speeches, etc.

Reporting is a treacherous genre. The idea of ​​some novice journalists about the ease of preparing text in this genre very often leads to creative failures. To the publication in the newspaper of bloated, boring reports, often occupying entire pages. To avoid such failures, the author is required, first of all, to be able to find relevant news even at a boring meeting, at a useless meeting. If this turns out to be impossible, the journalist has a reason to write a critical report analyzing the reasons for the failure of the event organizers.

One of the most popular genres of newspaper journalism is reportage. See: Gurevich, S.M. Newspaper: yesterday, today, tomorrow. - M., 1963.

This is what S.M. writes, for example, about the purpose and purpose of any report. Gurevich: “the task is, first of all, to give the audience the opportunity to see the described event through the eyes of an eyewitness (reporter), i.e. create a “presence effect.” And this becomes most possible only if the journalist talks about substantive situations, events (and best of all, rapidly developing ones)” See: Gurevich S. M. Newspaper reporting. - M., 1963. P. 3-32.

Similar to other genres, the characteristics of reporting require additional explanation - after all, in a large number of cases, news journalism contains precisely descriptions of what happened in front of journalists or someone else. So what should be considered news from the words of other people, and what you saw yourself should be considered a report? Of course not. But you can tell about what you saw in different ways, using a whole arsenal of tools at the journalist’s disposal. And one of these means is the report http://konkurs.ntv.ru/2007/press/5.html.

The news genre, as we may have already noticed, is currently quite well developed. The development of journalism over several centuries has led to the formulation of six questions that the news must answer - that is, to the structure of the pyramid, which rather rigidly sets the format of the article. This was the result of the pursuit of the desire to quickly overtake competitors at any cost and be the first to inform readers about what happened. In the case of reporting, as a rule, there is no such urgency. That is, if we are in a hurry (very in a hurry), then it is better to write news. Modern reportage requires more time to write, it is larger in volume and freer in form.

This difference between news and reporting became especially acute after the invention of the telegraph.

One day such an incident happened. In 1870, London Times reporter William Howard Russell spent two days traveling from the battle of Sedan in France to deliver his report on how German troops surrounded and defeated the French army. The Battle of Sedan was the most important event of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and the defeat of France in this battle was the impetus for the decline in the power of Napoleon III's Second Empire. Russell was in a hurry. In order not to waste time, he wrote his report at night. And imagine his surprise and annoyance when, once in London, he saw that other newspapers had published reports about the battle two days earlier. Their correspondents sent reports by telegraph.

However, over time and with the development of technology, the value and attractiveness of reporting from the scene has not diminished. John Carey, who has long worked as the editor-compiler of an extensive collection of reports, believes that modern reporting takes first place, and is, in his words, something like a religion.

An important difference between reporting and simple news is that the reporting model is quite free. You can describe events in chronological order. For example, a very common type of report is “A Day With...”, where a description of the day spent with the mayor of the city, deputy, soldier, or with the local policeman occurs. In addition, reports are often structured as a description of the problems that the reporter sees, or the places where he has ever been.

It is important to note that reporting is the very genre that serves to bring journalism closer to literature. This genre is the most literary. It is important to recall a number of famous reports by Vladimir Gilyarovsky. His reports were published as a separate book, which people still read with great pleasure to this day. Gilyarovsky wrote about the Neglinka River, about Moscow baths, about taverns, about the character traits of the inhabitants of the shelters and about the sad events on the Khodynskoye Field. In addition, his knowledge of Moscow as a city with an extensive history will simply not leave you indifferent.

Now, in the era of the development of Internet systems and satellite phones, reporting has not lost its relevance and still attracts the interests of the public just as it did a hundred years ago. And at the same time, good reporting today is valued no less than during the First World War, when Hemingway became famous precisely thanks to his reporting from Europe. After all, reporting can not only tell about what happened, but reporting also helps to see how it happened. Grigoryan M. A manual on journalism. Directory. - Human rights. - 2007.

What requirements must be taken into account for the report to be truly good? There are a number of important wishes that must be taken into account in order for the report to be truly interesting both from a professional point of view and from the point of view of an ordinary person:

The journalist must act as a witness to the event. This is where the individuality of good reporting is expressed.

Events take place in a certain place at a certain time. It is quite desirable that the location and time be indicated in the report.

Reports are most often written immediately after the event.

The report should not only tell about the event, but also show how this or that event happened.

Reporting is not very interested in generalizations. Immediacy of perception is important.

If we talk about the effect of presence, then one of the most popular genres of television is also reportage. Popular with both viewers and journalists. This is explained by the peculiarities of the genre, which open up wide opportunities both for the author of the text and for its viewer.

The author of the report is considered to be a journalist, although several people work on the story before the audience sees it. This is not only a journalist, but also a cameraman, and subsequently an editor. Unlike TV, in a newspaper the result depends on only one person. Journalist. The final version and the quality of the publication depend on what facts he was able to accumulate and whether he managed to establish contact with his hero.

Television is a collective creativity. The film crew (cameraman and journalist) is one team.

Despite the importance of professional skills and the accuracy of the cameraman's gaze, the idea of ​​the plot belongs to the journalist. It is he who independently transforms the initial idea into a thoughtful, logically structured story, and it is he who is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the report. If the author himself has a vague idea of ​​the plot, then the cameraman will not know what to shoot and will not help make the material more interesting. At best, he will be able to offer you a series of professionally made disparate pictures, but will not know what they are for or how they will be mounted “How to Make Television,” 1999, educational project, VHSRip.

When choosing a composition, it is important to take into account their types and main characteristics. There are two types of compositions: closed and open.

A closed composition is constructed in such a way that the lines of interaction of the depicted objects are directed towards the plot-compositional center. The action that takes place inside a closed composition begins and ends without violating its boundaries and boundaries. If it is necessary to focus the viewer’s attention on a specific fact, the semantic connections of which may not extend beyond the screen, then the operator chooses a closed-type design.

Open compositions are built on the basis of lines that diverge from the plot center, reflecting the connections of the object, striving to go beyond the frame. In this case, the cause-and-effect relationship is revealed not inside, but outside the picture plane and requires continuation and completion in other editing plans.

When it comes to audience management, open compositions are the most effective. They encourage you to wait for their continuation, and this makes them dramatically tense, moreover, requiring editing development.

The composition of a video frame, unlike a painting or photograph, does not remain unchanged throughout the shooting process. “The meaning, pace and nature of facts and phenomena are in development, and depending on the significance that this or that section acquires, the compositional balance also changes” G.V. Kuznetsov, “Journalist” magazine, - M. - P. 60

Operators are forced to respond as quickly as possible to certain new conditions. They must solve such problems on the go, instantly responding to a changing situation, and building the optimal composition based on new conditions. The journalist, of course, helps him, since the reporting undoubtedly happens together.

Hidden cameras also provide an opportunity to capture excellent material for reporting. It makes it possible to observe reality while remaining invisible; it can hardly be considered a discovery of television or cinema. Journalists and writers often resort to illegal surveillance even at a time when the very concept of a “hidden camera” was not yet in sight. But it was on television that this method received a new life.

For At that time, it was believed that this shooting technique was applied only to the underworld. In truth, in investigative reporting, revealing reporting, footage taken using a hidden camera will be very relevant. But the possibilities of this method are much broader.

“The camera, hidden under the ceiling, films through the window the dance in the workers' club, where typists, delivery boys and salespeople gather, watches the work of night loaders at the Contvergarde market, and watches the crowd of indifferent onlookers in the park surrounding the attractions. Following the path of the journalist Kish, who visited the London Whitehall as a homeless person, the camera descends into the dosshouses of New York.” Television Journalism,” / ed. Kuznetsova G.V., - M. - C 40

Hidden cameras can be used for more than just searching and recording evidence. Often potential subjects of reports are embarrassed by the camera and behave unnaturally and constrained in front of it. As soon as a person sees the camera, the “internal censor”, or the internal “producer”, or both at once wakes up in him. Noticing how the presence of a camera changes human behavior, cameramen developed techniques that allowed them to film without their subjects' knowledge.

The reliability of a screen image depends on many conditions.

The purpose of a report is more complicated than a report. The reporter strives to show the viewer as quickly as possible a picture of the event at all stages of its development - from beginning to completion, to quickly recreate the “history of the event” as an eyewitness or participant. This is an intelligence genre; journalists turn to it, trying to report on what is happening in our country and abroad.

The subject of the report is an event that combines visual and oral forms of expression of its content. The author faces a difficult task: to achieve the effect of the viewer’s “presence” at the scene of the event. This is possible, of course, only with the presence of the author himself at the scene of the event. His role is great: he reports, sometimes becoming not only a witness to an event, but sometimes even its initiator and organizer.

Not every event is worthy of coverage in a report. The criterion for choosing an event is its relevance, social significance. The video report should reveal to the viewer some new side of reality, the process of its change. This predetermines one of the important features of the genre - its dynamism.

Editing of a special report.

Assembly - this is how the word “montage” is literally translated into Russian from French. However, now the requirements for editing on television are much higher than simply assembling the footage into a finished story.

The frames glued together should not just record actions, but turn into some kind of series and express the attitude of the authors to what is depicted. Editing is not a mechanical connection of two pieces of film. This is an important and complex component of reporting, the comprehension of which requires a creative attitude from the viewer. Gluing connects, but at the same time separates the captured frames. The semantic meanings of the glued frames complement each other, but at the same time contradict one another, according to the dialectical law of the unity and struggle of opposites. After gluing, two contents will be combined in inter-frame editing, which in themselves are not the main thing, but the main thing becomes the thought that they prompt the viewer to thanks to their combination.

A person looking at the screen compares the semantic meanings of these frames, evaluates the legitimacy of their connection, and looks for cause-and-effect relationships that gave rise to this editing structure. Such a montage allows for a deep, figurative interpretation of a fact, action, concept. Which is especially important for a special report.

The interruption plan is an intra-episode element. Its task is to make it possible to combine frames that do not “go together” with each other. Being a technical means, interruptions still indirectly participate in the formation of content, since they eliminate temporal and spatial inconsistencies between the plans that express this content.

The environment surrounding the hero is the most natural and obvious material in which you can always find the necessary mounting components for the interleaving plan. But in any case, the content of the interruption should be subordinate to the main action.

By taking certain phrases and actions outside the episode and replacing them with interruptions, the editor, as it were, compresses the event, and this happens without any loss to the main meaning.

Thanks to this, there is an excellent opportunity to “deceive” the viewer - to speed up or slow down movement, to manipulate space and time. This is not just a clever trick, but the main secret of screen art. After all, as Alfred Hitchcock said: “Cinema is life, but without boring episodes.” The technique of time compression is also very suitable for preparing stories for the news program G. P. Chakhiryan “The Visual World of the Screen” p. 133.

A special report is a kind of small movie. The most difficult type of reporting on television. Therefore, special requirements must be placed on the editing of such scenes. This does not mean that ordinary news stories can be edited haphazardly and in a hurry. Simply by “collecting” the material on which the journalist and cameraman have worked for many days, into which they have invested a piece of their soul, the editor has great freedom for creativity and can safely resort to expressive visual means borrowed from the arsenal of documentary and feature films. These means include the tempo and rhythm of editing.

The famous film director V. Pudovkin writes: “Wherever there is discontinuity, wherever there is a moment of alternation of some pieces, be it separate pieces of film or separate pieces of action, everywhere the rhythm must be taken into account, not because rhythm is a fashionable word, but because rhythm, controlled by the will of the director, can and should serve as a powerful and undoubted instrument of impression. And only when the real length is found for each piece, when a special rhythm of changing frames is found, only then will the screen come to life with its own life, found by the director” G. P. Chakhiryan “The visual world of the screen”, P. 135..

The reporter's task and the subject of the report determine other important aspects of it. In particular, the degree of its “visibility”: the viewer must see for himself everything that is happening at the scene of the event, hear the voices of its participants. This effect is achieved primarily by the use of details and details in the report that help the reporter paint a visible picture of reality. And if he turned out to be a direct participant in the event that he wants to talk about, this gives him the opportunity to experience those feelings himself, to experience the excitement that other participants in the event experienced. This will allow him to have a stronger impact on the audience. At the same time, he does not simply record the details of the event that he noticed, he selects facts, groups them in the text, recreates the event, while reflecting his attitude towards it.

The thematic range of reality phenomena for which reportage is used is almost unlimited. Depending on the sphere of human life and society, various thematic types of this genre are distinguished: scientific reporting, sports, social, etc. The task that the author sets for himself determines the features of his work. In an effort to promptly inform viewers about a current event, he creates an event report. But he may not connect his text with a specific one-time event, but talk about some invention, creative process, or interesting person. Such reports are not as immediate as event reports; they are usually planned in advance.

Often the scope of a purely informational report turns out to be too tight for the author. He is not limited to recreating the picture of an event, but seeks to subject it to analysis, compares facts, explores their connections, studies causes and consequences. The experience of M. Koltsov, A. Gudimov, A. Rubinov, V. Peskov and other well-known domestic publicists shows the wide possibilities of using problem reporting.

A. Gudimov's reports on economic topics were distinguished by their desire to reveal all aspects of the problem being studied, related to the work of capital taxis, traffic police inspectors or grocery store sellers. In his reports related to the “secrets of other people’s professions,” bright episodes interspersed with parts in which the author worked as an experienced economist and carried out complex calculations - numbers became his means of persuasion.

The basis of A. Rubinov's problematic reports is a carefully thought-out experiment. The journalist recreated a well-known life situation - when looking for medicine in a pharmacy or when buying a ticket at a railway ticket office - and then, as a participant in this situation, he comprehensively examined it. In this case, the author’s reasoning, his study of the facts, his emotional reaction to them and his conclusions and suggestions on how to eliminate the shortcomings come to the fore. This is how the journalistic nature of emotional analysis was achieved.

The author’s ability to “conduct” a report and “edit” its parts determines the features of his composition. In cases where the author talks about a journey, his route most often determines the composition of the text. This is how, for example, L. Kolodny’s reports about his “journey” around the capital along the ring road were structured. In other cases, the report is based on finding out the circumstances in which the event took place, on the “search” for the people depicted in the photograph, etc. The author of such a report acts as a researcher; he is required to be able to use a record of a surname or a line from a document as a reason for creating a reportage narrative in which history is directly related to modernity.

The specificity of the report is also evident in its style - emotional, energetic. It is characterized by the active use of means and techniques of figurative representation of reality - a vivid epithet, comparison, metaphor, and so on. And, if required, even some satirical means. The effect of presence, which was mentioned above, seems to include the effect of empathy: the report will achieve its goal if the viewer, together with the reporter, admires, is indignant, and rejoices. And it is no coincidence that a report is often defined as an “artistic document.”

The phrase “special report” most often begins the largest and most detailed material in a News release. Most often it is timed to coincide with an event, often to a specific date, and often there is no “operative reason”: the journalist simply saw something interesting in life and decided to show everyone what he saw. In a special report, the author creates and plays the role of an intelligence officer, an interested observer.

Special reporting is often of different types. On the one hand, this is a much more deeply developed topic of operational reporting, the purpose of which is to give the material more depth and perspective. On the other hand, it could be a story that is dedicated to a person or project that is not bound by a time frame.

This type of report can be broadcast at any time, as needed. Therefore, such reports in newsrooms today are called “canned food.”

But “for events to be of public interest and unknown to competitors, considerable journalistic ingenuity and extensive connections are needed.” Behind this name is the essence of the genre: it is implied that the reporter, when developing such a story, “is obliged to have his own point of view, which will be expressed in a certain selection of opinions and persons.”

But it is still very important not to cross the line beyond which information turns into propaganda. Both in a positive and negative direction. "Our task is to inform society, not to reform it. Journalists cease to be reporters when they begin to think of themselves as missionaries."P. A. Muratov. “TV - The Evolution of Intolerance”, p. 45

And yet journalists can express their attitude to the hero, to the topic, to the phenomenon. Yes, you can’t really hide it in a special report. But the viewer must draw conclusions himself; it is unacceptable for a reporter to draw conclusions for the viewer.

Georgy Kuznetsov, who heads the Department of TV and Radio at the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University, identified the 6 most common mistakes that plague special reports on our TV channels.

Firstly, the main idea is often not thought through: for whom and why is the report being made? Particularly unsuccessful is the display of all kinds of meetings, conferences, and meetings. Instead of boring faces, it is better to show the matter, the object, to outline the problem for which people gather at the meeting. And at the end, present the viewer with an interview with an interesting person who “shone” on the podium with an unconventional thought.

In addition, even if a “flasher” appears in a report, the interview with him, as a rule, should not be prohibitively long, since this destroys the entire dynamics of the plot.

Also, reporters do not always think about a clear dramatic plot structure. For example, quite often the climax of an event is edited first, and then the details come later. But a special report is not information that should be built according to the principle of a pyramid: first the main thing, then the details.