Analyzing Journalistic Forms: Story, Report, and Interview Structure

Journalistic Genres: Story, Report, and Interview

The News Story: Depth and Development

The story is a news piece that develops a sense of spaciousness and depth. Its objective is to complement other sources of information, such as:

• Direct evidence
• Statements by key figures
• New data
• Detailed descriptions of the environment
• Information graphics

Sometimes, the story includes other texts, separated from the main content using typographic resources, which supplement the report.

Structure of the News Story

Its structure is basically like the news: entry and body. However, two elements feature prominently:

1. The first paragraph, which must prove attractive to the reader.
2. The last paragraph, which should close the text suggestively.

The extension is highly variable, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish a story from a feature, except by its style.

The Report: Narrative and Descriptive Journalism

The report, which is always signed, predominantly uses narrative and descriptive texts. Although its intent is objective, it often possesses a more personal style than standard news reporting.

The report discusses varied topics of interest, whether or not they relate to current actuality. Examples include:

• The centenary of a historic event or the birth of a character.
• A tradition or a cultural event.

This type of journalism occurs more frequently in weekly or monthly publications and can support interpretive elements. Sometimes, reports have great literary value. Notable examples of literary journalism include Gabriel García Márquez's Story of a Shipwreck and News of a Kidnapping.

The Interview: Conversation and Character Focus

The interview (or interview appointment) reproduces a conversation that alternates the interventions of the interviewer and the interviewee. Interviews can be categorized based on their focus:

• Statements or Information: If the interest lies in the issue being discussed.
• Personality or Psychological: If the focus is on the character. (These are usually longer and often incorporate graphic elements.)

Closed questionnaires, featuring short and varied questions, are also common today.

Interview Structure and Style

The text is typically divided into two sections:

1. The Presentation: This section introduces the character (age, profession, position, etc.) and the reason for the interview.
2. Question-Answer Turns: The dialogue itself.

The interview can deviate from a purely objective approach toward an interpretive one, leading some to consider it a mixed genre. The style varies greatly depending on the type of interview conducted.