Fundamentals of Journalistic Communication

Journalistic Articles

These are articles disseminated through mass media to transmit information of social interest.

Pragmatic Elements of Journalism

When considering the dissemination of information, we may identify the following key elements:

1. The Company: The media owner through which news is disseminated.
2. The Source: The origin of the information. This often includes news agencies, which supply news to media outlets and have correspondents worldwide, or press offices, which are groups of journalists providing information.
3. The Journalist: The individual who writes the information. Sometimes, one journalist writes while another manages the entire news production process.

Information broadcast is typically one-way, with no immediate response expected from the issuer.

The communication channel can be visual (print), audio (radio), or audiovisual (television).

The language code can vary:

• Iconographic: An image accompanying text.
• Icon-acoustic: The code used by radio and TV jingles.
• Paralinguistic: Additional resources used to emphasize information.

The primary functions of journalistic articles are to inform, educate, and shape public opinion.

Journalistic Genres

Informational Genres

These genres primarily aim to report objectively and are characterized by clarity, brevity, and accuracy, though journalistic language can sometimes contain flaws and inaccuracies.

• News: An objective account of a factual event of public interest.
• Report: Seeks to expand upon and prioritize a recent news item.
• Interview: A dialogue between a journalist and an individual, which can be informative or personality-focused.

Opinion and Review Genres

These genres involve information or events evaluated subjectively, sharing characteristics with nonfiction texts.

• Editorial: The newspaper's official opinion on a current event.
• Opinion Article/Column: An opinion piece signed by a journalist or contributor on a specific topic.
• Letters to the Editor: Readers' opinions about a topic or about something published in the media.

Hybrid Genres

These genres combine elements of both information and opinion.

• Chronicle: An account of current events that reflects the author's point of view.
• Review: Information and commentary on subjects such as movies, books, or performances.