Journalistic Texts: Types, Structures, and Interpretations

Journalistic Texts

Types of Journalistic Texts

The following are some common types of journalistic texts, categorized by their purpose and style:

• News: An objective account of a fact. The headline highlights the most important aspect of the story.
• Report: An informative text prepared by the newspaper's documentation service.
• Story: Combines information and interpretation, as the journalist presents facts as they have witnessed them.
• Chronicle: Relates current events and provides an analysis of them.
• Interview: The reproduction of a dialogue between a journalist and a person.
• Grandstand: A newspaper article in which a known figure outlines their ideas or opinions on an issue linked to the present.
• Column: An opinion piece signed by a regular newspaper contributor.
• Editorial: An unsigned article appearing in the opinion section of the newspaper.
• Criticism: An article where a journalist or expert expresses their opinion about a book, play, movie, concert, etc.

Communicative Aspects of Journalistic Texts

• Issuer: The journalist.
• Receiver: The general public reading the text.
• Channel: The media (press, radio, TV).
• Code: Different types of language are used in each medium.

Print Media

Print media are classified according to the frequency with which news reports are published and the content they contain.

Structure of a Newspaper

Newspapers are divided into sections, primarily to make it easier for the reader to navigate. The most common sections are devoted to politics, general news, and specialized areas (art, sports, economy, etc.).

Interpretative Journalism

There are three general categories of journalistic texts:

1. Texts that report objectively (news and report).
2. Texts in which the journalist is involved or has evaluated the events (reportage, interview, chronicle).
3. Texts in which the reporter comments on current events or expresses their ideas (opinion, criticism).