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Correspondence Report Writing

The document discusses correspondence report writing and cyber journalism. It defines correspondence writing as the exchange of information through written or digital communication like letters, emails and reports. A correspondent is a journalist who covers a particular area for a media organization and files reports from remote locations. Good correspondence reporting requires qualities like being a good analyst, being prepared, being persistent, and having ICT skills. Rules for correspondence report writing include maintaining objectivity, avoiding conflicts of interest, and ensuring reports serve the general welfare. Cyber journalism uses online tools like social media, blogs and websites to disseminate and access information. Effective online writing requires identifying the target audience, objectives, appropriate channel and using plain, friendly language.

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Harry Zayn
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1K views5 pages

Correspondence Report Writing

The document discusses correspondence report writing and cyber journalism. It defines correspondence writing as the exchange of information through written or digital communication like letters, emails and reports. A correspondent is a journalist who covers a particular area for a media organization and files reports from remote locations. Good correspondence reporting requires qualities like being a good analyst, being prepared, being persistent, and having ICT skills. Rules for correspondence report writing include maintaining objectivity, avoiding conflicts of interest, and ensuring reports serve the general welfare. Cyber journalism uses online tools like social media, blogs and websites to disseminate and access information. Effective online writing requires identifying the target audience, objectives, appropriate channel and using plain, friendly language.

Uploaded by

Harry Zayn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CORRESPONDENCE REPORT WRITING

INTRODUCTION

Correspondence literally means exchange of information; news, report, write-up,


official bulletin, internal or external memo. It therefore means the exchange of
information through report writing for the purpose of communication.

Correspondence writing calls for brevity, clarity, simplicity of language and logical
organization of material as desirable in all writing. The report should be action
oriented and must contain precise information.

In terms of definition, Correspondence Writing can also be described as any


written or digital communication exchange by two or more parties. It may come in
the form of letter, emails, text messages, voice mails, notes or postcards.
Correspondences are important for communication practice because they unveil
events as they happened.

In communication practice like journalism and broadcast reporting,


correspondence writing entails the processes involved in coverage, gathering and
dissemination of news for a media organisation around the globe.

According to National Open University Nigeria, “a correspondent is a staff of a


media organization who is working as a full time staff or a freelancer outside the
domain of the organization. A correspondent resides and operates from a different
city or country from the media organization cited. Out there, the correspondent
plans and manages his/her time to ensure that the area of coverage is adequately
covered and information transmitted home on a regular basis. However, the word
has acquired a modern connotation that shows that it is now used for
reporting/writers who operate from the headquarters or home office every day.
And example is when media organizations make reference to their correspondent
in government”.

WHO IS A CORRESPONDENT

1. He/She is a seasoned professional reporter who covers a particular beat for


his or her organization. He/she is a beat reporter and very knowledgeable in
his or her areas of coverage.
2. He/She could also be referred to as a seasoned journalist that moves around
sourcing for news reports and events for his or her organization.
3. He or She is always in charge of the organisation’s news bureaus or offices
in major cities or towns outside of where the headquarters is located.

QUALITIES OF GOOD CORRESPONDENCE REPORTING

1. He must be a good analyst


2. Must always be prepared
3. Must be persistent
4. Must be specialist in his or her chosen field
5. Must be ICT compliant
6. Must be a career oriented journalist
7. Must be courageous and fearless
8. Must have the ability to report promptly

RULES IN CORRESPONDENCE REPORT WRITING

1. By virtue of training, a correspondent should be aware of the importance of


stereotypes, taboos, superstition and other factors in influencing attitudes
and opinions of media writers.
2. Be open minded and objective as it is humanly possible to be and to be
aware of any emotional obstacles to overcome in seeking the truth and to
understand the behaviour of others.
3. Do not allow prejudices to colour your stories. Most media organization can
be conservative as expressed in their editorial policies. Sometimes, this plays
out in the type of story they choose to cover or left. A professional journalist
becomes more liberal as he/she gets exposure through assignment.
4. Maintain your integrity even on a medium whose policies are personally
shady. The time to say ‘no’ to what you don’t believe when asked to is on
the first occasion.
5. You must guard against conflict of interest by avoiding controversial
community issues. As journalists, your responsibility is to be dispassionate
and fair in covering public issue. Your role is to report and not to participate
in those issues in order to maintain our neutrality. The public’s right to know
of events of public importance and interest is the overriding mission of the
mass media.
6. The purpose of distributing news and enlightened opinion is to serve the
general welfare. Journalists who use their profession, status as representative
of the public for selfish or other unworthy motives violate a high trust people
have in them.
GOALS OF CORRESPONDENCE REPORT WRITING
1. Truthfulness should be the ultimate goal

2. Objectivity in reporting the news is another goal.

3. There are no excuses for inaccuracy or lack of thoroughness.

4. Headlines should be fully warranted by the content of the article.


5. Sound practice makes clear distinction between news reports and expression
of opinion.

WRITING FOR THE ON-LINE JOURNALISM (CYBER JOURNALISM)

Writing effective text for the web is more than just stringing words together and
hoping for the best. It goes beyond just conveying the information. On-line
journalism involves the process where computers connected to the internet are used
in the dissemination and retrieval of information. Cyber journalism is a new
technology from what is originally known as traditional mass media. Through this
medium people can access, receive and retrieve information and also learn about
anything that bothers on their interest.

CYBER JOURNALISM TOOLS

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Youtube
4. Instagram
5. Web page newspaper
6. Blogs
7. Search engines

All of the above and many others encourage participation, conversation and
communities that can help spread key messages, influence decision making and
promote behavior change. They help to reach people when, where, and how and
affect lives either positively and negatively.
WRITING SKILLS FOR ON-LINE JOURNALISM

1. Identify your target audience


2. Determine your objectives
3. Select the appropriate channel for your message
4. Apply plain language best practices
5. Do not use phrases that are not commonly understood by most people
6. Write in a friendly but professional tone

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