Reporting - this is what?

Genre reportage is extremely popular in the Russian and foreign press from time immemorial. No self-respecting publication can do without it, because the report opens a lot of information and descriptive opportunities for the journalist, which help to convey to the reader the maximum amount of information about any actual event of social reality.

The term "reportage"

The explanation of how the report is unique is contained in the definition of this genre. So, the reportage is a genre of information journalism, whose main goal is the transfer of actual information directly from the scene, that is, "the eyes" of the author. This helps to create the impression of the reader that he himself is present in the course of developments, sees everything described in the report.

It should be noted that the term "reportage" appeared in Russian from the English report, which means "transfer". The translation of this concept limits reporting by itself to the framework of the system of information genres of journalism, since it is not to analyze information, to search for interconnections, to find out the reasons and to anticipate possible consequences. The author simply needs to tell the audience what he sees, to notice some small but important details that will be invisible to the philistine eye and that will help the recipients to make as clear a view of the event as possible, about the people present at the scene, about the surrounding situation.

History of the reportage

In its initial meaning, the reportage is a note of travelers, people who were present at the miracle with the hands of God, with any catastrophes, etc. It was not a genre of journalism, but, it may be said, was born before it, How it took shape in a harmonious system.

One of the first unwitting reporters was the ancient Greek scientist and traveler Herodotus, who explored Asia Minor, the Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East. He wrote down everything he saw. These records later formed a guiding log, which, in fact, was a report.

With the advent of the printing press , the report also changed. It was already almost a formed genre, to which journalists constantly turned. In the 18th century, in England, newspaper employees were given the right to attend parliamentary sessions and transmit information "from the scene." The correspondents stenographed the information they had heard, made notes about the participants of the meeting, atmosphere and wrote the appropriate material, of course, in the reporting genre.

At the end of the 19th century, America and Europe had a "golden age" of reporting. Genre finally took shape and acquired today's features. Journalists paid special attention to travel to unknown parts of the planet (forests, jungles), as well as the secrets of the surrounding society, the most egregious crimes that were difficult to disclose. William Stead, Nelly Bly, Henry Stanley - these are just a few journalists who worked in the genre of "reporting". They were real masters of their business, undertaking the most desperate actions to sort out any problem.

Types of reportage

The most striking, characteristic and often encountered types of this genre include an event reportage, a special reportage, a reportage-investigation and a reportage-commentary.

Event reporting is a narrative of 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 that he sees. He needs to pick up the most striking facts and episodes. The most important thing in this reporting is to create an "effect of presence".

A special report is A variant that presupposes the development and description of an actual topic, as well as the familiarity of the audience with the results of any situation.

The reportage-investigation assumes reception of the information on any problem case from numerous sources, by means of interview for an explanation of all picture of an event.

The reportage commentary is focused on a detailed study of the faces of the event described. The author should correctly and clearly explain every detail.

Functions, subject and method of reporting

From the point of view of these parameters it is necessary to characterize any journalistic genre. So, the reportage is a significant actual event that will be of interest to society. Function is the transfer of author's impressions, a detailed description of all that is happening. The method is the creation of a "presence effect" in recipients.

Composition of the reportage

To write a sharp report, which will be interesting to read, you need to adhere to a certain structure. It can be conditionally divided into three parts: the outset of the action (it should contain a bright event that attracts attention), the main part (description of what is happening) and the results of the reportage (author's attitude to the event, his comments). It is important to understand that the reportage is not an analytical genre, therefore the journalist should not search for the cause, the relationship and make the forecasts when writing the material.