Correio Newspaper | Unparalleled journalism

Today’s journalism faces challenges that journalism in the past, especially on radio and TV, did not, with greater levels of difficulty.

There is no reason to compare the journalism that is used today, let’s call it journalism in the 21st century, and the journalism that was used in the last century. Today is better in every way; comparing here on purpose, to counter criticism on social media from some retired journalists and qualified readers, shall we say, who ‘ preaching the perfection of texts and statements, styles and postures. They – people from the past – did not make mistakes in spelling, punctuation, syntax, agreement, inappropriate use of pronouns, or verb conjugation. They performed their role without faux pas, lapses or mistakes. They believe in this and wear the toga to judge the new generations.

Those who practiced the profession of journalist, in the last century, whether in a newspaper or magazine editorial office, had the support of a copy editor and a team of proofreaders and even so, with this support, the printed vehicles made dozens of mistakes of all kinds. The big newspapers created pills the morning after, sections listing the mistakes made in the previous day’s editorial. And for those who worked in front of the cameras, the support was the teleprompter, if it was in the studio. On the radio, the news was supported by the print media. There is little room for improvisation.

Today’s journalism is facing challenges that journalism in the past, especially on radio and TV, did not have levels of difficulty much greater, in the practice of the profession. The TV news presenter left the bench and the table to walk around the studio and began to have the freedom of an idea, without the straitjacket of the teleprompter through the news, he showed himself and developed improvisational text skills.

The street reporter has become essential to meet the demands of the public and, as the presenter, follows a script, carries out an agenda and investigates, interviews, develops a narrative, informs and clarifying. Do improvise. Make a couple of mistakes in this task. You are not obligated to play Ruy Barbosa or Carneiro Ribeiro.

In addition to all these skills, presenters and reporters, in the electronic media, interact with society, a challenge that journalism did not face in the last century. It was “interacted” through letters from readers, with appropriate control from the editors, or phone calls to the radio station, within a programmed script. And with the emergence of social networks and online news platforms, the journalist had to develop the trust meter to find out where the news came from, if it was from reliable sources.

In the 20th century, the voice of a radio and TV presenter, a linear narrative, was the norm. Today, there is creativity, ease in reporting, a feeling shared by the audience, the ability to interact with all social strata. It’s less dramatic journalism. Closer to society is the focus of the news.

Nelson Cadena is an advertiser and journalist, he writes on Thursday