Journalism Is Art
Journalism Is Art Journalism is defined as “writing that reflects superficial thought and research, a popular slant, and hurried composition conceived of as exemplifying topical newspaper or popular magazine writing as distinguished from scholar writing. ” Art is defined as “the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. ” So how are the two related? Journalism and art are related by definition because of two things. First, they are related because they both require superficial thought.
Without creativity or a critical thinking process the article is not going to be different from anyone else’s. What separates the New York Times journalist from a college newspaper journalist? It is not just pay. It is pure experience and creativity. Any good writing requires creative thinking. Each piece of writing is individualized by the character and creativity of the writer Same with art. If everyone thought the same way then we wouldn’t have amazing paintings like the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Devinci or Starry Night by Vincent Van Gaugh that stands out from your local artist.
Each artist has different styles of painting. An example would be modern art and scenery art. Each requires different strongholds in different areas of skill. Just like journalists, one writer may write amazing columns but when it comes to a hard news article they are not as strong. Secondly journalism and art is related by definition because they both have more than ordinary significance. Sylvia, who writes for the TAXI design network quotes, “When we are so deeply moved by an experience that we want to share it with others, we are where art begins. Art does not need to be “understood” or to be enjoyed.
Like life itself, it can simply be experienced. Yet the more we understand what art can offer, the richer our experience of it will be. ” This statement can be related to journalism. As a journalist, we write about what moves us to share or inform others. Articles are not always written to be enjoyed. They are sometimes used to break the most horrid news. These types of articles just can only simply be experienced. This is part of the art of journalism. It is part of life. Good journalism as well as good art has impact on our life. An article may reveal secretes of the government and ddress problems that we should be aware of in our community. Art impacts our life the same way. The painting La Maja Desnuda by Spanish painter Francisco Goya raised much controversy in the late 1700’s. This painting was one of the first nude paintings depicting pubic hair on a woman. Goya was stripped of his position of a Spanish court painter after this painting was revealed. It impacted people, just like journalism. This semester I have had my first experience as a journalist. I am taking a newspaper print class and writing for the school newspaper, The Bridge.
When I first started the class I had no clue what I was getting into. Tight deadlines, different styles of articles, gathering information from sometimes non-willing sources, and the whole separate art of photojournalism were a shock to me. I perceive journalism as an art because of experience. Just like a painting it takes time, creative thought, and has different styles Many people argue that journalism is a dying art or not an art at all. I can agree with the fact that journalism is a dying art. Before television and radio, newspaper print was the only way of circulating the news other than by word of mouth.
It is much different in this day and time. We now have television that have reporters report to us live news. A newspaper can not break the news live for its audience. Newspapers are finding it harder to be successful in this day and time. On the other side of this argument, people have more opportunity to write as a journalist because of internet. It no longer binds us to local writing. A person in Kentucky can write an article for the New York Times and simply send it by e-mail in the matter of seconds. Some people do not think journalism is an art because they have not experienced it for themselves.
Just like me, before I experienced journalism for myself I thought it was just like any other type of writing. These people think journalism is old fashioned and would much rather have their news delivered to them by television, bypassing reading an actual article because they want to be informed the easiest way possible. They believe televised media is more accurate and easier to be comprehended. We need to save the art of print journalism. When was the last time you seen a teenager reading an actual print of the newspaper when they were not in it?
I think schools should make students read news papers to be informed of current issues in the community. This would better improve their reading skills and promote newspaper print. Journalism as an art will only die out if we let it. Work Cited “Art” Dictionary. com Random House, Inc. February 13, 2013. “Journalism”. Dictionary. com. Random House, Inc. February 13, 2013 Sylvia. “Visual Arts- More Than Ordinary Significance” designtaxi. com. TAXI design network August 16, 2005. Web February 3, 2013. “10 Most Famous Paintings of all Time. ”touropia. com. Touropia. October 30, 2010 Web. February 3, 2013 .
