Review from Bernd Merkel

2007-06-06T10:16:25+01:00

Please find below the book review Bernd Merkel (Head of Studies Master of Arts in Journalism) of the Nancy Graham Holm book “Fascination - Viewer Friendly TV Journalism”. Feel free to read the review and forward it to your colleagues.

FASCINATION – VIEWER FRIENDLY TV JOURNALISM
Nancy Graham Holm, Publishing House Ajour, Danish School of Journalism, 2007

„Information alone does not inform“ – what counts for print and radio, counts even more for television. If we don’t tell a story, we don’t reach the audience. The young generation of media consumers doesn’t exercise the patience any more to watch poorly constructed contributions simply because they seek to transport bare information, even if these contributions have been produced in honorable intent. If TV journalists disregard the rules of viewer friendly TV journalism, they loose their viewers.

Nancy Graham Holm points out the failings of many news contributions but also longer formats. A huge amount of what we watch on TV still carries the mark of print journalists, and their main idea seems to be: pictures are emotions, words are intellectual. And, unfortunately, many young TV journalists copy what seniors exemplify.

Less reporting, more storytelling – this is one of the most important recipes the author advises. According to Nancy Graham Holm, viewer friendly TV journalism is a blend of information, identification (with the viewers), and fascination. She proves this on the basis of many practical examples, using direct and diverting language. The book is not thought for beginners, but for TV journalists who already have some experience and are ready to question their journalistic routine.

The author looks back on more than 20 years experience as a TV journalist. As a head of department at the Danish school of journalism, she has been working for many years on the question: How does the curriculum for the new generation of TV journalists have to look like? What does it have to provide? Her book is not written in the chant of academic books. Also its appearance differs: It comes in handy soft-cover format, caricatures liven up the abundance of professional tips. One can easily pick out a single chapter, put the book aside for a while, and start reading again in another chapter without loosing continuity. The useful glossary (from „angle“ to „zig zag“) at the end of the book is helpful also for internationally working TV journalists who are dependant on standardized professional codes.

Another excellence of the book: Graham Holm points out complex problems of everyday routine in TV journalism, always seen with the eyes of journalists. With „best practice” tips at the end of each of the 12 chapters, presenting the concentrate of viewer friendly TV journalism. One example reflects the book’s ‘spirit’ especially well: „Show me! Don’t tell us.“ This is what TV journalism is about.

Bernd Merkel
MAZ – The Swiss School of Journalism, Lucerne

Media Education: Sociology Surveys

2007-02-12T14:37:07+01:00

This publication by Alexander Fedorov can be found (in both English and Russian) on:
http://edu.of.ru/mediaeducation/default.asp?ob_no=2432

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Fascination: Viewer Friendly TV Journalism

2007-02-12T14:19:13+01:00

Post your review of this new instruction book for TV journalism by Nancy Graham Holm. More information can be found on the homepage.