Reasons for Popularity of Pictures-Feature and Coloumn Writing-Lecture Handout, Exercises of Mass Communication

Download Reasons for Popularity of Pictures-Feature and Coloumn Writing-Lecture Handout and more Exercises Mass Communication in PDF only on Docsity! LESSON 09 SELECTION OF PICTURES, ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS Many have undoubtedly heard many a time the old cliché “one picture is worth 10,000 words.” This Chinese proverb helps to explain the popular appeal of news pictures. Never every reader-interest survey reveals a dominating interest in ‘picture’ material. Jack Woodford, a successful pulp novelist and non-fiction author, gives over 50 per cent weight age to write-ups and pictures. Reasons for popularity of pictures: They bring us closer to an event by enabling us to see with our own eyes what a writer has seen with his. Secondly, they somehow seem more truthful than news stories although, of course, pictures can be faked just as can news stories of poverty-stricken children in the foreign countries are hard for many of us to believe, but seeing a picture of these under-nourished children in bread lines and soup kitchens make the situation appear real. Thirdly, they help us to feel that the persons about whom we read are real people. We see in our paper names of presidents, English royalty and Hollywood stars, but they remain just names until we can associate their names with their pictures. Fourthly, they help to point up or increase the human interest of feature stories. Lastly, they help to enhance the make-up of a paper by giving variety and vitality to it. Pictures appeal vividly to our past experience as well as to certain basic drives or deep seated tendencies, which most humans possess in various degrees of intensity. The following list is not all-inclusive, but it should serve to classify the principal appeals made by the general run of the newspaper pictures: 1. Struggle (including certain sports) 2. Fear 3. Sympathy 4. Children 5. Animals 6. Obscenity or Nudity (in limited cases) 7. Beauty 8. Play 9. Familiarity 10. Humor Writing is not the only thing, pictures and maps do the rest of the job No doubt, the importance of a good write-up can never be undermined, but in the present-day journalism, one can never consider pictures, illustrations and maps of lesser value. These actually contribute towards the general understanding of the feature, and one must be considering readers’ constraints of time while writing long features sans illustrations. A picture communicates better than a thousand words When a picture is placed along with the article, if a reader does not read the feature, he can actually see a picture and makes an impression. Sometimes, a picture stays in mind for very long instead of the words related to that particular illustration. People of all ages see pictures, if don’t read All cannot read but all can see except the blind ones. And those who see always remember But pictures can motivate the ‘viewers’ to read the feature If a reader is not interested in reading any feature, a good picture can make him read the article, as his interest can be incited through visuals. It is an international language understood by even the illiterate docsity.com A good picture or illustration can be understood by any person, speaking any language or living in any country. Succinctly, a feature can go unnoticed, but not a noticeable picture. What have not been able to write, you can say it through pictures? There are many occasions in the life of a journalist when he cannot write something owing to certain pressures on him, but a photographer can solve his problem with the picture. Or the writer can come up with an illustration to say something sans getting into troubled waters. Selection of pictures Careful and cautious One must be very careful and cautious in the selection of the pictures, as these carry a really huge importance in the over-all impression of the feature. Related to the subject Only those pictures and illustrations should be considered for publication, which are relevant to the subject under discussion. Be certain that you have made the right choices from among the pictures and illustrations you have collected for the publication. Arousing interest Pictures should be evoking the interest of the readers in the features and they must feel like reading the text. Bringing beauty to the pages In present day world when the reader is fighting against running time, and he always feel that some thing visual should satisfy his urge for knowledge, then pictures and illustrations help him. Moreover, these also bring beauty to the pages. Keeping in mind editorial policy of the newspaper Selection of the pictures and illustrations must be made according to the Editorial policy of the newspaper. Most of the newspapers do not allow the usage of obscene or nude pictures; hence it is binding upon the writer and sub-editor or editor to select pictures and illustrations. Supporting the subject and its theme These must be supporting the subject or the angle of the story. Contradiction in the portrayal could destroy the over-all impact of the feature. Clear pictures These should be clear as blurred pictures irritate the reader. However, if the picture is pretty old or taken from a distant angle, but if it carries importance, then it can be printed. However, effort must be that all illustrations and pictures should be clear. Black and white pictures can be printed In this age of colored newspapers, black and white pictures and illustrations can be used. However, coloring of these pictures should be avoided. However, it is not binding as well. Local pictures Preference should be to use local pictures. Whenever, foreign pictures are used along with local features, it looks odd. Under compulsion, it can be done. docsity.com