Getting the Whole Story: Reporting and Writing the News

by Cheryl Gibbs and Tom Warhover

Guildford Press, September, 2002.
Trade Paperback, 451 pages.
ISBN: 1572307951

Getting the Whole Story: Reporting and Writing the News by Cheryl Gibbs and Tom Warhover

Getting the Whole Story is a comprehensive introductory reference for journalists. It covers news writing, interviewing, reporting, journalism careers and ethics. The book provides information about reporting skills: finding sources, interviewing, observation and note-taking, framing stories, using photographs, covering a beat and writing features. The book also covers specific news writing concepts, such as the different types of news stories like the inverted pyramid -- a story in which the most important information is found at the top of the story. Other topics covered in the book include journalists' rights and responsibilities and information about finding a journalism career.

Authors Cheryl Gibbs and Tom Warhover are both journalism professors with experience in the field. Cheryl Gibbs is an assistant professor of journalism at Earlham College and has worked as an editor, reporter and writer for two small newspapers. Tom Warhover is an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has also been a reporter and editor at the Virginian-Pilot. The authors give insight into how journalism and reporting work, with additional references and web links to more information. Exercises and discussion questions are also provided. Readers will come away from the book with an understanding of what journalism is, the kind of work editors and reporters do and the complex issues involved in the field of journalism. This is a excellent guide for novice journalists with information and answers on all aspects of journalism. Anyone interested in a career in journalism and improving their news writing and reporting skills will find this book very useful.

Getting the Whole Story: Reporting and Writing the News is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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This review was published in the December - January, 2003 of The Internet Writing Journal.