PROTOTYPE OF A BOOK REVIEW

This is a sample of a book review of Specialized Reporting by Abiodun Apooyin. Enjoy!

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                  INTRODUCTION

Ever since the days of the legendary Iwe Irohin in 1859, dearth of books that could be of assistance to journalism practitioners in Nigeria, starred the profession in the face. Distastefully too, the harsh economic situation in the country also made it impossible for the average journalist, especially those in the print media to afford relevant books by foreign authors.

Expectedly, these problems teamed up to frustrate every effort of the journalist at improving on the needed skill required on the job. Again, publishers and those who employ the services of the journalists force them into working without knowing that there is great need for retraining programmes to continuously update the journalist.

But with a book like Specialized Reporting, written by ‘Biodun Apooyin a veteran journalist, beginners, especially those who want to specialize in Beat Reporting have every cause to smile, because the future as far as journalism is concerned is beginning to be bright as those with experience on the job are beginning to put down for posterity. If the trend continues, dearth of books will most likely disappear this millennium.

Certainly, the book is a must-have educational book for students of Journalism and Mass communication in the Monotechnics, Polytechnics and Universities, practitioners in both print and electronic media, as well as lecturers in both the academic and professional strata, who need to update their skills in the art of specialized reporting.

THE REVIEW

Title of Book:                Specialized Reporting

Author:                         ‘Biodun Apooyin

First Publication:          2003

Second Publication:      2011

Publisher:                      Batapin Associates

Place of Publication:     Lagos

Number of pages:           162

Price:                              #700

Reviewer:                      Timothy Asomba

                             LANGUAGE USAGE

The author’s language is in a simple pedagogic style which makes the book easy to read and understand.

Moreso, the words are very clear due to the font size used, which will definitely attract high readership.

BODY OF THE TEXT

This book is broadly arranged into 17 Chapters with each chapter highlighting on specialized areas such as education, health, law, labour, politics and science. Other areas are wireless services, human rights, finance, agriculture, fashion and sports.

                             CHAPTER ONE

                             INTRODUCTION

This chapter introduces the student to the need for specialized reporting. According to the book, specialized reporting emanated as a result of varied nature of consumers of information from mass media, who by nature are influenced by their different culture, attitudes, interest and above all; their behaviours.

Meanwhile, the chapter explains that reporting generally involves news gathering and news writing. It also classified media writing to include; the inverted pyramid (upside down triangle), the normal triangle, the rectangle and the combination of both the triangle and the rectangle.

In addition, the chapter explains the major objectives of specialized reporting, while reeling out the different sources of news, qualities of a good reporter, determinants of newsworthy events, the modern trend of newspaper production, the tasks a good reporter must meet and the secrets of good writing.

  

                             CHAPTER TWO

                   EDUCATION REPORTING

This chapter explains that for a reporter in the education beat to leave up to expectation, she/he must familiarize herself/himself with knowledge of the machineries of the beat, cutting across Local, State and Federal Government units or Ministries, to educational institutions.

The chapter goes on in clearly defining the objectives of education especially in the Nigerian context. This it stated that education aims at giving the child an all-round development so as to become useful to himself as well as the society which he belongs.

                            

CHAPTER THREE

                        MEDICAL REPORTING

This chapter explains that most media organizations recognize the importance of medical reporting in nation building that they now recruit scientifically qualified reporters on their staff list.

Moreso, it explains that one general rule guiding medical reporting is the cross-checking of sources, which comprises of official and non-official sources.

                            

CHAPTER FOUR

     HEALTH REPORTING

This chapter as differentiated from medical reporting, delved on the definition of health, types of health, various health institutions and diseases, so that the specialized reporter would further be enhanced in the discharge of his reportorial function.

                                      CHAPTER FIVE 

      SCIENCE REPORTING

This chapter discusses the need for reportage of scientific discoveries by news media organizations (print/electronic) for the sociological, civil and medical benefit of the readers or listeners.

It also recommends scholarly guidelines for reporters reporting science news. In addition to this, the chapter enlightens readers on the advent and need for meteorological news in the Nigerian media scene, which it says supplies readers and listeners authentic statistics about weather to enable them prepare for their daily assignments.

                                       CHAPTER SIX

NEWS REPORTS FROM CRIME/ POLICE BEATS

Seen by most reporters as the most sensitive and tasking beat to cover, this chapter simplified the rules and ethics guiding the beat, while reeling out its terminologies, to aid greenhorns in the beat avoid incessant cases of defamation against their news organization, as a result of cases they may have reported unethically.

                                      CHAPTER SEVEN

JUDICIAL/ COURT REPORTING

In this chapter, the rules, ethics and technicalities in the terminologies of law is simplified for the court reporter to avoid incurring unnecessary cases of defamation against his media organization.

Moreso, the sources and divisions of Nigerian law are also highlighted in the chapter.

        CHAPTER EIGHT

                                  BUSINESS REPORTING

The willingness by news media audiences to know the unusual events in business industry, this chapter explains necessitated business reporting.

However, the chapter simplified the everyday terminologies used by the business reporter in his reportage of daily business activities.

            CHAPTER NINE

                        COVERAGE OF LABOUR MOVEMENT

BEGINNING OF TRADE UNIONS

This chapter crept into the advent of labour movement dating back the pre-colonial era till the Fourth Republic in Nigeria.

CHAPTER TEN

             POLITICAL REPORTING

This chapter explains that it is the sole responsibility of the political reporter to report activities in beats spanning political arena to the house of assemblies and political party theatres. It also helps in familiarizing reporters to political institutions available in the country.

                             CHAPTER ELEVEN

                         THE WIRELESS SERVICES

                     -NEWS AGENCIES

This chapter attempts to teach the students what necessitated News Agencies throughout the world. It however, explains that in order to serve as a fountain of information, knowledge and enlightenment from which the media could drain its content either partly or wholly, the need for news agencies became expedient.

Meanwhile, the chapter made mention of available  international wireless services, even as it came back home to delve on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), its aims, editorial policy, subscribers and its weaknesses.

                                CHAPTER TWELVE

GOVERNMENT REPORTING

This chapter justifies the need for journalists to close the communication gap between the governed and the governors, thereby stimulating the interest and participation of the citizenry in government affairs through reporting government’s activities, whether good or bad.

However, the chapter highlighted the need for reporters in this beat to cultivate a relationship with sources, both elected and appointed officials.

                             CHAPTER THIRTEEN

        ENTERTAINMENT, FASHION, ARTS AND CULTURE

This chapter notes that beats like entertainment, fashion etc apart from their interest to readers, also attract lucrative advertising to the paper, thus, the need for their reportage. It however, gave insight to what is expected of reporters to fare well the aforementioned beats.

                             CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE, PROPERTY ENVIRONMENT

This chapter discusses the intricacies involved in reporting well the environment, agriculture and property beat, while also highlighting on the housing problems in Nigeria and mortgage finance and housing.

                             CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ENERGY REPORTING

This chapter explains that two prominent sectors that fall under this beat are the petroleum and electric power sectors.

However, due to the major role of petroleum in Nigeria’s economy, the chapter focused in discussing the petroleum industry, while providing useful information for the reporter in the beat.

    CHAPTER SIXTEEN

       HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTING

       HUMAN RIGHTS EXPLAINED

Owing to countless abuses of human rights in many countries throughout the world, this chapter calls for the exposure of media practitioners on human rights issues, which it will in turn stimulate its awareness in the citizens via its reportage.

Moreso, the chapter highlights on how to report human rights cases, duties of journalists in reporting human rights cases and lastly, the classification of human right cases.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SPORTS REPORTING

This last chapter highlights the intricacies involved in reporting sporting activities, while explaining the skills required of a reporter to fare well in the beat.

CONCLUSION

The book “Specialized Reporting” is a masterpiece by ‘Biodun Apooyin and a commendable appraisal should be accorded him for a job well done.

The technical designing of the book was well packaged in terms of the hard cover page. The illustration of communication gadgets used on the front cover page to signify the integral tools of mass communication also depicts the title of the book, and its content.

The font sizes and the paragraphing of the work were well done which enables readers to clearly read the book when they get hold of it.

      RECOMMENDATION

No doubt, Specialized Reporting is a practical course of endeavour in Journalism. However, the writer has done well in the step by step approach and x-raying of most of what need to be known about the book.

Though, I still suggest that in subsequent editions, the writer should clarify the ignorance of most students and cub practitioners of journalism by including practical examples to buttress how stories in various beats are reported. Perhaps, these practical examples could be lifted from Nigerian newspapers.