Journalism and the myth of a 'writing style'

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 02:58

Written by Danilo Araña Arao

In journalism, there is no such thing as “writing style” in the sense that a journalist should learn to adjust his or her manner of communication based on preferences of the audience. If the audience fails to understand the work of a journalist, the problem lies with the journalist, not with the audience.

That’s how much respect a journalist should give to his or her audience. In the context of “writing style,” what matters more is the manner of communication that can be best understood by the media consumers. It is in this context that the saying “Write to express, not to impress” should be appreciated.

These are just some of the major points I raised as I tried to answer as briefly as possible some questions emailed by a mass communication student from New Era University. Allow me to use this space to share my answers.

How long you’ve been working as a writer/blogger?

I’ve been writing since I was a campus journalist in the late 1980s. On the other hand, blogging is relatively new to me as I created my first blog in 2007.

Do you write for a magazine or newspaper?

I write articles for print and online publications. Among them are PJR Reports, Pinoy Weekly, The Lobbyist, Asian Correspondent and Bulatlat Multimedia. I also had the experience of writing for mainstream publications like the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

What are the common problems that you’ve encountered as a writer?

There’s not much space in mainstream print publications for in-depth, serious journalism. This partly explains why I write more for the alternative media.
What technique or style do you usually prefer in writing?

I write in a manner that can be understood by a publication’s target audience. This simply means that I adjust based on the preferences of the audience, even when it comes to choice of language (i.e., English or Filipino).

What topic do you usually write about? How would you describe the people you expect to read your works?

I write about journalism, media criticism, politics, culture and economics. Given the reach of the Internet, I would like to think that my readers are varied although a substantial number of them are Filipinos or foreigners who understand the Filipino language as I write regularly in Filipino.

Who are your favorite authors? Why?

Among writers in Filipino, I like Jun Cruz Reyes and Pete Lacaba. As regards foreign authors, I like Ernest Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Robert Fisk. All of them have something in common: They are easy to read and their intended message can be understood as they use the simplest of words and construct the simplest of sentences.

Being a feature writer, who are the famous people that you had interviewed?

Famous is such a subjective term. If you’re referring to celebrities, I don’t usually interview them. People I talk to are “ordinary” but they have something extraordinary to say.

Who are the people that inspire you?

Inspiration, just like the word “famous,” is a subjective term. But if this is in the context of motivation to continue writing, I can safely say that appreciation of social reality pushes journalists like me to continue despite the dangers reporting the truth could bring. I get motivated by people I meet whose commitment to what they are fighting for is immensely greater than mine, whose sense of sacrifice is beyond explanation (and would even border on the insane if one does not fully understand the context of their actions).

What is your advice to those who want to become writers?

They should learn not just the principles of good writing but also the ethics of journalism to which they should strictly adhere.

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