8 Types of Journalism to Explore — Which One Is Right for You?
By: Kamna Rishiraj
Tags: Journalism, Investigative Journalism, Journalists, Tips And Tricks, Career Paths

Journalism in India took its first steps in public under colonisation. The first newspaper in India — The Bengal Gazette was published on 29th January 1780 marking the official beginning of journalism in India. In that era, print journalism was the sole predominant form of journalism but today, one can explore numerous types of journalism in India.

There are various types of journalism used depending on the topic and preference of the writer. Individuals interested in a career in journalism can narrow their search to focus on a specific specialty that would allow them to identify positions that are best suited to their skills, qualifications and interests. Learning about the different types of journalism can help individuals to decide what specialty they would prefer to work in.

The list below can help you understand the different types of journalism and select ones you are interested in pursuing.

1. Crime Journalism 2. Entertainment Journalism 3. Fashion Journalism 4. Investigative Journalism 5. Online Journalism 6. Photo Journalism 7. Political Journalism 8. Sports Journalism

Crime Journalism

A crime journalist writes and researches about criminal events for media outlets like newspapers, television, magazines or other platforms. These journalists also conduct interviews and also attend court hearings. From murder to some manipulation in the stock market, anything that is against the code of law is a criminal offence. So, a crime journalist covers all kinds of crimes be it a mysterious homicide or money embezzlement at an MNC.

Entertainment Journalism

Entertainment journalism relates to the current events of popular figures and trends. Entertainment journalists report on the entertainment business, including celebrities, movies, television, books and events. Entertainment journalists may cover movie premiers and awards ceremonies as well as news in the entertainment industry.

Fashion Journalism

A fashion journalist is the one who utilizes their knowledge, skills and creativity to keep the enthusiast up to date with the newest and latest trends and news within the industry. Journalism in the department of fashion features a wide range and selection of opportunities. Writers, photographers, presenters, editors, and art directors fall under the category of a fashion journalist. The duty of a fashion journalist is to keep an eye on the ever-changing world of fashion and inform the aficionados about it.

Investigative Journalism

Investigative journalism deals with objectively working towards uncovering the hidden truth or facts on a given matter, person, topic of interest or an event/occasion. An investigative journalist finds the facts by studying cases that require tons of efforts. Investigative journalism often requires more time to plan, prepare and research, and is typically a longer form to fully report details of research, findings and conclusions.

Online Journalism

Online journalism is the latest type of journalism. As the name suggests, online journalism reports facts through internet media, such as digital newspapers, blogs or social media. Just like traditional journalism, online journalists create and deliver content that objectively reports the facts of a situation or event. Online journalist deliver information quickly to audiences through online media without delays for print layout, processing and delivery or broadcast time slots.

With variety of easily accessible platforms, cyber or online journalism has risen to popularity. A number of channels dedicated to journalism are followed on Youtube. Even various TV and Print media houses have started going digital through blogs, websites, youtube and different social media applications.

Photo Journalism

Photojournalists use photography to record and report newsworthy events to the general public. These journalists use specialized technology, including cameras, computers and editing software to share impactful images of events with their audience. Photojournalists capture and preserve a record of specific moments in order that they are often saved and shared with others.

Political Journalism

Political journalism focuses on politics, government and political candidates. It covers different segments of political activity, such as local, national or international news. This is considered as one of the serious types of journalism. Political journalists often report on the activities of elected officials, political processes and the results of political work. It includes reporting political news and conducting investigative and watchdog reporting to ensure that the public has access to information about political activity.

Sports Journalism

Sports journalism focuses on the topic of athletic news. Sports journalists report standings, rankings and scores for different teams or athletes in different sporting events. This type of journalism comes with additional perks like watching live sports events, travelling to different places and it even provides you with the opportunity to meet sportsperson and interview them. To work in this field, one must have knowledge of the sport, must be omnipresent and must have good communication skills.

Every type of journalism has its own way of functioning and challenges. For some, one needs to be extremely focused and conscious whereas, some types are more relaxed. So, which type of journalism suits you the best is up to your preferences.