SEE IT THEN: Notes on Television Journalism - Nieman Notes - Scrapbook

Oct 13, 2026

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Nieman Reports presents an editorial and reflective framework for understanding television journalism, focusing on how TV may shape public awareness or divert attention through constructed stories on real people, situations, and events. It compiles questions and journalistic discussion, including the impact of TV’s growing influence on news character, speed, depth, and prestige compared with newspapers, magazines, and radio. It also outlines major television show categories and introduces a related Nieman Notes scrapbook segment.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

SEE IT THEN

Notes on Television Journalism

Reviews—Nieman Notes—Scrapbook

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Niemaneports # SEE IT THEN Tomorrow's TV JournalismRobert Drew Rewrite ManJoseph G.Herzberg My Thirty Years WarWilliam M.Tugman Charles Duncan The Tugman-Baker Team Low Man on the Totem PoleArmistead Pride International Press InstituteHenry Tanner Can the Press Help Build a Free World?Mark Ethridge Get WritingLouis M.Lyons The Haps as They HappenLawrence E.Laybourne # Reviews—Nieman Notes—Scrapbook Nieman Reports is published by the Nieman Alumni Council,elected by former Nieman Fellowsat Harvard University.It aims to provide a medium for discussion by newspapermen of problemscommon to their profession. # SEE IT THEN:Notes on Television Journalism by Robert Drew own?Will the total effect of TV be to divert our mindswith soporific fantasies,or to make us more aware of ourown real problems? Television this year will break the one billion dollarmark in advertising sales.In 1956,the National Broad-casting Company predicts,television will do almosttwo billion dollars worth of business.John Crosby,TV columnist for the New York Herald Tribune,was alittle sceptical of the NBC estimate.“Golly!”he said."That sounds big to me.NBC's predictions in the pasthave all turned out to be wrong,but they've been wrongon the low side.” There were these questions and others,and there werethe discussions from which the following notes are ex-cerpted,but there were no answers.Glimpsers of answerswill proceed at their own peril. The definition of TV journalism properly ought to in-clude everything from a news bulletin to a national con-vention.I have made certain assumptions in order tonarrow the definition down to those areas where significantcharacter changes might be brewing.I have assumedthat panel discussions and live reporting of conventions,parades,and hearings will continue to develop character-istics they have already displayed.I have assumed thatthe nature of TV is not limited to this static and publickind of reporting,that it has a capacity for mobile reportingon real life in the un-public situations that make up mostof what is important about the news.The definition turnsout to be—“Constructed stories on real people,situations,and events.”This means approximately the kind of storythe newspaper reporter goes after,using as a tool in thiscase a movie camera instead of a typewriter. Vincent S.Jones,director of the news and editorial officeof the Gannett Newspapers,who is studying the impactof TV on journalism,thinks that the impact is considerableand growing."We have been hopelessly outdistanced inspeed by radio and TV,in depth and quality by the maga-zines,and we have lost both prestige and glamour,"he said."The race for reader time means just one thing:One ofthe media will emerge as the dominant and indispensableitem.So far it has been the newspaper.But it cannotremain in that position without some drastic changes.” Just what changes newspapers might be forced to makewill depend on the character TV develops for itself.Perhaps the basic question about TV is this question ofcharacter.Will TV become knowing and articulate aboutthe real world,or will it merely become beguiling andfanciful? It includes three categories of shows: —The 15 minute daily nevs summary:NBC's JohnCameron Swayze;ABC's John Daley;CBS'DouglasEdwards. The question of the character of TV is largely a journal-istic question,and it will be answered to a great extent bywhat TV does with its journalistic arm.I recently spentsome time with network journalists discussing questionsabout TV and its journalism. -The 30 minute weekly news documentary that pene-trates,develops,and makes sense out of specific stories:See It Now,Ed Murrow,CBS;The American Week,Eric Sevareid,CBS;Background,Joseph Harsch,NBC. Is the character of TV pretty well fixed in its presentform,or might it change significantly in the next decade?Is it possible for TV,which is basically an entertainmentmedium,to develop a bold and critical journalism of its -The non-n

FAQs

What definition of TV journalism is proposed in the notes?

TV journalism is defined as constructed stories on real people, situations, and events, using a movie camera as a tool instead of a typewriter.

How does the text describe television’s competitive impact on journalism?

It argues television’s influence is growing in speed and quality, helping drive a shift in reader time where newspapers may need drastic changes.

What categories of television shows does the text list?

It distinguishes a 15-minute daily news summary, a 30-minute weekly news documentary, and a non-news documentary on contemporary life.

Oct 13, 2026

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