Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based News
Part Three
This news series continues by detailing additional types of journalists, with each type having a different function.
A gossip writer focuses their news content on, obviously, gossip. Rumor and innuendo may be part and parcel of this person's news content. While this type of journalist may include some news content that may be objective, much of the news content is, well, gossip.
A government propagandist presents the viewpoint of those in power. Though the type of person who prepares news content on behalf of a governmental entity is usually not considered a journalist, the distinction may be unnoticed or considered unimportant by readers, viewers, and listeners.
The term "propagandist" is usually considered a negative description, but the propaganda – the news content – may be considered positive or negative depending on the views of those who read, listen, or view the propaganda. Objective news content provided by a government propagandist may be of direct interest to a specific audience. As an example, a government official who prepares news content that details how to apply for a specific program may be providing objective news to people who could benefit from that specific program.
That same news content, however, may be considered by some to be more of a negative type of propaganda. This is especially true if the timing of when the news content is released to a specific audience is at a time when that news content may have an impact on the results of an election, the timing of an appointment, or some other event that may benefit the specific government official involved with the news content.
A guide writer prepares news content detailing a specific community or set of communities. The audiences for guides can vary from individuals traveling to a specific area, individuals interested in a specific subject or subjects, or individuals interested in a specific entity or entities. A guide writer may provide objective news content, but a guide writer may also provide news content that is based on subjective knowledge or news content that appears to be objective, but is actually advertising for specific entities.
A headline writer has an over-sized impact on news content. A headline writer strives to encourage people to read, listen to, or view specific news content. More people are likely to read, listen, or view a headline than actually read, listen, or view the news content associated with a headline.
In creating headlines, a headline writer may use various techniques. One is to focus on the most dramatic point of the specific news content. For example, news content focused on a potential storm may have a headline that states "Thousands In Path Of Storm" rather than a headline that states "Residents Along River 'A' Plan For Storm."
Another is to tease the subject of the news content. For example, news content on a restaurant closing may have a headline that states "Major Restaurant Chain Announces Closing" instead of a headline that states "Restaurant 'A' Announces Closing In City 'Z.'"
In many cases, the individual who prepares the specific news content is not involved or has control over what a headline writer decides to use as a headline for that specific news content.
An infomercial writer is like an advertorial writer in that this person is someone who writes and prepares copy that appears to be similar to what many would consider news content, but is actually an advertisement for a product, a service, or an issue. The major difference is that infomercials, while they can appear in different formats like advertorials, are usually done in broadcast and digital formats; advertorials are usually found in print publications.
The intent of an infomercial is to advertise without appearing to be an advertisement. An infomercial is usually designed in such a way that a viewer won't notice the difference between news content that they may consider objective and the infomercial.
Typically, wording is displayed at the beginning and at the conclusion of an infomercial to indicate that the infomercial is a paid advertisement or that the infomercial is sponsored by Business "A"; similar types of statements may also be utilized.
Some do not consider an infomercial writer to be a journalist. Instead, they would consider an infomercial writer to be an advertising copywriter.
The next news column in this series will focus on additional types of journalists.
Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2025 Richard McDonough
