How to Read the News

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BBC Radio 4 FM

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Factual

How the news is made and how our perception of the facts can be shaped by its presentation

A five-part series revisiting news stories from a year ago to forensically examine how the news is made, and how our perception of the facts can be shaped by those presenting them.

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How to Read the News: Have you read paragraph 8?

Have you read paragraph 8?

BBC Radio 4 - How to Read the News, Have you read paragraph 8?

Why journalists rarely start at the beginning, instead leading with the latest development

When journalists tell stories, they rarely start at the beginning but instead with the latest development. Context comes towards the end. It’s called the ‘inverted pyramid’. 

When scandal at the Confederation of British Industry hit the newspapers and boss Tony Danker was dismissed, he complained that articles didn’t state right at the start that he was not accused of the worst misconduct. If you didn’t make it much past the headlines, you might not realise that.
 
We discover why journalists write stories ‘the wrong way up’, how that affects how we understand them, and how that might change with new technology.

‘How to Read the News’ - this series is all about giving you the tools to decode the news. 

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Charlotte McDonald
Researchers: Beth Ashmead Latham, Kirsteen Knight
Editors: China Collins, Emma Rippon

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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How to Read the News

Have you read paragraph 8?

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