similarities between journalistic writing and creative writing

Creative Writing vs. Journalism

What's the difference.

Creative writing and journalism are two distinct forms of writing that serve different purposes. Creative writing is focused on imaginative storytelling, where writers have the freedom to create fictional characters, settings, and plots. It allows for artistic expression and often explores complex emotions and themes. On the other hand, journalism is rooted in factual reporting and aims to provide accurate and unbiased information to the public. Journalists rely on research, interviews, and investigation to present news and current events. While creative writing encourages imagination and personal interpretation, journalism emphasizes objectivity and adherence to ethical standards. Both forms of writing require strong writing skills, but they cater to different audiences and serve different purposes in the literary world.

Further Detail

Introduction.

Creative writing and journalism are two distinct forms of writing that serve different purposes and require different skill sets. While both involve storytelling and communication, they differ in terms of their objectives, styles, and approaches. In this article, we will explore the attributes of creative writing and journalism, highlighting their unique characteristics and discussing the skills required for each.

The primary objective of creative writing is to entertain, inspire, and evoke emotions in the reader. It focuses on imaginative storytelling, often using literary techniques such as metaphor, symbolism, and vivid descriptions to create a rich and immersive experience. Creative writing encompasses various genres, including fiction, poetry, and drama, allowing writers to explore their imagination and express their unique perspectives.

On the other hand, journalism aims to inform, educate, and provide factual accounts of events and issues. Journalists strive to present unbiased and accurate information to the public, adhering to ethical standards and journalistic principles. They conduct research, interview sources, and report on current events, politics, social issues, and more. Journalism plays a crucial role in keeping the public informed and holding those in power accountable.

Style and Tone

Creative writing allows for a wide range of styles and tones, depending on the genre and the writer's intention. It can be poetic, lyrical, or experimental, with a focus on language, imagery, and the exploration of emotions. Writers have the freedom to create their own unique voice and experiment with different narrative techniques. The style and tone in creative writing are often subjective and can vary greatly from one writer to another.

In contrast, journalism follows a more standardized style and tone. Journalistic writing aims to be clear, concise, and objective. It prioritizes facts, evidence, and balanced reporting. Journalists strive to present information in a neutral and unbiased manner, allowing readers to form their own opinions based on the facts presented. The tone in journalism is typically formal and professional, focusing on delivering information rather than evoking emotions.

Research and Sources

Both creative writing and journalism require research, but the nature of the research differs. In creative writing, research is often focused on enhancing the authenticity and believability of the story. Writers may research historical events, cultural practices, or scientific concepts to create a realistic backdrop for their narratives. However, creative writing also allows for imagination and the freedom to deviate from reality.

Journalism, on the other hand, relies heavily on research to gather accurate and reliable information. Journalists must verify facts, interview sources, and cross-reference information to ensure the credibility of their reporting. They adhere to strict ethical guidelines and strive to present a balanced view by including multiple perspectives. Journalists must also be skilled at identifying credible sources and distinguishing between reliable information and misinformation.

Structure and Format

Creative writing offers more flexibility in terms of structure and format. Writers can experiment with different narrative structures, such as nonlinear storytelling or multiple points of view. They have the freedom to break traditional rules and conventions to create a unique reading experience. The format of creative writing varies depending on the genre, ranging from novels and short stories to poems and scripts.

Journalism, on the other hand, follows a more standardized structure and format. News articles typically follow the inverted pyramid structure, presenting the most important information at the beginning and gradually providing additional details. Journalistic writing also adheres to specific style guides, such as the Associated Press (AP) style, which provides guidelines for grammar, punctuation, and formatting.

Skills Required

Creative writing requires strong imagination, creativity, and the ability to craft compelling narratives. Writers must have a deep understanding of language, literary techniques, and storytelling elements. They need to be able to create well-developed characters, build immersive worlds, and evoke emotions through their words. Additionally, self-discipline and perseverance are crucial for completing longer works, such as novels or screenplays.

Journalism, on the other hand, demands strong research and investigative skills. Journalists must be able to gather information from various sources, critically analyze data, and present complex issues in a clear and accessible manner. They need to have excellent interviewing skills, the ability to work under tight deadlines, and a commitment to accuracy and objectivity. Journalists also need to stay updated on current events and possess a strong ethical compass.

In conclusion, creative writing and journalism are distinct forms of writing that serve different purposes and require different skill sets. Creative writing focuses on imaginative storytelling, aiming to entertain and evoke emotions, while journalism aims to inform and provide factual accounts of events. The styles, tones, research methods, structures, and required skills differ between the two. Both forms of writing, however, play important roles in society, allowing individuals to express their creativity and providing the public with essential information.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

Inside stories
Meet Lady E

Journalism Vs Creative Writing: Two Sides of the Same Coin (3)

By Muhyideen Kolawole “In the media parlance, especially in the broadcast industry, it is often said that content is king….

“In the media parlance, especially in the broadcast industry, it is often said that content is king. From my experience as a broadcaster, journalist, speaker and writer, I have come to know that Context Is Queen.” – Lady E. 2005

That was the opening words of Ejiro Umukoro during the LightRay Media Training and Mentoring Programme on Whatsapp. “Content,” she says “gives birth to the story, the story is not told without creativity and that’s the soul of journalism. In fact, without context, there’s no need to dig up facts, data, statistics, pictures, create infographics, etc.

“Journalism without humanization blended with facts, truth, happening events, indisputable knowledge becomes just information without a heartbeat. It’s the human readers see, it’s what makes them care they hear.” She emphasized in the training on Sunday.

Running Thread

In every narration, we have what is known as a running thread: the story –- the sequence of events the writer focuses our senses on. But one might wonder why do some journalists’ stories take people’s attention while others’ don’t? The answer is simple. It is in the narration.

ART: DEALING WITH FACT AND FICTION

In journalism, a reporter tells what happened (fact), who did it happen to? (truth), where did it happen? (anecdotes, i-witness account, etc.,) how did it happen? (indisputable knowledge) why did it happen? (the event itself, news or current events, etc.)

On the other hand, Ejiro Umukoro goes on to explain that “Creative writing is a blend of imagination, fiction, art, and dare I add some good dose of storytelling based on facts, collected data, anecdotes, knowledge, etc., that is ‘concocted’ to create a powerful story, the heartbeat of powerful writing.

“While imagination can become manifest in life and can become a journalistic pursuit when it impacts life, society, and survival in real life, it is interesting to note that this lack of imagination is exactly what differentiates creative writing from Journalism.

“However, both use the art form of storytelling to give ‘life’ and ‘humanization’ to give POV (point of view, depth, richness, context, etc.,) to the story at hand.” She explains.

She goes on to show that “in creative writing, Real Life Crime has become a genre of Crime Fiction where art mirrors life as it happened based on facts. So that a crime reporter of today has a strong chance of becoming a great crime fiction writer with a honed writing/editing craft and a strong background in crime reportage, courtroom intrigues, court rules, privacy of victims, and exposure of offenders.”

THE CLINCHER

But what is the connection between both types of writing? Umukoro explains: “Creative Writing and Journalism have many areas of overlap. The reason for this overlap is because, just as creative writing has many genres so does journalism, the only difference being that one is more factual (Journalism) than the other (Creative Writing).

“What’s most fascinating about creative writing and journalism is that both styles employ the same form (literary and creative) to inform, educate, entertain, or report.

“That’s why in Journalism as with creative writing, we have different genres exploring forms like Creative nonfiction or Longform Journalism, Narrative Journalism, Feature Journalism, and Documentary Journalism.

“These forms (way of writing) of journalism use the tools and literary devices used to write creative fiction to write nonfiction in a literary and creative way. It is a powerful literary device or means to pull readers in, humanise a story or tell a story in a way that would otherwise not inspire people to read using accurate and true-life narratives to report an issue.”

At this point during the training, she addressed an unspoken concern. “I know you have been thinking if we can combine the two to print a factual story in a powerful compelling way. Yes, we can do that.” She explains.

In fact, Lady E adopted this style in her investigative series: Broken Girls and Broken Boys Trapped Under COVID-19 published by the Guardian ( https://m.guardian.ng/features/broken-girls-and-broken-boys-trapped-under-covid-19-lockdown-part-ii/amp/ ) and amplified by the Pulitzer Center in the USA doing a special backstory on her investigative series: https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/behind-story-ejiro-umukoro-nigerias-shadow-pandemic .

It turns out that sample 2 writing is an except from Umukoro’s about to be released mental health crime novel Distortion to be launched on 13th October.

[A week before the lockdown was declared in Abuja, a 16-year-old girl was beaten with a knife and stabbed repeatedly with a pair of scissors by her aunt, Juliet Nnadi, an officer with the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NCDC). The 16-year-old, according to neighbours, was brutalised by her aunt and went through untold hardship.

“Many of the neighbors told us that the screams of Uloma being beaten daily usually woke them up,” Taiwo Akinwade, the Coordinator of Stop The Abuse Against Women, a non-governmental organization based in Abuja, explains to me. Akinwade said she and her team visited Lugbe, the neighborhood in Abuja where Nnadi lives to investigate the case.

“The locals cannot believe the teenager is a niece to the perpetrator because oftentimes the officer denies Uloma from going to school and makes her stand under the sun,” says Akinwade.]

Enjoy the rest of the story on the Guardian ( https://m.guardian.ng/features/broken-girls-and-broken-boys-trapped-under-covid-19-lockdown-part-ii/amp/ ) and await the next parts of this class.

Muhyideen Kolawole is a student journalist, final year student of English Language, and an African Liberty Writing Fellow.

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Distinguishing Journalism from Creative Writing

Key Takeaways

Journalism is the activity of writing on real-world events and conveying news and information, while creative writing involves using imagination to produce an original work.
Journalists often have to work under time constraints and use simple, concise language, whereas creative writers have more freedom in their use of language and have no time constraints.
Journalism is focused on the public domain, while creative writing is focused on the private domain, although it may draw inspiration from public settings.

Journalism and creative writing are two distinct forms of writing, with a number of differences between them. Journalism involves writing about events that occur in the world, encompassing all forms of news and information. A person who practices this art is known as a journalist. Journalism can be a challenging profession. In contrast, creative writing is an activity where the writer has the freedom to be creative and produce an original piece of writing. The main difference between journalism and creative writing is that journalism reports on real-life events, while creative writing is based on the writer’s imagination. As a result, the element of truth is not as important in creative writing as it is in journalism. This article will explore the differences between these two forms of writing.

What is Journalism?

Journalism refers to the activity of writing about events that occur in the world, including all forms of news and other information. A journalist is someone who engages in this activity. Becoming a journalist requires a great deal of commitment. A journalist must adhere to the truth of the events that occur in their area or country and be able to write about them in an engaging manner that captures the attention of the reader. However, this does not mean that journalists can use their imagination to make stories more interesting. Instead, language and words are the only tools a journalist has to reach their readers. Therefore, to keep readers engaged, journalists use simple yet powerful language.

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is an activity in which the writer has free rein to be creative and produce an original piece of writing. To become a creative writer, one must have a talent for words and an interest in understanding human life and experiences. Creative writers should seek inspiration not only from the world around them but also from their own imagination. Becoming a creative writer is an exciting profession, as it allows the individual to create and live within their own works. Creative writing encompasses many different forms, including poetry, drama, plays, and fiction. A creative writer should develop their language skills to create a new world through their work. This is not an easy task and can sometimes be quite tedious. However, becoming a creative writer can be a very rewarding profession.

What is the difference between Journalism and Creative Writing?

Definitions of Journalism and Creative Writing: Journalism: Journalism refers to the activity of writing about events that occur in the world, including all forms of news and other information. Creative Writing: Creative writing is an activity in which the writer has free rein to be creative and produce an original piece of writing. Characteristics of Journalism and Creative Writing: Time Constraint: Journalism: In journalism, the writer or journalist often has to struggle with time constraints, as they need to meet deadlines. Creative Writing: In creative writing, the writer does not face any time constraints. Domain: Journalism: The journalist is at the heart of the public domain. Creative Writing: The creative writer is in the private domain, although they may seek inspiration from public settings. Use of Language: Journalism: A journalist typically uses simple, concise language to convey the message as clearly as possible. Creative Writing: In creative writing, the writer can use language to bring their imagination to life. Image Courtesy: 1. “CBC journalists in Montreal” by Conrad Poirier [Public Domain] via Commons 2. “Stipula fountain pen” by Power_of_Words_by_Antonio_Litterio.jpg: Antonio Litterioderivative work: InverseHypercube [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Commons

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Creative writing vs. journalism.

When we discuss creative writing and journalism, people often think they are completely separate styles of writing. People do not think the two styles of writing have similarities, which for the most part this is true. Creative writing is used when we are writing fiction, while journalistic writing describes news stories and real events. However, professional writers should not just be good at either one or the other. A professional writer should be comfortable writing both from a journalistic standpoint and a creative writing standpoint. Why might you ask? Why should you be good at writing creatively if you are a journalist and why should you be good at writing journalistic works if you are only a fiction writer?

The Two Are Not So Different

While on the surface level the two styles of writing seem to have nothing to do with each other, this is a falsely assumed notion. When you are writing as a journalist, while you are writing fact, you also need to include creative elements to your story. Now we are not referring to making anything up, but we are referring to story and sentence structure. When you are writing a journalistic piece, it is important to hook a reader and have them maintain a constant interest throughout the story. Again, this does not mean making things up to make the story seem more interesting, but it does mean how the story flows in a manner that not only makes sense, but also captivates the reader. Both creative writers and journalists write stories . A journalist writes fact and a creative writer writes fiction, but all stories share a key element. That key element is the natural flow of the story. That also includes a hook and a plot that creates a cohesiveness that your reader can follow. This concept takes creativity, so in a way if you are writing a journalistic story, you need to understand how to creatively tell that story.

For example, let's take a look at 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes is a journalism driven show that portrays stories and in a fantastically creative way.The journalists on 60 Minutes do not simply interview someone for the entire show. What they do is they dive deep into the story, putting themselves into the field to show you exactly what is happening with an interview tied in to explain the event from a different perspective. The coordinators of the show specifically do this in a creative way to attract audiences.

Now, while we are talking about writing and not broadcasting, this example carries over just as well as any other. Take a look at autobiographies, everything in an autobiography is nonfiction, journalistic work. However, the author tells you their story in a creative way in order for you to not only follow, but enjoy what you are reading and yet still learn something.

similarities between journalistic writing and creative writing

From a creative writer’s perspective, journalistic writing might feel out of your wheelhouse. However, it is not that far off from what you are already good at. A creative writer already understands how to creatively portray a storyline. This is a concept that some journalists have a hard time with. Some creative writers make up stories purely from their imagination, but some creative writers also base their story on their real life experiences. Journalism is simply a creative way of portraying real life , timely events that have occurred. With basic training in the field, a creative writer will theoretically have all of the elements that they would need to write a story based on what they have witnessed and gathered in the field. This act is not all that different from forming a story in your head. The difference is simply writing what you see versus what you come up with. Then, you would just write the story based on what you saw. Like mentioned prior, both journalists and creative writers write stories.

All stories have a hook, a plot, and a conclusion. It is important for creative writers to also understand that not everything has to come from one’s imagination. Real life events can also have an impact on your writing. While for journalists this is all they write about, creative writers need to have this skill in their wheelhouse as well to be the best writer they can possibly be. A true professional writer should understand this phenomenon and be comfortable doing both journalistic and creative writing work.

Career Opportunities

You may only want to be an author or you may only want to be a journalist, but sometimes life throws some curveballs at you and it can be hard to do one or the other. Having the capability of writing both journalistic and creative writing works will benefit your career tremendously. How many times have you seen a journalist release a book? It happens all too often. Being a jack-of-all-trades is something not only writers should look to achieve, it is something everybody should strive to become.

Now that you understand how similar the two styles of writing are, it is not impossible to do both. Why limit yourself to be one or the other when you can do both? If you only wanted to be a creative writer, it would be great for you to write amazing fiction novels that fly off the shelves and possibly even land a movie deal of some kind. However, it is extremely hard to do, not everyone can be JK Rowling. It would also be great to be a journalist that skyrockets to the top early on and become an anchor for a big-time network, but again it is extremely hard to do. Having the ability to write creatively and journalistically opens all kinds of doors for your career.

If you decide to take on this challenge and strive to be a jack-of-all-trades, it is still important to pick a focus. Much like how when you go to college, you have to decide on a major and a minor, the same goes here.You have to decide between journalism and creative writing which would be your major and which would be your minor. That doesn't mean that they won't get a similar amount of attention, it just means that you have to decide which career path you would rather put more energy into.

For instance, your day job can be a journalist at a local station or paper trying to work your way up the pendulum. While in your off time, you are working on a creative writing piece-- whether that is a book, a screenplay, or poetry. On the flip side, if you decide you really want to dive headfirst into the world of creative writing, your side hustle would be to do freelance work for a local paper or a magazine of your choosing. Either way it is important not to limit your possibilities . The world of writing, both on the journalistic and creative side, can be a hard place to find success.

Though, when you are working hard to perfect your craft in the two styles of writing, success will eventually come in time. And sometimes, this success is not in the field that you expected it to be. Maybe you wanted to write great fiction novels and end up finding success with your coverage of sports or politics. Maybe you wanted to find great success in your coverage of up-and-coming bands or the music industry and you somehow find your way through the fiction novels that you have been writing on the side. That does not mean to give up on one or the other. It is simply a wake up call that says, “You are good at this, your other stuff needs some work, but keep going.” The point being, be as open minded as possible and accept all challenges, and hurdle every obstacle thrown your way.

Comfort Will Come

An important word in this article is “comfortable.” Professional writers should feel comfortable writing journalistically and creatively. What you decide to do with this ability is completely up to you. All we are saying is that it is important to write in both ways no matter your career path. Also, it is important to understand that if you are good at one or the other now, that you won't be great at the other form of writing right away. Do not expect to jump from journalism to creative writing and vice versa and feel comfortable doing so immediately. That comfort will come in due time, as will the recognition for your work.

At first, your writing will be subpar and that is more than okay. As writers we need to soak in all the information that is thrown at us and adapt, learn from our past experiences and through our peers. This means you have to take a leap of faith knowing that if you act as a sponge, that you will eventually find comfort in both writing in a journalistic and creative way.

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Truth And Creativity: Journalism Vs. Creative Writing

https://thoughtcatalog.com/?p=379384

Journalism and creative writing are two opposite ends of the literary rope. Their difference is grounded on the fact that journalism relies heavily on the truth, facts, current events, and knowledge. Creative writing, on the other hand, comprises much on art, fiction, and imagination. This is why these two ends don’t meet.

I am a writer. Although I haven’t exactly labeled myself in any specific genre yet, I consider myself a writer. Apart from publishing my novellas on Wattpad and posting free-verse poetry on my blog, I am also a student of Journalism in college and was once a campus journalist for the university publication. As an aspiring novelist and a student of Journalism, I have gained keen insights on the major differences between writing journalistically and writing creatively.

Let’s focus on journalism first. News articles, feature stories in magazines, sports news, and many others found in broadsheets and tabloids belong to journalism. In this side of writing, the writer must gather credible sources to write informational truth behind current issues. The issues should contain reliable facts that tell the masses any ongoing circumstance or situations happening in the community, country, and the world. It’s typical news. It should be informative, honest, and un-biased.

Now let’s turn our heads to creative writing. Poems, novels, plays, and short stories are all under this category. Creative writing allows the writer to delve deeper into his imagination to bring out the story that he desires to write about. In creative writing, the writer uses words to paint pictures and create worlds, situations, and characters that are fictitious but related to life. Creative writers usually incorporate the art of literature into their works.

In the history of written works, journalism was first conceived during the 1400s in Italy and Germany. That was the time when people started chronicling daily events to disseminate the information in their town. It was popularized throughout Europe in the 1600s when the printing press was invented. By the dawn of the 20th century, journalism spread worldwide and became a profession.

Looking back in the ages past, creative writing already existed way before the term was coined. Our ancestors already practiced this form of literature in the early days of human civilization. Even before language was invented, creative writing already existed. The proof stems on the carvings of ancient caves – paintings and symbols that tell lores of life. Poetry existed long before the existence of Christ. Tales of myth and legend were inscribed on primeval papyrus. Folk tales, fairy tales, ballads, and epics — these are the earliest forms of creative writing that serve inspiration to modern novels, short stories, and plays.

In the context of profession, journalists and creative writers are barred from each other. Their writing styles are far from similar. Based on my experience as a campus journalist, whenever I write a news article, it has to be concrete, understandable, and straightforward. My editor would always advise me to choose words that are easy to comprehend by the readers. Moreover, ideas are rarely used freely since a journalist has to rely solely on facts (except for opinion articles). It’s like writing something that isn’t yours. If you’re a journalist, you are the medium of information. Not to mention, the space on the newspaper or magazine is sometimes limited, so you have to be cautious in using concise words. Additionally, once you’re a journalist, you need to update yourself about any gist of the trending issues or the juicy news. How else can you write informatively to your readers if you don’t know what the news is about?

In creative writing, I always find freedom in exploring my mind and expressing my thoughts. Whenever I discover new ideas, I always find the time to write them down. Eventually, they will evolve into a story. Creative writing relies mostly on self-expression. It gives you the chance to write your testimony of everything around you. It is limitless, entertaining, and sometimes informational (some novels are based on facts but they are still considered fiction since the writer has added his personal ideas into them, thus taking part in the novel’s creation). If you’re a creative writer, you can use a multitude of words as long as they all create the art that magnifies your story. Furthermore, creative writing takes you to places you’ve never known existed, acquaints you to characters more interesting than anyone you know in real life, and introduces you to devices more extraordinary than the tools used in this world. The fiction you create comes from your head. Isn’t it amazing that creativity allows this?

About the author

Angelo Lorenzo

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What’s The Difference Between Journalism And Creative Writing? | FAQs

Transcription

There are several major differences between journalism and creative writing; at the same time, there can also be major overlaps between them. One of the key differences is that creative writing is usually understood to mean the writing of fictional novels. By contrast, journalism is centred on reportage – reporting on actual people and events. As a journalist, you don’t, or shouldn’t, make things up; as a fictional novelist, inventing alternative versions of reality is essential to the art. Another difference is that creative writing is usually about your self-expression, in one way or another. By contrast, journalism is other-directed – concerned with other people’s views, perspectives and lived realities. There are also overlaps. There are such things as creative nonfiction, narrative journalism, and indeed feature journalism. In these forms of writing, basically speaking, the content you work with is factual – but the way in which you write it (the form) is literary and creative. In other words, you use the tools of “fictional” creative writing to tell accurate, true-life narratives.

Looking for an industry that bridges the gap between journalism and creative writing?

Consider feature writing, or “creative journalism”, and get ahead with the UCT Feature Journalism online short course .

Whether you enjoy reading the news or getting lost in a work of fiction, there’s something to love about both journalism and creative writing. There are also a number of similarities between them: Both are mediums of writing stemming from a writer and his/ her stream of consciousness, for the reception of a more or less active audience.

But what are the key differences between journalism and creative writing?

As Andre Wiesner, Head Tutor of the UCT Feature Journalism online short course , points out in this short video, the difference between journalism and creative writing goes beyond the fiction versus non-fiction distinction.

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Journalism and Journalistic Writing: Introduction

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Journalism is the practice of gathering, recording, verifying, and reporting on information of public importance. Though these general duties have been historically consistent, the particulars of the journalistic process have evolved as the ways information is collected, disseminated, and consumed have changed. Things like the invention of the printing press in the 15 th century, the ratification of the First Amendment in 1791, the completion of the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858, the first televised presidential debates in 1960, and more have broadened the ways that journalists write (as well as the ways that their readers read). Today, journalists may perform a number of different roles. They still write traditional text-based pieces, but they may also film documentaries, record podcasts, create photo essays, help run 24-hour TV broadcasts, and keep the news at our fingertips via social media and the internet. Collectively, these various journalistic media help members of the public learn what is happening in the world so they may make informed decisions.

The most important difference between journalism and other forms of non-fiction writing is the idea of objectivity. Journalists are expected to keep an objective mindset at all times as they interview sources, research events, and write and report their stories. Their stories should not aim to persuade their readers but instead to inform. That is not to say you will never find an opinion in a newspaper—rather, journalists must be incredibly mindful of keeping subjectivity to pieces like editorials, columns, and other opinion-based content.

Similarly, journalists devote most of their efforts to working with primary sources, whereas a research paper or another non-fiction piece of writing might frequently consult an encyclopedia, a scholarly article, or another secondary or tertiary source. When a journalist is researching and writing their story, they will often interview a number of individuals—from politicians to the average citizen—to gain insight into what people have experienced, and the quotes journalists collect drive and shape their stories.

The pages in this section aim to provide a brief overview of journalistic practices and standards, such as the ethics of collecting and reporting on information; writing conventions like the inverted pyramid and using Associated Press (AP) Style; and formatting and drafting journalistic content like press releases.

Journalism and Journalistic Writing

These resources provide an overview of journalistic writing with explanations of the most important and most often used elements of journalism and the Associated Press style. This resource, revised according to The Associated Press Stylebook 2012 , offers examples for the general format of AP style. For more information, please consult The Associated Press Stylebook 2012 , 47 th edition.

Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research

Writing for Fun? (Part 2): Journalism and Academic Writing

In my last post, I started an exploration of writing on campus to understand how students approach the writing process outside the classroom in their own work and in extracurriculars. In that post, I considered creative writing and the ways academic writing can present a similar opportunity for expression and creativity.

In this post, I interview Sam Shapiro ’21 who is a Features Editor and writer for the Daily Princetonian. In my interview with Sam, we discussed the differences and similarities between journalism and academic writing and how to bring the thrill one feels when chasing a story for a publication to a term paper in class.

The first thing Sam told me about was her admiration for the Prince and how effectively they work together to pull off a daily publication. In fact, this is one of the major differences Sam draws between academic writing and student journalism. An edition of the Prince is a culmination of the whole group’s research, effort and time. Academic work is most often a solo-project, which is exciting in its own way, but the challenges of collaboration–multiple moving parts, differences of opinion and skill, and varied schedules–certainly results in a unique feeling of accomplishment when the final product is produced.

Additionally, Sam feels there is more fun and flexibility in journalism as personal voice and humor make the writing more expressive than academic writing. Moreover, Sam highlights that when writing for a student publication, you get to see the impact of your work. Not only do your editors read your pieces, the student body–an assortment of classmates, teammates, hall mates and strangers you’ll never meet–get to experience your work.

…when writing for a student publication, you get to see the impact of your work. Not only do your editors read your pieces, the student body–an assortment of classmates, teammates, hall mates and strangers you’ll never meet–get to experience your work.

While audience, tone, and collaboration separate student journalism from academic writing, Sam finds an interesting parallel in the writing process. Whether she is writing for her subject classes, a journalism class, or the Prince, Sam experiences a similar thrill for problem-solving. When she writes a piece of journalism, she sits down with her interview transcripts and asks herself “What’s the story here? What have I found and what do I want to say?” Before her lies a puzzle and it’s up to her to put it together and present it. This puzzle exists in academic writing too! Once one has collected their sources they look for gaps or inconsistencies in the scholarly conversation. It is up to the researcher here to patch together their sources with their own contributions and tell a story––reveal a truth.

As another connection between journalism and academic writing, Sam identifies the “moral obligation [in journalism] to tell the truth—an authentic truth…the truth that you’re seeing.” Rounds of fact-checking occur by writers and their copy editors, similar to the process of peer review in academia. Sam draws a connection here between academic integrity and honest journalism and a similar commitment to the production of fair and true work.

As a Features Editor and former sports writer, Sam searches for “anything in or outside the orange bubble that grabs your attention–– [something] that you don’t want to put down.” Often these articles are detailed narratives of individual stories or some small occurrence. For her, it’s about seeing something interesting on campus that she wants to learn more about. As Sam points out, this same excitement and curiosity can be carried over into your classes if you find academic topics that genuinely excite you. “Find a topic that piques your curiosity–a topic which you haven’t wrapped your head around yet, but you feel like there’s something fascinating to learn,” Sam concludes. “If you’re in the right classes, your academic writing will start to feel like what you want to do, and not as separate from your personal writing endeavors.”

“Find a topic that piques your curiosity–a topic which you haven’t wrapped your head around yet, but you feel like there’s something fascinating to learn,” Sam concludes. “If you’re in the right classes, your academic writing will start to feel like what you want to do, and not as separate from your personal writing endeavors.” – Sam Shapiro

How do you make your academic writing fun? It’s about finding a story within your subject or field that you feel needs to be told. It’s being excited by the puzzle and eager to put it together in a new way. As we near deans date, I encourage you to take on this journalistic mindset and freedom in your writing: What are you interested in? What story do you think needs to be told?

Happy writing my friends!

— Raya Ward, Natural Sciences Correspondent

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A Companion to Creative Writing by Graeme Harper (Editor) ISBN: 9781118325797 Publication Date: 2013-03-14
Critical Approaches to Creative Writing by Graeme Harper ISBN: 9781317395010 Publication Date: 2018-08-30
Great Stories Don't Write Themselves by Larry Brooks; Robert Dugoni (Foreword by) ISBN: 9781440300851
Jump start: how to write from everyday life by Robert Wold ISBN: 9780199938001
The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante Call Number: NYU Shanghai Library (China) Main Collection (PE1408 .L31887 2007) ISBN: 9780393061642
The Portable MFA in Creative Writing by New York Writers Workshop Staff (Contribution by) Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PE1408 .P665 2006 ) ISBN: 9781582974408
Screenwriting Is Rewriting by Jack Epps Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN1996 .E66 2016) ISBN: 9781628927399
To the Budding Creative Writer: a Handbook. by Roselyne M. Jua ISBN: 9789956717989
Vivid and Continuous by John McNally ISBN: 9781609381578 Publication Date: 2013-03-01
The Writing Experiment by Hazel Smith Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PQ1408 .S657 2005) ISBN: 1741140153

The Art of Creative Research by Philip Gerard Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN146 .G47 2017 ) ISBN: 9780226179773
A Field Guide for Immersion Writing: Memoir, Journalism, and Travel by Robin Hemley Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN3377.5.R45 H46 2012 ), Also available Online ISBN: 9780820343730
Good Prose by Richard Todd; Tracy Kidder Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN145 .K466 2013 ) ISBN: 9781400069750
Immersion by Ted Conover Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN3377.5.R45 C66 2016 ) ISBN: 9780226416168
Keep it real : everything you need to know about researching and writing creative nonfiction by Lee Gutkind & Hattie Fletcher Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN3377.5.R45 K44 2008 ) ISBN: 9780393065619
Real feature writing: story shapes and writing strategies from the real world of journalism by Abraham Aamidor ISBN: 9781410614070
Storycraft : the complete guide to writing narrative nonfiction by Jack Hart Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN3377.5.R45 H37 2011 ) ISBN: 9780226318141
To show and to tell : the craft of literary nonfiction by Phillip Lopate Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN145 .L67 2013 ) ISBN: 9781451696325
The Science of Story by Sean Prentiss (Editor); Nicole Walker (Editor) ISBN: 9781350083882
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Creative Nonfiction and Literary Journalism: What’s the Difference?

Mar 21, 2017 by Kayla Dean published in Writing

When I was in high school, my AP English teacher had our class read essays from names like Annie Dillard, David Foster Wallace, and Virginia Woolf. Back then, I didn’t know who any of these people were. I fell in love with “Death of a Moth” when I had to write a one-page analysis of it back in the day, but it wasn’t until my last year of college that I really understood what these authors were doing: writing creative nonfiction.

Yes, I know. You’ve heard the term already. Everyone on the blogosphere seems to have something to say about it. All the articles you click on now almost always have a storied way of telling you basic information. Writing advice blogs mention the word here or there. And have you seen that Creative Nonfiction magazine at Barnes & Noble (i.e., one of THE DREAM magazines for our genre)?

This is the beginning of another endeavor: I’m going to explain creative nonfiction, its genres, and how you can write your own creative nonfiction essays in this new column.

Don’t try to tell me that you aren’t interesting enough. That you haven’t been to Venice yet, and you don’t think that at twenty-something years old you could possibly have enough life experience to write anything interesting. You don’t feel like enough of a person yet. I am all of the above. Your experiences are enough to figure out this whole writing-about-real-experiences thing. First stop? Let’s break down the difference between creative nonfiction and literary journalism.

What Creative Nonfiction Actually Means

Creative nonfiction was coined by Lee Gutkind in the ‘90s. Simply stated, it’s “true stories, well told.” At least, that’s the slogan for his magazine. Gutkind has written several books on the genre, like this one , which is incredibly helpful for getting started in the genre. But if you’re looking for a more precise definition, creative nonfiction is essentially a narrative that deals in factual events. Meaning that whatever you write about, whether in essays or long-form, must be based in reality.

But there’s also something unique about this genre: it’s extremely important that you tell a narrative that has a literary language about it. In other words, you want your prose to be compulsively readable because it’s real life told in a human voice that strays away from the technical or academic.

Some consider creative nonfiction to be an umbrella term for a genre that includes things like personal essays, memoir, travel writing, and literary journalism. You probably know what the first three are, but why is the last one different from creative nonfiction?

How Literary Journalism Fits In

Some people say there isn’t a difference. But here’s my take: literary journalism is often rooted in heavy research. For example, a biologist could write about the problems they see in an endangered population of turtles in the Pacific. A journalist could write about their experiences reporting in the Middle East, exposing a problem they encountered while in the field. Both of these are real examples. But they aren’t necessarily based on the storyteller’s life so much as the facts that they uncover on their journey. A writer can use figurative language to weave a narrative, but they can’t just engage in solipsism for 300 pages.

Not that creative nonfiction allows this. However, there’s a bit more freedom in the way that a writer can arrange facts. Some writers have even gotten in trouble when readers discovered they hadn’t told the story exactly as it had happened. You don’t want to stir up controversy, but there is a freedom in how you collapse or expand events. You can even re-order them to fit a narrative arc.

How to Pick the Right Non-Fiction Genres

Some writers object to writing this way. You may even find that there are two different camps of writers who completely disagree with one another’s prose. This may seem divisive. But there may be another option.

Literary nonfiction is another term I’ve seen thrown around, but not as often as the first two. It usually operates as a blanket term for both creative nonfiction and literary journalism. This one combines the essence of both into a style that works in many contexts. For a literary nonfiction piece, you’d do a bit more research than for a piece that is creative nonfiction. The latter form does allow you to simply write about your life. You may fact check dates or places, but many writers of creative nonfiction write things as they remember them. Implicit in some writing is even a type of subjectivity because the experiences are so personal that they’re more difficult to really verify.

Maybe this feels a little confusing. But if you’re looking to write about your own life, you’ll likely fall in the creative nonfiction camp. If you want some great essays to read on just about anything, check out online publications like Ecotone, Longreads, Literary Hub, or The Millions. These are great places to start if you want to read some creative nonfiction ASAP. And, if you’re a personal essay person, check out these tips from The New York Times on writing great creative nonfiction.

Those essays you read in high school English class can be a great start for your first foray into creative nonfiction, but they’re just the beginning. The realm of nonfiction may feel intimidating, especially if you’re not sure you have a shocking tale to put into a memoir just yet. That’s the great thing about creative nonfiction: you really can write about just about anything. The best part? No sensationalism required.

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Writing FAQ

What’s the difference between academic and journalistic writing.

May 28, 2022

Asked by: Tammy Turner

Journalistic writing simply means, your writing style is too lyrical, too much like storytelling, too colorful. Academic style is much colder, uses far fewer adjectives, employs a lot more data and figures (statistics), and has far fewer (if any) dialogues .

Is journalism considered academic writing?

Journalism’s potential contribution to the three pillars of tenure-research, teaching and ser- vice signals the need for recognition to be accorded by universities to journalism as academic output. Journalism and academic writing are like family . They share the same genes of investigation and deliberation.

What is the difference between academic writing and writing?

There is not such specific set of audience or readers like technical writing. Difference between Academic Writing and General Writing :

What is the difference of journalistic writing?

Creative writing is used when we are writing fiction, while journalistic writing describes news stories and real events .

What is journalistic writing?

Journalistic writing is a form of non-fiction writing used to report news and factual events . It can be utilised in newspaper articles, television reports, radio scripts and on news websites.

What are the difference between academic writing and academic and English?

The key difference between academic writing and non academic writing is that academic writing is a formal and rather impersonal mode of writing that is intended for a scholarly audience whereas non academic writing is any writing that aims the mass public .

How do you define academic writing?

Academic writing is clear, concise, focussed, structured and backed up by evidence . Its purpose is to aid the reader’s understanding. It has a formal tone and style, but it is not complex and does not require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary.

What is purpose of journalistic writing?

The primary function of journalism is to inform the public by reporting on local, national and global news and events . Given that, journalists strive to write articles that have wide appeal and can be easily understood.

What is example of journalistic?

Journalistic things have to do with writing or reporting about the news . Most journalistic stories are found in newspapers or magazines, or on news-related websites. Years ago, a journalistic job would probably be writing for a daily newspaper, or possibly reading the news over the radio.

What makes journalistic writing different from other forms of writing?

What is the difference between journalism and literary journalism?

According to the obvious line of investigation there are clear cut demarcation lines: Journalism is a business while literature is art or journalism is writing short, factual articles about events while literature is all about creating fictitious events.

What are characteristics of journalistic writing?

The hallmarks of journalistic writing are:

Simplicity and Brevity.
Objectivity and Factual.
Fairness and Balance.
Inverted Pyramid.

What’s the difference between creative writing and journalism?

Journalism: Journalism refers to the activity of writing on events that take place in the world which entails all forms of news and other information. Creative Writing: Creative writing is an activity in which the writer has free reign to be creative and produce an original piece of writing.

What are the similarities of academic writing and creative writing?

Similarities between creative writing and academic writing are as follows: Correct grammar writing is mandatory for both creative writing and academic writing . Both require proper sentence construction. You can put creative ideas in academic writing and vice versa.

What are the differences or similarities between academic writing and technical writing?

Technical writing focuses on providing detailed and lucid information about the product or service. Academic writing focuses on proving a theory or viewpoint in one way or the other and emphasizes upon one specific subject.

What is the difference between academic?

Mainly academic writings are based on academic findings and academic research and is intended for a scholarly audience. Difference between Academic Writing and Non Academic Writing :

What is the difference between creative writing technical writing and academic writing?

Technical writing focuses on factual and straight forward content. Creative writing focuses on imaginative and symbolic content . 03. Technical writing has its specific reader/audience.

What are two basic types of writing?

While there are many reasons why you might be putting pen to paper or tapping away on the keyboard, there are really only four main types of writing: expository, descriptive , persuasive, and narrative. Each of these four writing genres has a distinct aim, and they all require different types of writing skills.

What are the difference between writing and technical writing?

There is not such specific set of audience or readers like technical writing. It is written on subjective tone and purely personal style. Difference between Technical Writing and General Writing :

How were you able to distinguish between literary and academic writing?

Academic writing uses a specific academic format that varies depending on the subject (MLA, APA, Chicago). Narrative nonfiction is not required to use a specific format, though literary texts are usually written with consideration to MLA format.

What are some examples of academic writing?

Let’s begin with four of the most common types of academic writing: research proposals, dissertations, abstracts, and academic articles .

Life at Wizeline

From Journalism to Technical Writing: How to Combine the Best of Both Worlds

If you had asked me a couple of years ago what technical writing is, my mind would have been blank. Maybe I would have tried to come up with something just to avoid embarrassment.

I even applied for a technical writing position in 2018, thinking that my experience in journalism was enough. I was wrong… but I was also correct.

A journalist has almost half of the way covered in becoming a technical writer. This article will explain the similarities and differences between both fields and how to combine them to find your way in the world of technology — all based on my experience as a technical writer at Wizeline .

For those who are neither journalists nor official technical writers, I hope this article provides you with a clearer perspective of technical writing and prompts you to try it as a professional career.

Similarities

First, I am going to highlight the similarities between journalism and technical writing. Here we go.

In technical writing, believe it or not, you still have to interview people. They are what we call Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). They own relevant information for the projects we are involved in and for our technical documentation.

Similar to a journalist digging into a politician’s mind, technical writers participate or conduct interviews with SMEs to understand things such as the project scope, the client’s needs, or the solution to develop.

There is nothing more terrifying than not knowing what a team is supposed to do on a project. Technical writers can help overcome this uncertainty by asking the right questions and putting all the answers in a document shared with everyone involved.

Research and Notes

The first steps of the technical writing process are research, preparation, and organization. They constitute the foundation of any document and take most of the time before even writing a word.

Technical writers collect all the relevant information for a project, such as basic concepts, technology stack, coding conventions, repository strategy, and even a list of keywords or terms for a glossary. We also take notes that can serve as a future reference, for example, about the decisions and agreements reached during meetings or workshops.

On the other hand, the core of investigative journalists is research. To reveal the truth about a topic, they rely more on facts and figures than personal or political statements. Numbers speak louder than words, they say.

Without information, it is almost impossible to start writing in both cases.

Journalists and technical writers share the same step before publishing their work: reviews.

Reviews help detect errors or blind spots in documentation by removing writers’ bias in their work. A rule of thumb is to perform a self-review always, but peer reviews are highly recommended and encouraged.

Technical writers can ask for a peer review from other colleagues or teammates, such as developers. Journalists have their editors.

Style Guides

Journals and technology companies with structured writing teams commonly implement and follow a style guide.

Style guides consist of standards, guidelines, and conventions for writing and designing documentation. Their purpose is to ease collaboration, reduce time in creating error-free documents, enhance accuracy and consistency, and develop a distinctive voice and tone, among other benefits.

An essential component of the style guide is the objective writing approach. Both technical writers and journalists are encouraged to write without adjectives, stick to the facts, and be concise and clear. So, marketing lingo is off-limits, as well as using synonyms to avoid repeating words.

Multidisciplinary Teams

Producing a journal or developing an application is not a one-person job. Multiple disciplines or roles are involved in the process. For example:

Photographers
Videographers
UX/UI Designers
Technical writers

And I only mentioned the directly involved disciplines in a journal page and a standard software development project. The list gets enormous if you include non-directly involved roles.

In both cases, collaboration is vital for success. Therefore, the more you are used to working with other disciplines, the better.

Ceremonies and Processes

When planning projects and tasks, journalists and technical writers have similar ceremonies and processes.

Considering software development methodologies, such as agile, scrum, and waterfall, the following table shows similarities in terms of ceremonies:

Terms such as sprint and product backlog can be translated into the editorial world.

A sprint can be the daily work for the next day’s newspaper edition or the weekly tasks to prepare the weekend editions. A product backlog can be the list of articles and stories with different statuses and characteristics, such as the following:

Dependent on a public event
Written or not
Accompanied by photography or not
Reviewed by an editor or not
Ready and packed for publishing

Also, the product owner’s role in software development projects is similar to the editor-in-chief, editorial director, or whoever is in charge of defining what will be published.

Differences

Now comes the tricky part.

Journalists know how to obtain, write, and structure information. They are used to working in multidisciplinary teams and following specific processes to get their articles published. However, journalists usually lack technical knowledge and skills, and this is where technical writers prove their worth.

Specialization

The main difference between journalists and technical writers is precisely the technical specialization.

You don’t have to be a developer to become a technical writer in software development projects, but you must have at least basic knowledge of topics, such as the following:

Software and hardware
Cloud infrastructure
UX and design
Version control

This specialization is what enables technical writers to collaborate and add value to software development projects. Through documentation, they build communication bridges by translating technical and abstract concepts into information suitable for a specific audience, for example, end-users.

The list of documents a technical writer can deliver is huge, and it depends on the type of industry, the project or product, and the client’s needs.

Methodology

As mentioned in the Ceremonies and Processes section, journalists have similarities with the management part of software development methodologies.

But what if I tell you that you can apply the same iterations approach from agile methodology to documentation?

Technical writers can deliver documents in incremental pieces. It all depends on the development progress and the project needs. For example, they can write about features as soon as they are released to production or about the current state of the software architecture. If anything changes, they adjust the documents accordingly.

Concerning deadlines or milestones, technical writers can create different versions of a document to meet those dates and keep iterating until the development process is complete. Journalists cannot deliver incomplete articles.

Version Control

Now that we’re discussing versions in documentation, get your mind ready to be blown with version control.

Some old-school journalists still use traditional word processors to write, and they end up storing multiple files with different versions of an article. Some others know how to use web-based solutions to boost collaboration (the editing mode is a big plus) and track documentation changes. However, only a few have heard about version control tools such as Git, CVS, or SVN.

In software development, version control is vital because it enables developers to do the following:

Keep track of changes and comments in the source code
Prevent and identify mistakes
Go back to the latest error-free version of the software
Maintain the code
Facilitate collaboration among multiple developers by enabling them to work on the same source code without overlapping

Technical writers are immersed in this workflow. Moreover, they can implement version control tools to identify how a text evolved from the first draft and perform in documentation the same actions a developer does with code. Pretty cool, right?

Tools and Delivery Formats

Journalists have limited tools and delivery formats, unlike the wide range of possibilities in technical writing.

Most newspapers still print a version on paper (this implies space limitations) and usually have websites and social media accounts to showcase and share their articles. Journalists even have blogs to share content. But that’s pretty much what they offer.

A word processor (whether a native or a third-party solution) is the minimum requirement for journalists in terms of tools.

On the other hand, technical writers use different tools to deliver documentation in multiple formats depending on the project or the product’s needs. Here’s just the tip of the iceberg:

Use word processors to deliver shared documents or PDFs
Publish information on websites by working on Markdown files or HTML documents
Implement a docs-as-code approach where we use the same tools and development processes in the documentation as developers do. Among these tools, we can use the same version control systems of the source code

If you want to know more about the docs-as-code practice, you can read our recent blog on Implementing a Docs Like Code Solution at Wizeline .

Let’s Wrap It Up

My journalist experience has, indeed, helped me in becoming a technical writer. It was an excellent foundation.

Nonetheless, my journey in this new field has only just begun. With technology moving as fast as it does, I see a lot of learning on the horizon. It’s exciting!

Technical writing is a relatively new discipline; therefore, it remains unattended by universities as a career. So, if you are interested, start reading documentation about it, take certifications, or watch tutorials online.

Our team offers a Technical Writing Certification through Wizeline Academy at least twice a year. Stay tuned for the next edition.

You can also take a look at the open roles on Wizeline’s Careers page. We will be glad to welcome you to our team.

By Edgar Ramirez, Wizeline Technical Writer III

Posted by Aisha Owolabi on August 9, 2021

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Elizabeth Kolbert’s novel The Sixth Extinction presents a collection of scientific material and personal narratives that draw attention to the mass loss of plants and animals through anthropogenic cause in a journalistic style. Although this book reads more like a story, there is a valid scientific argument with credible sources listed. This essay will focus on the contrast between academic and journalistic writing by comparing various components used to construct The Sixth Extinction and Chapter 4: Playing in industrial ruins -Interrogating teleological understandings of play in spaces of material alterity and low surveillance. Idea: how journalistic writing can serve as a bigger advantage to serve to a broader audience despite it not being academic or the contrast between the two styles and how they serve both audiences.

Identifying differences between journalistic and academic writing:

Journalistic

Definition of journalism according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media”
Second definition: “writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine”
Journalism is meant for a broader audience to read.

Last sentences of the prologue: “In the pages that follow, I try to convey both sides: the excitement of what’s being learned as well as the horror of it. My hope is that readers of this book will come away with an appreciation of the truly extraordinary moment in which we live.”

- While the entire prologue brushes on topics from each of the following chapters, instead of setting up an argument and persuading the audience that something is right or wrong, she encourages them to instead find appreciation for the information that is going to be presented.

Chapter One The Sixth Extinction: “The town of El Valle De Anton. In Central Panama sits in the middle of a volcanic crater formed about a million years ago. The crater is almost four miles wide, but when the weather is clear you can see the jagged hills that surround the town …” (4)

- The chapter begins with vivid descriptions which lead towards scientific findings, but the way the sentence is set is more like a story (journalistic aspect, feel of reporting) which draws the reader in to know.

Academic

Definition of academic according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “a member of an institution of learning”
Second definition: “ a person who is academic in background, outlook, or methods”
The audience for an academic paper may be specific which means that might be assumed to have prior knowledge on a certain topic.
Academic papers usually follow a strict format by presenting the issue and the solution immediately then following through with explaining how that was found.

In the introduction of chapter 4: Playing in Industrial Ruins: “ In this chapter, we explore the specific uses of these ruins as sites for play, first assessing the material and less tangible qualities that promote the numerous playful practices that are subsequently identified. Following this, we critically examine theories about play and discuss the shared characteristics which allow identification of analogies between play and ruins. Finally, we critically analyze how and why ruins are exemplary realms through which we might adopt a critical perspective that highlights both the limitations and potentialities for play in other kinds of urban space.”

- This paragraph from the introduction displays a very structured format that explains how this chapter will be examined which leads towards their argument unlike The Sixth Extinction.

First section, Playing in Ruins: “Before identifying the playful activities that take place in industrial ruins, it is vital to recognize that they are sites for a host of other, ostensibly more utilitarian practices. These include the use of derelict space for sex work, living in a temporary home, growing vegetables, fly-tipping, car-parking and walking the dog; as a resource for building materials, firewood and home furnishings; not to mention the ecological potential that such sites offer as they decay over time …”

- The first section gets straight to the point with descriptions and does not spend a lot of time focusing on details. There are no narratives present in opening this segment.

on journaling….

Submitted by Anne Dalke on November 17, 2014 - 14:35 Permalink

smartinez-- You’ve done some great work already in pulling out contrasting quotes and beginning to think through the differences between these two styles of writing; I’m going to pair up you up with winter princess (and maybe changing9 ) in class tomorrow, to think through some of this together, since you seem on much the same track (though winter rincess’s “text” is Kolbert’s public talk rather than her book). You might also think about doing something along the lines winter princess sketches out towards the end of her draft: asking how comparing these two writing styles invites you to reflect on the evolution of your own: What qualities of journalism can you use, what qualities of academic writing, are emerging as significant in your own style? What are the dangers and downsides of each, and how might you “mash” ‘em to create something uniquely your own—and compelling in an academic context?

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Differences between journalistic and literary writing

Journalistic writing

Joseph Pulitzer, a famous publisher in the 1800s, stressed one of the most important qualities of journalistic writing in his memorable command: “ Accuracy! Accuracy! Accuracy!” Roger Mudd’s quote on the first slide refers to another important quality of journalistic writing: objectivity. In addition, all journalistic writing should be clear, concise and colorful.

Nothing is more embarrassing or unprofessional than writing and publishing a story that has factual inaccuracies.
As a reporter, we were responsible for the information printed in your story. Review everything carefully.
Our reputation, and that of your publication, is at stake.
Double-check the spellings of student, faculty, and staff names, as well as grade levels and titles. Refer to official documents listing this information, such as homeroom lists or a school directory.
Keep a current phone book and an atlas handy to double-check the names of organizations and places.
Double-check dates, using a calendar

Literary writing

The term ‘literary writing’ calls to mind works by writers such as Shakespeare, Milton, or Wordsworth; definitive examples of all that the term implies. We instinctively associate the term with characteristics such as artistic merit, creative genius, and the expression of mankind’s noblest qualities. Literary works are primarily distinguishable from other pieces of writing by their creative, or artistic intent.

A piece of literature differs from a specialized treatises on astronomy, political economy, philosophy, or even history, in part because it appeals, not to a particular class of readers only, but to men and women; and in part because, while the object of the treatise is simply to impart knowledge, one ideal end of the piece of literature, whether it also imparts knowledge or not, is to yield aesthetic satisfaction by the manner of which it handles its theme.

The writer of this passage emphasizes the distinction between writing of didactic purpose and literary writing which has that other, aesthetic, dimension. In fundamental terms literature is ‘an expression of life through the medium of language’ but language used more profoundly than when used simply to convey information.

The following two extracts, for example, both describing one partner’s response to marital problems, are different in both their form and their intent:

Many critics date the crumbling of their marriage back to that unfortunate episode, but David was delighted when he heard that Lynne had produced a daughter from her marriage to an American doctor.

Her writing hand stopped. She sat still for a moment; then she slowly turned in her chair and rested her elbow on its curved back. Her face, disfigured by her emotion, was not a pretty sight as she stared at my legs and said . .

Literature is a vital record of what men have seen in life; what they have experienced of it, what they have thought and felt about those aspects of it which have the most immediate and enduring interest for all of us.

So literary writing, having creative and artistic intent, is more carefully structured and uses words for the rhetorical effect of their flow, their sound, and their emotive and descriptive qualities. Literary writers can also employ tone, rhyme, rhythm, irony, dialogue and its variations such as dialects and slang, and a host of other devices in the construction of a particular prose work, poem, or play.

The many different genres of the novel constitute a particular challenge to the concept of ‘literary writing’. Detective novels, and science fiction novels, for example, are creative, imaginative, depictions of life. We might question their seriousness as literature, or whether they can achieve the high ideals of art, but then we might equally well question the meaning of ‘seriousness’, and ‘the high ideals of art’. Popular novels may not deal with life’s great conflicts, or search for truth and beauty, and they may deal with the seamier side of life, or escape into the fantastic, but can they still be considered ‘literature’? Do they still make an important contribution to our understanding of the world, as ‘real’ literature does?

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Knowledge Gap Hypothesis

Explain various parts of speech with your own examples.

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Technical vs. Academic, Creative, Business, and Literary Writing: What Is the Difference?

Technical writing is all about the content that focuses on providing detailed and clear information on the product or service. It contains a factual and straightforward message. Technical writers convert complex technical information into useful and easy-to-understand language. You should know that there are different types of technical writing , for example, online tutorials , instruction manuals, API documentation, and so on.

The main idea of all types of technical writing is to help the end-user understand any technical aspect of the product or service.

In addition to technical writing, there are many types of other writings, such as creative, business, and literary writing. All of them have distinctive features. Let’s compare these writings to technical writing and see what they have in common and what makes them different.

Technical Writing vs. Academic Writing

Some people might think these two types of writing are similar. The truth is that these are two completely different categories. It may seem that academic writing should be more complicated since it is focused on some specific and narrow discipline. Indeed, this type of writing may describe very complex concepts and provide specialized knowledge.

Technical writing is intended to describe technical information. It may vary depending on the specifics of a particular industry.

Academic writing is aimed to present a certain point of view on a particular subject. Academic papers show results of research and demonstrate someone’s knowledge. In turn, technical writing explains something to readers and informs them. Technical papers often explain how to use a particular product or service. Technical documents can also describe procedures used by the manufacturer to perform certain tasks. What technical and academic writing have in common is that both types may contain jargon.

Academic and technical writing target different audiences. Academic papers are usually intended for fellow scholars. However, there are also academic pieces of writing intended for a broad audience. Technical writing is intended for people who use a product or service.

Technical Writing vs. Creative Writing

Creative writing is a piece of writing for entertainment and education. It focuses on imaginative and symbolic content, and creative papers are published to entertain, provoke, inspire the user. Technical writing, on the other hand, is not done to amuse its reader. It is used to inform someone. Some technical articles are sometimes made to trigger the reader to take action.

There is no such specific reader who prefers creative papers. Anyone can read the creative paper if they want to, and it gives readers a theme, message, moral, or lesson which is helpful in their real lives or provides temporary entertainment to the reader.

Creative writing has many genres and subgenres. If you want to write creatively, you should have talent. Of course, talent alone is not enough – practice is everything here.

It doesn’t mean that creativity can’t be used in technical writing. Technical articles contain so many facts and data that they can bore and overwhelm readers. This is where creativity in technical writing might come in handy. A tech writer should be creative to encourage their readers to continue reading the document.

Technical Writing vs. Business Writing

Business writing is just about any kind of writing people do at work, if we are not talking about journalism or creative writing. Business writing includes reports, emails, proposals, white papers, minutes, business cases, letters, copywriting, bids, and tenders.

However, many reports, bids, and proposals contain technical data and specifications. So business writers may find themselves editing technical content, and technical writers may be called upon to write persuasive documents for a non-technical audience.

The main objective for both these writings is to inform, be useful, build something or operate the equipment.

The language needs to be clear, concise, and accurate. Wordiness, repetition, and unfamiliar words that the audience may not understand do not belong in either business or technical writing.

Of course, you can use technical jargon in documents where the audience has the same technical background. But too much jargon tends to be a huge problem. So, if in doubt, avoid jargon or explain it.

Some business documents need to be persuasive, whereas technical documents tend to be neutral and objective.

However, there are differences in the content, language, and style of technical and business writing. More on technical writing in business is in our article What Value Technical Writers Bring to Business?

Technical Writing vs. Literary Writing

The main difference between technical writing and literary writing is that literary language is used in literary work while technical writing is used in writing for a particular field. Literary writing is used in fiction. Examples of literary writing include poems, novels, short stories, dramas, etc. The language used in literary writing is creative, imaginative and uses literary techniques like hyperbole, personification, similes, metaphors, etc.

Technical writing is the style of writing that is mostly observed in non-fiction. The language used in technical writing is direct, factual, and straightforward.

Literary writing appeals to emotions. Technical writing appeals to the mind.

Technical writing is aimed at people who have knowledge about a particular subject area. Literary writing is written for general readers.

Every writing style is important in its own way. They are used by writers depending on the subject matter, purpose, language, and target audience. Below is the table that summarizes what you found out about the types of writing mentioned in this article:

It doesn’t matter what you write: essays, business materials, fiction, letters, or just notes in your journal, your writing will be at its best if you stay focused on your purpose and target audience.

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Difference Between Journalism and Creative Writing
Sam Young: How academic writing differs from journalistic styles
Creative Writing vs Journalism
Journalistic Writing versus English Class Writing Similarities and
Journalistic Writing versus English Class Writing Similarities and
Technical vs. Academic, Creative, Business, and Literary Writing: What

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Journaling: A Great Idea or Overrated?

COMMENTS

Creative Writing vs. Journalism
Creative writing focuses on imaginative storytelling, aiming to entertain and evoke emotions, while journalism aims to inform and provide factual accounts of events. The styles, tones, research methods, structures, and required skills differ between the two. Both forms of writing, however, play important roles in society, allowing individuals ...
Journalism Vs Creative Writing: Two Sides of the Same Coin (3)
Umukoro explains: "Creative Writing and Journalism have many areas of overlap. The reason for this overlap is because, just as creative writing has many genres so does journalism, the only difference being that one is more factual (Journalism) than the other (Creative Writing). "What's most fascinating about creative writing and ...
20 Common Journalism Terms for Writers
(5 Different Forms of Journalism.) Interestingly, a majority of respondents accurately described what anonymous sourcing involves. While most professions have their own unique jargon, journalism can directly impact society, so it's important that we learn these terms to form a clearer understanding of how the news gathering process works.
The Intersection of Journalism and Creative Writing
Master Storytellers: The Intersection of Journalism and Creative Writing. February 19, 2024 by Kimbel Westerson in [ Language & Communication ] In the 2020 film "News of the World," Tom Hanks plays a former Confederate Army officer who makes his living traveling the Reconstruction-era West, reading the newspaper aloud for the price of a dime.
Distinguishing Journalism from Creative Writing
Journalism can be a challenging profession. In contrast, creative writing is an activity where the writer has the freedom to be creative and produce an original piece of writing. The main difference between journalism and creative writing is that journalism reports on real-life events, while creative writing is based on the writer's imagination.
Creative Writing vs. Journalism
When we discuss creative writing and journalism, people often think they are completely separate styles of writing. People do not think the two styles of writing have similarities, which for the most part this is true. Creative writing is used when we are writing fiction, while journalistic writing describes news stories and real events.
Truth And Creativity: Journalism Vs. Creative Writing
Creative Writing. Journalism and creative writing are two opposite ends of the literary rope. Their difference is grounded on the fact that journalism relies heavily on the truth, facts, current events, and knowledge. Creative writing, on the other hand, comprises much on art, fiction, and imagination. This is why these two ends don't meet.
The Difference Between Creative Writing and Journalism
In Journalism it is just the opposite of creative writing. One could say that if you can master ADSENSE you could be a journalist. ADSENSE does almost the exact same thing. You want to draw the attention of your audience right from the start. If you draw them in, they'll keep reading, and the story or article will be a winner.
What's The Difference Between Journalism And Creative Writing?
time, there can also be major overlaps between them. One of the key differences is that creative writing is usually understood to mean the writing of fictional novels. By contrast, journalism is centred on reportage - reporting on actual people and events. As a journalist, you don't, or shouldn't, make things up; as a fictional novelist ...
Journalism and Journalistic Writing: Introduction
Collectively, these various journalistic media help members of the public learn what is happening in the world so they may make informed decisions. The most important difference between journalism and other forms of non-fiction writing is the idea of objectivity. Journalists are expected to keep an objective mindset at all times as they ...
Writing for Fun? (Part 2): Journalism and Academic Writing
In that post, I considered creative writing and the ways academic writing can present a similar opportunity for expression and creativity. Sam Shapiro, Class of 2021 ... we discussed the differences and similarities between journalism and academic writing and how to bring the thrill one feels when chasing a story for a publication to a term ...
Creative Writing & Journalism
Keep it real : everything you need to know about researching and writing creative nonfiction by Lee Gutkind & Hattie Fletcher. Call Number: NYU Shanghai (China) Main Collection (PN3377.5.R45 K44 2008 ) ISBN: 9780393065619. Real feature writing: story shapes and writing strategies from the real world of journalism by Abraham Aamidor.
PDF Building Bridges between Literary Journalism and Alternative
and engagement. In particular, this paper charts the considerable similarities between literary journalism and two of the increasingly popular so-called "al-ternative" forms of ethnography: autoethnography and public ethnography. Although they have different origins, both types of writing—one journalistic,
What's the difference between academic and journalistic writing?
The difference between journalistic and academic writing is mainly the difference between rhetorical and analytical modes of persuasion. In brief: The rhetorical mode tries to persuade by 'painting a picture' that people can intuitively grasp. It relies on the innate capacity of the reader to sympathetically engage with a narrative, and uses ...
Creative Nonfiction and Literary Journalism: What's the Difference?
Creative nonfiction was coined by Lee Gutkind in the '90s. Simply stated, it's "true stories, well told.". At least, that's the slogan for his magazine. Gutkind has written several books on the genre, like this one, which is incredibly helpful for getting started in the genre. But if you're looking for a more precise definition ...
What's the difference between academic and journalistic writing?
What are the similarities of academic writing and creative writing? Similarities between creative writing and academic writing are as follows: Correct grammar writing is mandatory for both creative writing and academic writing. Both require proper sentence construction. You can put creative ideas in academic writing and vice versa.
From Journalism to Technical Writing: How to Combine the ...
Specialization. The main difference between journalists and technical writers is precisely the technical specialization. You don't have to be a developer to become a technical writer in software development projects, but you must have at least basic knowledge of topics, such as the following: Software and hardware.
Journalistic Writing Compared to Academic Writing
Journalistic Writing Compared to Academic Writing. Selena Martinez. Esem. Paper #9. Elizabeth Kolbert's novel The Sixth Extinction presents a collection of scientific material and personal narratives that draw attention to the mass loss of plants and animals through anthropogenic cause in a journalistic style. Although this book reads more ...
Differences between journalistic and literary writing
So literary writing, having creative and artistic intent, is more carefully structured and uses words for the rhetorical effect of their flow, their sound, and their emotive and descriptive qualities. Literary writers can also employ tone, rhyme, rhythm, irony, dialogue and its variations such as dialects and slang, and a host of other devices ...
Technical vs. Academic, Creative, Business, and Literary Writing: What
The main difference between technical writing and literary writing is that literary language is used in literary work while technical writing is used in writing for a particular field. Literary writing is used in fiction. Examples of literary writing include poems, novels, short stories, dramas, etc. The language used in literary writing is ...
Creative Writing vs Academic Writing
Creative writing: A fiction or nonfiction story about a hiker who encounters a bear on a trail. (This tells a story.) Academic writing: A research paper including data on the eating habits of a certain subspecies of bear. (This states facts.) 2. Style. Because they have different goals, academic writing and creative writing have different styles.