Thursday 25 August 2016

5 Novels Every Journalism Student Should Read

“The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all pleasures fade.”
                                                   -Anthony Trollope

Journalism and Literature are two subjects that almost go hand in hand, thanks to the main idea behind them – writing. The interests of the subject matter intermingle together in a compelling way. In fact there are so many established journalists and the ones in making who have pursued literature first and journalism later to have the best of both worlds. The parallel between the two is to get hands on a few books that either tell an enchanting tale of the world at once or prepare the writer within you for storytelling!

Here are a few books that every student pursuing journalism and mass communication courses should read at least once:-

AAFT Mass Communication

1.The Art and Craft of Feature Writing – Written by William Blundell, the novelist charts how to write long, in-depth stories that keep the readers engaged. Blundell shows how they overcame the challenge of writing engaging content at Wall Street Journal.

2.Bel Ami – Beautifully written by Guy De Maupassant, the narrative talks of a former military man who somehow becomes a journalist through manipulation and other means that are unprofessional. His career graph attains new heights only because of acts such as preying on successful women.

3.In Cold Blood – This novel by Truman Capote is said to be the masterpiece in narrative journalism. The novelist expresses an account of a small town quadruple murder with masterful strokes and details that sends chills down the spine.

4.On Writing Well – William Zinsser through this book expresses the basic fundamentals of writing and how to connect with readers. He tells the value of concise and conversational sentences made of precise word. He talks about keeping the sentences simpler yet precise to connect with readers.

5.Berlin Diary – This book is the first hand account of rise of Nazi as witnessed by journalist William Shirer. Rewritten from Shirer’s CBS radio and diary, the novel conveys dilemma and reality of beginning of World War II and talks of the daunting courage of a reporter at work.

Here are the few exclusive picks that students studying in mass communication colleges in India should get their hands on and derive life lessons. 

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