THE MARRIAGE OF JOURNALISM AND SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

By Ishaq Bilal

photo by slideshare.net

The assured preference of simple present tense in the work of journalism is so eminent that it is usually part of the element that determines the validity of journalistic contents. Editors of media organizations have the use of simple present tense as a prerequisite when vetting content turned in by their reporters, stringers, freelancers, and their content contributors. This shows that there is a level of importance placed on the English Grammar element.

Simple Present tense is a tense that shows that an action has just taken place. You might want to guess that this definition is what binds the tense into matrimony with journalism. Of course, you are correct.

Journalistic writings or contents are done in such a way that it proves to be conversational, that is as if it is directly to you even though it is writing and targeted to thousands of people who you share the same interest with. This is why active verbs are used to make the action seems lively and concrete in corroboration with the simple present tense.

So to keep the interest, attention, and impact of the story on the audience, making the report look as if it just happened is best utilized for the sake of saving such a story. Thus, this is where simple present tense said “Yes I will” to Journalism.

This is why when the subject(who) especially in news is singular, you see the following active verb carrying ‘s’ at the end like writes, assures, demands, dies, etc. but when the subject is plural i.e when it is more than one, then the verbs do not carry ‘s’ to show single present.

The president assures Nigerians of his commitment to end insurgency. 

The NLC, NUJ, and NANS demand justice for Bamise

Cub news writers need to take note of this to make their reports have a sense of timeliness and interest to the audience.