最近,我和几位新闻界同行应邀走访了美国一些报刊和新闻界人士。所见所闻虽然粗浅,但却新鲜有趣。美国的报纸种类繁多,除一些全国性的大报外,州、市、镇甚至大学也都办有报纸,于是形成了激烈的竞争。为了求得生存和发展,各家报刊都要千方百计扩大社会影响,这样,“独家新闻”就成了办报追求的目标。既然是“独家”,消息自然就要来自“独家”的渠道,为此许多大报极其重视搜罗那些善于明查暗访的干练人材。这种人材的涌现,使记者的职能更偏重于“调查”。难怪阿肯色州立大学新闻系一位教授说,“美国的报纸以调查为主,杂志才以娱乐为主”。美国报界大兴“调查”之风,可说是自“水门事件”始。据美国新闻界人士说,当初“水门”问题初露端倪时,虽有过报道,但却未引起重视。后经精于明查暗 Recently, I and several other media colleagues were invited to visit some newspapers and press members in the United States. What you see, though superficial, is fresh and interesting. There are many kinds of newspapers in the United States. Apart from some national newspapers, state, city, town and even universities also run newspapers. As a result, there is fierce competition. In order to survive and develop, all newspapers and periodicals must make every effort to expand their social influence so that “exclusive news” becomes the goal pursued by the newspaper. Since it is “exclusive”, the message naturally comes from the channel of “exclusive”. To this end, many big newspapers attach great importance to the collection of able-bodied people who are good at uncovering unannounced visits. The emergence of such talents has given the reporter a more emphasis on “investigation”. No wonder a professor at the Department of Journalism at Arkansas State University said: “The newspapers in the United States are mainly based on investigations. The magazines only focus on entertainment.” The style of “investigation” by the U.S. newspaper Daxing can be said to have started with the “Watergate incident.” According to figures from the U.S. press, the original “Watergate” was initially reported. However, it did not attract much attention. After elaborate on dark