Selective focus

Definition

Selective focus is a technique in journalism and photography where the storyteller emphasizes certain elements within a scene while intentionally blurring others. This method allows for the creation of a specific narrative, directing the audience's attention to particular details that enhance the overall message or emotion of the story. It’s crucial in shaping the reader's experience and understanding of the material.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Selective focus was a prominent technique used in New Journalism, allowing writers to create vivid images that evoke emotion and capture readers' imaginations.
2. By choosing what to highlight and what to obscure, journalists can shape the reader's perception of events or characters, making their storytelling more impactful.
3. This technique often involves using detailed descriptions of certain elements while leaving other parts vague, enhancing the overall narrative without overwhelming the audience.
4. In visual journalism, selective focus can also refer to how images are framed, drawing attention to particular subjects while minimizing distractions from the background.
5. Selective focus is effective in creating intimacy and connection with subjects, helping readers feel more engaged with the story being told.

Review Questions

• How does selective focus enhance storytelling in journalism?
  • Selective focus enhances storytelling by allowing journalists to emphasize specific details that convey deeper emotions or messages. By highlighting certain elements while blurring others, journalists can guide readers' attention and influence their understanding of events. This technique creates a more immersive experience, making stories feel more personal and impactful.
• Discuss the relationship between selective focus and visual storytelling in New Journalism.
  • In New Journalism, selective focus is closely related to visual storytelling as it combines textual descriptions with visual elements to craft a compelling narrative. Journalists use selective focus to direct attention to specific scenes or characters, which works hand-in-hand with visuals that enhance or complement the written word. This synergy creates a richer narrative experience that captures both emotional depth and contextual clarity.
• Evaluate the impact of selective focus on reader perception and engagement within New Journalism.
  • Selective focus significantly impacts reader perception by manipulating what details are foregrounded or backgrounded in a story. This choice can evoke certain emotions or provoke thoughts about the subjects being discussed, leading to a stronger engagement with the material. By controlling the narrative lens through selective focus, journalists can challenge assumptions, provoke empathy, and create a lasting impression on their audience.

Related terms

Narrative Structure: The framework that dictates how a story is organized, including the sequence of events and the relationships between different components.

Visual Storytelling: A method of conveying information through visual media, integrating images and graphics to enhance the narrative and engage the audience.

Depth of Field: The range of distance within a photo that appears acceptably sharp, which can be manipulated to create selective focus in visual narratives.