What Is Service Journalism?
“News you can use” is the best, most succinct, and probably the only rhyming description of service journalism out there. In simple terms, this type of journalism refers to consumer-oriented content, any piece (in whatever format or medium) that helps the reader/listener/viewer solve a problem, whether it’s a clogged sink or deciding what book to read on vacation.
(What Is Literary Journalism?)
We may not be familiar with the term itself, but if you spend time online or read magazines and even newspapers, you’re seeing these stories daily. They pop up on news feeds and are peppered all over social media. These articles advise readers on practicalities like what to wear, where to dine, and how to do or achieve something. You’ll learn everything from how to build a bookshelf to why stay-at-home moms prefer yoga pants. Then there’s the much-loved listicle, with topics such as “7 Tips to Conquer Procrastination” or “5 Skills You Need to Be an Effective Journalist.”
These stories are evergreen, informative, and actionable with practical tips, instruction, and demonstrable examples of success, such as before-and-after photos of a room makeover or a beautifully decorated cake. They offer information on such diverse topics as DIY, pets, gardening, finance, health, IT, gadgets, hiking, and so much more.
You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a new trend, but service journalism has been around for decades. These articles have always been popular with readers and remain a staple of print and online magazines and used as “filler” for newspapers.
Service journalism has been referred to as “frivolous” and less important than other journalistic forms, and there’s a morsel of truth to this when you compare it to the societal impact of investigative journalism and hard news stories. Countless blogs and listicles now flood the online space, and we can safely assume that some are written by AI after the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. We’ll leave that issue for another article; but it does complicate matters as this is probably the easiest format to generate with new AI technology.
While it’s true that service journalism won’t have the same hard-hitting effects as news and investigative reports, it does have a distinct purpose and can transform lives. Millions of readers enjoy and appreciate this valuable and useful resource. I bet that most people reading this article have Googled a question in the last few days, such as “how to stop your newly adopted dog from nipping,” (guilty) or the top 10 spring getaways in the US. The content generated by this type of search is service journalism.
Jean LemMon, the first female editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, claimed service journalism came into being long before anybody put a label on it and offered a thorough description on C-Span back in the late 90s, which still holds true.
“Service journalism is a type of journalism that goes beyond the delivery of pure information,” she says. “It is journalism that requires action.” LemMon then goes on to explain that with “action journalism” we have an expectation that readers will be inspired to want to do something after they’ve read the piece, equipped with the information, advice, and instruction provided.
So, except for sponsored content and obvious clickbait, most service pieces fit neatly under the journalism umbrella, along with well-written blogs, columns, and personal essays. Service journalism has kept magazines in business for a very long time, and they are arguably the most widely read type of article. Major newspapers have editors assigned specifically to service journalism and entire websites are dedicated to the form.
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The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.
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The same rules and ethics apply to service journalism as to any other kind of reporting. And as a generalist, I treat each assignment with equal care and attention, whether it’s covering a presidential candidate’s political rally or writing a listicle about the 10 best winter coats.
You’ve probably written countless service journalism articles without being aware such a category existed. But having a label can be useful when pitching ideas to publications. How-to articles and listicles are relatively easy to research and fun to write, and this type of content can be a great source of income.
Just remember a service piece should offer helpful, practical advice, tips, and/or instruction, be informative, relevant, and result in some kind of action on the part of the reader. It can take the form of a listicle, how-to article, or even a Q&A style piece.
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Here are a few resources that may be helpful:
https://mediablog.prnewswire.com/2018/03/15/11-service-journalism-news-sites/https://smartocto.com/blog/solutions-difference-constructive-service-journalism/https://www.c-span.org/video/?96579-1/service-journalismhttps://rjionline.org/news/whats-working-service-journalism-is-having-a-moment/