Robert Darnton gives very critical insight into the newswriting and storytelling process from a journalist's perspective.

In a section titled "The Structure of the Newsroom (176-182)," he discusses the fact that there is a rigid hierarchy in the newsroom, and everyone must fight for their position.  This ultimately entails writing a story not as the public would like to see it, but rather as the editors would like to see it.  The newsroom environment is one of high-stress, considering that journalists are very competitive with one another and their positions are not often stable.  As he says on page 179, "Chronic insecurity breeds resentment," and when writers are constantly competing for approval, they learn to despise their colleagues.

His second section is called "Secondary Reference Groups and the Public (182-186)."  Here, Darnton explains that journalists don't actually have direct contact with the public and receive little-to-no feedback from anyone outside the newspaper.  Journalists also learn to write for their sources, for these are people whom a journalist does not want to anger or turn away.  Sources in high positions give credibility to the writing, and reporting upon a source in an unfavorable light will eliminate that source as an option in future reports.  Pleasing sources entails adopting the viewpoint of the source, especially when the person is one which the journalist will follow repeatedly.

In "Occupational Socialization (186-188)," Darnton says that most journalists "acquire attitudes, values, and a professional ethos while serving as copy boys in the city room; and they learn to perceive news and to communicate it while being 'broken in' as rookie reporters."  This is where they learn to play the game, and the social structure of the newsroom is perpetuated.

"Standardizing and Stereotyping (188-192)" is a very valuable section of Darnton's article.  Here, he reveals many conventions that journalists use to make a story a good one:  "I knew, of course, that no news is good news and that only something awful could make a really 'good' story."  Also, Darnton writes, "The higher the victim's status, the bigger the story."  Many news events repeat previous incidents, and journalists often draw upon previous reports to find the right form.  In addition,
 
 

Newswriting is heavily influenced by stereotypes and by preconceptions of what 'the story' should be.  Without pre-established categories of what constistutes 'news,' it is impossible to sort out experience.  (Darnton, 189)