Reporting

What is the goal of reporting?What does a reporter do?When deciding on what to cover…

What is the first thing you consider?

News Judgment Ability to identify what is news▪ News stories have at least one element of

newsworthiness▪ Timeliness▪ Proximity▪ Novelty▪ Impact▪ Drama▪ Prominence▪ Conflict▪ Human Interest▪ Usefulness

The reporting process Questions to ask when you begin an

assignment▪ What is the story▪ What makes the story news▪ What do I need to know▪ Where can I find information

Background Research Do a quick Google search on the issue/topic

▪ Has anything been published before▪ Is the organization/topic new▪ Who are key people▪ Interesting facts▪ History on your topic/issue/organization

▪ Background information helps plan your approach

Reporting Sources There are many sources of information▪ Directories▪ Documents▪ Newspaper archives▪ Websites▪ Listservs & Newsgroups▪ Human sources

The power of observation▪ Note down occurrences/incidents, unique

things▪ Observations add context to the article▪ Provide a first hand account of what is

happening. ▪ Provide information without opinion▪ Gives the reader a sense of being there

Interviewing Factual information Reactions and opinions Statistics Anecdotes

Recording interviews Come prepared Test the recorder Use the counter Know the law▪ Before recording

phone interviews

Note taking Know what to write down Develop a shorthand▪ If possible

Any quotes should be recorded accurately

Email interviews▪ Who is responding to the email?▪ Doesn’t allow for spontaneous/extra

questions▪ Responses can be carefully crafted▪ Hard to read nuances▪ Messages can be forwarded

Email interviews▪ Use to contact people & set up interviews▪ Use only as a last resort▪ After phone/in person fail

▪ Use for quick follow up questions▪ Use to double check facts/info▪ Make sure you know the source▪ Don’t use anonymous emails

Math for journalists Common math elements used by

journalists▪ Percentages▪ Ratios & rates▪ Averages

Accuracy Reporting is a big responsibility▪ People expect accuracy▪ Readers▪ Sources▪ Peers

▪ Check and double check info▪ Avoid possible lawsuits

Student journalism doesn’t exempt accuracy

REVIEW Chapter 5 Newswriting

Quiz on Sept 25▪ Chap 1,2,3,4,5,10