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Nailing the

backgrounderWith Joe Adams

Copyright 1991, 2000-2008 Joe Adams. All rights reserved.

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of story sourcing

People

Private

records

Publicdomain

Personal

observation

Publicrecords

CONFIDENTIAL

Copyright 1999-2008 Joe Adams. All rights reserved.

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The 5 Ps:People (A)

PIOs Public officials

Witnesses

Victims Family

Friends

Professionals

All human sources

This is any human source for a story.

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The 5 Ps: People

A

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Public domain (B) Lexis-Nexis

Search engines

MySpace, Facebook

Company Web sites

Press releases Clips, reference books

Ads, infomercials

Magazines, books,television, newspapers,radio

This is info, free or otherwise, that others want

you to have. Usually background in a story.

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The 5 Ps in Play: Public domain

B

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Public records (C) Local, state, national,

international

Lawsuits

Criminal records

Deeds, mortgages, etc.

Employee files

Licensing and

regulatory files

Audits

What weve been talking about today!

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The 5 Ps in Play: Public records

C

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Personal observation (D)

Sights, sounds, ideas Shared experience

Memories

Analysis

What you see, hear, conclude on your own.

Typically color in a story.

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The 5 Ps in Play: Personal observation

D

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Private records (E) Company memos

Polls, surveys

Birth certificates

Personal pictures

Purchasing receipts Medical records

Employee files

Market analysis

Diaries

Letters

Category grows if public records go private, or

shrinks if info becomes public record.

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The 5 Ps in Play: Private records

E

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Most big stories have all 5 Ps (E)For instance: Man kills his wife

and her lover, then turns thegun on himself

People: Witnesses, neighbors, friends, copsand everyone else who knows them

Public domain: Clips, Lexis-Nexis, Google,personal Web sites, Facebook, Mypace,yearbooks, etc.

Public records: Criminal, civil, marriage,domestic violence injunctions, propertyrecords, etc.

Personal observation: Descriptions of

scene, home, neighborhood, vehicles, etc.Private info: Pictures, video, letters, etc.

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What can I find in each category

for my story or subject?

FriendsFamily

Public officialsAll human sources

PIO'sWitnesses

VictimsProfessionals

People

AdvertisementsInfomercialsFacebookMy Space

Search engines

Press releasesCompany brochures

Church bulletins

MagazinesBooks

EncyclopediasCompany Web sites

ArchivesLexis-Nexis

NewspapersTV news shows

Public domain

Sights, sounds, ideasShared experiences

MemoriesAnalysis

Personal observation

Club roster listsPrivate agreements

Personal diariesDonor lists

Purchasing receipts

Cancelled checksPhotos, videosPersonal letters

Birth certificatesSchool records

Adopton proceedingsShareholder names

Company memosEmployee files

Polls, surveysMarket analysis

Private information

Checks, warrantsTravel records

CalendarsMeeting minutes

Investigative reports

AuditsEmployee recordsDisciplinary actions

Files, permits, licensesCourt records

Statistics, studiesGovernment publishing

FederalState

LocalInternational

Public records

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Guide your research: Am I

touching all the right

bases? Build a beat checklist

Use your time more

effectively for success

Make each story your

personal learning lab

15

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So many resources

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More

staterecords

Professionalpermitting

or licensing

agency

Departmentof Highway

Safety and

Motor vehicles

Other

staterecords, etc.

Secretaryof

State

More

city/countyrecords

City/countypermitting

or licensing

PropertyAppraiser's

Office

Other

countyrecords, etc.

County CircuitCourt

Clerk's Office

Other

federalrecords, etc.

Federalrecords

Public records

Clips, Lexis Nexis,

Autotrak, photo files,

search engines,company Web sites,

Hoovers, SEC, etc.

Start

to researching peopleand businesses

Copyright 2000-2008. By Joe Adams. All rights reserved.

23

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Use social media

Check Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn

i.e. Dobson story

Check school directories, alumni

directories, business directories

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Sequence matters! (3)

24

Cast the widest netpossible for info

before you interview

your source.

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Best order in most cases (E) Public domain

Public records

Personal observation

People

Private info

Can vary slightly depending on circumstances.

Example: Great tip on a lawsuit? Go for the suit!

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ASSIGNMENT

How much can you find out about Warren

Buffet?

Be back by 3:35 p.m. with a group report.