The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Reporting and WritingReporting and Writing

Journalism and Media Studies CentreJournalism and Media Studies Centre

The University of Hong KongThe University of Hong Kong

Kevin VoigtKevin Voigt

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

““Great reporters don’t get that way sitting Great reporters don’t get that way sitting around…everything that is worth doing in life around…everything that is worth doing in life calls for resourcefulness, courage and calls for resourcefulness, courage and devotion.”devotion.”

Hsaio Ch’ien, in “Into the Wider World”Hsaio Ch’ien, in “Into the Wider World”

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Resourcefulness.Resourcefulness. Creative use of capabilities. Creative use of capabilities. Trying more than one way.Trying more than one way.

Courage.Courage. Standing up for your principles. Standing up for your principles. The strength to make people unhappy.The strength to make people unhappy.

Devotion.Devotion. Working hard to overcome Working hard to overcome obstacles.obstacles.

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

““The only qualities for real success in The only qualities for real success in journalism are rat-like cunning, a plausible journalism are rat-like cunning, a plausible manner and a little literary ability.” manner and a little literary ability.”

Nicholas Tomalin, a good reporter Nicholas Tomalin, a good reporter

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Rat-like cunning.Rat-like cunning. It’s being resourceful, It’s being resourceful, figuring out how to evade traps and get things.figuring out how to evade traps and get things.

Plausible manner.Plausible manner. The state of knowing little The state of knowing little or nothing, but being willing to learn.or nothing, but being willing to learn.

A little literary abilityA little literary ability. A little can be . A little can be acquired.acquired.

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Reporters are the heroes of journalism.Reporters are the heroes of journalism.

What they do is find things out, amid chaos What they do is find things out, amid chaos and against obstacles. and against obstacles.

If they don’t, who will? If they don’t, who will?

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Shared beliefs about the job:Shared beliefs about the job:

Information better than rumor and speculation.Information better than rumor and speculation.

Resist and evade government management of Resist and evade government management of the news.the news.

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Scrutinize and hold government officials Scrutinize and hold government officials accountable.accountable.

Monitor businesses and institutions for Monitor businesses and institutions for treatment of workers and quality of products.treatment of workers and quality of products.

Give voice to people with opposing views.Give voice to people with opposing views.

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Reflect society’s values and vices. Reflect society’s values and vices.

Ensure justice is fair and open. Ensure justice is fair and open.

Promote exchange of ideas:Promote exchange of ideas:

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Some common attributes:Some common attributes:

A good news sense.A good news sense.

A passion for accuracy. A passion for accuracy.

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Never assume.Never assume.

Don’t be afraid to ask.Don’t be afraid to ask.

Skeptical.Skeptical.

Unbiased.Unbiased.

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

Empathize with people.Empathize with people.

Determined and compassionate.Determined and compassionate.

Independent, but realistic. Independent, but realistic.

The Art of ReportingThe Art of Reporting

There are many examples of reporters who There are many examples of reporters who changed history with their resourcefulness, changed history with their resourcefulness, courage, devotion, cunning, plausible manner courage, devotion, cunning, plausible manner and literary ability. and literary ability.

Put more simply, however, what matters most Put more simply, however, what matters most is trying hard to do a good job, day in and day is trying hard to do a good job, day in and day out. out.