what is a beat?
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What is a beat? . Film Department. Graphic Design. Student Life. Clubs. Events. Photo Department. Any defined area of Coverage. Student Government. Activities. Theater Department. Creative Writing. Getting started. Define the beat - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
What is a beat?.
Film Department Student Life
Photo Department
Student Government
Activities
Theater Department
Clubs Events
Any defined area of Coverage
Creative Writing
Graphic Design
Define the beat Make a list of initial key people to talk to,
and possible story ideas Set up interviews Leave every interview with a story idea and
the name of someone else to talk to Start a “tickler” file
Getting started
What are the issues within your beat? What entities does your beat include? Who are the official people within your
beat? What kinds of public meetings/events
happen in your beat? What kinds of public documents exist in
your beat?
Step 1: Define the Beat
Top 10 people to meet. What events are happening within your
beat. What written information is already out
there? What stories do the people within your beat
think should be told?
Step 2: Make a list
Beat reporting—literally: make the rounds Reading the news Reading bulletin boards, virtual and real Attending events and meetings Press conferences Monitoring groups and issues via the
Internet
Finding Stories
Step 4: Start a tickler file Create a system
for tracking who you’re talking to and what you’re working on: meetings, interviews, public requests. Share these with your editor or other writers to get more ideas.
Step 5: Talk to People Make regular lunch,
coffee, coffee, snack, cocktail (if you’re over 21) meetings with potential sources.
Get out as much as possible
Talk to people when you don’t need them.
Don’t rely on the Internet.
Read other publications, looking for stories that you could do in your community
Read virtual and real bulletin boards to look for strange events, calls to action
Use Social Media to find stories and find sources.
.
Reading the News
A reporter’s knowledge of a story should be shared completely with the photographer
Work together to come up with ideas for the best way to visually capture the essence of a story, whether it’s a profile or a larger feature
The reporter and photographer should be together for this process
Try a variety of shots, from candid to more contrived
Work Together
Personal Example