events that are sudden and unpredictable;
events that are scheduled and predictable;
news releases alerting the media to noteworthy events or topics;
ideas generated by readers, editors or reporters; and
your own ideas.
FINDING AND USING SOURCES
Sources provide the raw material that reporters turn into stories. Without them, there is no news. Reporters are only as good as their sources.
Every reporter must learn how to:
select sources for relevance;
check sources for accuracy;
balance sources for fairness; and
cultivate sources for tips and future story ideas.
The more sources you use, the better the depth, context and reliability of your reporting will be.
The main types of sources to consult:
newsmakers
spokespeople
experts
official records
reference material
ordinary people
What does it mean to "attribute" something to a source?
What do journalists mean when they talk about "anonymous" sources?
How do you decide whether a source is reliable?
USING THE INTERNET
For the reporter, the Web is the ultimate research tool—if you use it in an efficient, responsible way.
The Eleventh Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Plagiarize
Plagiarism can ruin a reporter's career. Some ways to avoid committing plagiarism:
quote and credit the source;
paraphrase, while still crediting the source; and
rework and reword the idea until it's more yours that theirs.
Internet Search Tips from the Pros
Try using directories AND search engines.
Bookmark your favorite search sites and get familiar with them.
Keep keywords as specific as possible.
Study the site's search syntax.
Watch your spelling.
Before you link to Web sites, study their addresses to assess their professionalism.
Whom Do You Trust? Evaluating a Web Site's Reliability
Authority
Accuracy
Objectivity
Timeliness
Beyond the Basics
E-mail
Newsgroups
Blogs
OBSERVATION
The ability to observe events accurately and record details faithfully is the secret to great reporting.
Sight
Sound
Action
Emotion
TAKING NOTES
What's the best way to record the facts and quotes you gather for a story? It all starts with your notebook.
A typical page in a reporter's notebook
Which is the best way to take notes? A look at the pros and cons of:
notebooks
tape recorders
typing
INTERVIEWINGAsk Yourself: "Which Type of Interview Should This Be?"
Tips for Successful Interviews: Before, During and After
Setting up the interview
Preparing for the interview
During the interview
After the interview
Always Strive for Racial and Gender Balance"On the Record," "Off the Record," "On Background" and "On Deep Background"QUOTATIONS
Quotes make stories more appealing and believable.
How do you use quotes in a story?
Direct quotes
Partial quotes
Paraphrasing
Dialogues
Advice and Suggestions
Problems to avoid when using quotes in stories (eight tips)
Punctuation advice for using quotes in stories
ATTRIBUTIONS
Collect facts, opinions and quotes from the best possible sources—then attribute them.
Nine Guidelines for Wording and Positioning Attributions
Should It Be "Said" or "Says"?
News stories are almost always written in the past tense.
But the present tense is appropriate for reviews, feature stories and broadcast newswriting.
Examples of Attribution in a Typical News StoryMATH FOR JOURNALISTS
Using figures can help make your stories more relevant and readable.
A brief review of:
calculating percentages
figuring the mean and the median
working with polls and surveys
Reporter's Guide to Information Charts and Graphs:
pie charts
line charts
bar charts
fast facts
DIVERSITY IN NEWS COVERAGE
BETTER SOURCES, STORIES AND STAFFING: THE THREE GOALS OF DIVERSITY
DIVERSITY IN YOUR SOURCES
DIVERSITY IN THE TOPICS YOU COVER
DIVERSITY IN YOUR NEWSROOM
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING DIVERSITY AS YOU PLAN AND WRITE STORIES
Monitor your work patterns
Expand your horizons — and your comfort zone
Honor the everyday, not just the exceptional
Avoid portraying minorities as monolithic blocks or stereotypes
Above all, do good journalism
