Reporter’s Toolbox — 01

What does a reporter need?Where do stories come from?

What Mental Equipment does a reporter need?

• An inquisitive mind• Ability to write at least pretty well• A desire to write better and better• Inner motivation to be a self-starter• Self-discipline to maintain focus and effort• Willingness to work hard on crafting news

stories, feature articles and opinion pieces

What physical equipment does a reporter need?

• Pen or pencil• A compact reporter’s notebook– A classic reporter's notebook is a narrow pad,

roughly four inches wide and eight inches long, spiral-bound at the top, containing about 70 sheets of lined paper, and has cardboard covers front and back.

What physical equipment does a reporter need?

• A loose-leaf binder, an 8 1/2" x 11" spiral-bound notebook, or any other type of bulky notebook is unacceptable, because the reporter should seem as unobtrusive as possible when conducting the interview or investigating a story.

What physical equipment does a reporter need?

• Either a mini-tape recorder or a digital recorder. Actually, your cell phone can

Probably serve this purpose.Check it out to see if it offers This feature.

What physical equipment does a reporter need?

• WHY record audio?– It is not acceptable to write direct quotes on a notepad

during the interview. – Tape-recorded quotes are the best protection against

inaccuracy-and against quote denial or accusations of misquoting-so reporters must tape record their interviews at all times.

– The recording device used should be as small as possible so the subject barely notices it during the interview.

What else might a student reporter need?

Our Journalism textbook, THE MANUAL…

…always available via Mr. Coursey’s Moodle.

Anything else?

• Oh, yeah…

Where do story ideas come from?

Ideas come from:–Beats –Interviews –Research…

•AND…–here is what separates the aces from the cubs…

ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES

What is an ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE?

• Anything new is likely to be interesting, so good reporters work hard to find out what’s new.

• But the best reporters (Ace reporters) can look at something that happens every day—generally unnoticed and “under the radar” —

• Ace reporters find a way to write about that daily reality from an alternative perspective — they find an angle.

For cub reporters, it’s all about The Beat

• Pretty much all reporting starts with constant, dogged work. – How do most reporters begin their story hunting

•By working a beat.

For cub reporters, it’s all about The Beat

• What is a beat?–A beat is an area of focus; an area

in which a reporter develops expertise.–In olden times, a beat was an area

of rounds walked by a watchman or sentinel.

For cub reporters, it’s all about The Beat

• When reporters work their beats, they are doing the newspaper's business. –They are setting up meetings, usually

with people (whether administrators, teachers, or students) who are also engaged in the school's business.

For most reporters, it’s all about The Beat

• beat writers are expected to keep a journal concerning their sources-people, organizations, publications, phone contacts, office hours, email and Web addresses, etc.

• The beat writer's journal becomes a legacy to be passed on to the next reporter who will cover that beat.

• Beat writers should study notes collected by the previous year's beat writer for tips and sources to help smooth the transition from one year to the next.

For most reporters, it’s all about The Beat

• Beat reporters are expected to obtain relevant calendars of events and to attend important meetings

• or, on days they cannot attend, to arrange for another reporter to take their place.

• If all else fails, the beat reporter should arrange to obtain a copy of a meeting's minutes within 24 hours.

For most reporters, it’s all about The Beat

• Beat writers are responsible for recognizing and proposing article ideas.

• Before proposing a story idea to an editor, a beat writer should confirm any possible news peg with a second source.

School Beats — InternalMain Office Athletic Office Career Services Center

Health Room Business Office Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)

Gym School bus pick-up and drop-off zones

School clubs and organizations

Principal School Departments Booster Club

Administrative Team Attendance

Leadership Group Secritaries in the main office and guidance center

Lunch shifts

Library School department heads

School Beats — External

• Other potential beats– Selected national beats• Is congress debating bills that could affect our school?• Is there any case on the Supreme Court docket relevant

to public schools?• Are there any new recommendations pending from

national educational organizations like the National Council for the Social Studies? Or the National Council of Teachers of English?

– Relevant music, movie or theater reviews?