prndi reporting webinar
TRANSCRIPT
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 1/34
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 2/34
The Five Tiers
Modified from Four Tiers developed by Jay
Kernis, former NPR Senior VP for
Programming
The tiers are about story SELECTION, not
story EXECUTION!
Morning Edition Grad School HealthyState.org
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 3/34
Five Tiers of News Coverage
Tier One: COMMERCIAL
³If it bleeds, it leads.´ Crime, fires, sensationalized weather, local sports teams, plus thosequirky/human interest kickers that inevitably end the TV newscast.
Tier Two: STAGED
City council meetings, school board meetings, local government and political pronouncements,news conferences.
Tier Three: CULTURAL RESONANCE
Profiles of artists, musicians, cultural figures.
Tier Four: LOCAL IMPACT/NATIONAL
What is the local impact²or local representation²of a national or international story? At its best,this kind of reporting fosters civil discourse, the desire to learn more, and to become moreinvolved.
Tier Four: LOCAL MEANING
What news event, person, trend or new idea is or is about to make a real difference in my life andmy community? What truly reflects who we are and why we live here? What will have lastingimpact? What trends and events are not being noticed?
Morning Edition Grad School HealthyState.org
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 4/34
Developing Pitches
beat sources, listeners,friends, neighbors,cashiers, cabbies
Mine people for story ideas:
Mine people for story ideas:
Pay attention to what yousee
Pay attention to what yousee
Pull a thread fromanother story
Pull a thread fromanother story
Surveys, pollsthat sparkquestions
Surveys, pollsthat sparkquestions
Newspapers:localize a
national story
Newspapers:localize a
national story
Pressreleases
Pressreleases
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 5/34
Before You Pitch a Story
Make sure you actually have a story inmind, and not just a vague idea.
If a newspaper article prompted your story idea, make sure you can suggest how toadvance the story.
Figure out whether your story should betold by a reporter or through a host interview.
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 6/34
Story Visioning Worksheet
Story Length:
1. What is my Focus Statement?
2. Who stands to win/lose in this story? Who are the players?
3. Who do I need to interview?Side 1 Side 2 Side 3 Expert/Perspective
4. What is this story REALLY about? Who stands the lose the most? How does it feel to be him/her?How can I open the story with this person?
5. Where should I interview him/her? (do this for every person in #4) How can I describe this place?What nearby sounds should be miked for prominence? What obstacles can I anticipate?
6. What questions should I ask? (remember the ³20 minute rule´)
7. Go. Be ready to change course if you find new information.
Source: Melanie Peeples w/modifications by Tanya Ott
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 7/34
Public Radio¶s Core Values: Editorial Planning GridCopyright© Public Radio Program Directors, Inc.
Qualities of the MindyLove of lifelong learningySubstance
yCuriosity
yCredibility/Accuracy
yHonestyyRespect for the listener yPurpose
Qualities of the HeartyHumor yIdealism
yInspired about public life andculture
yCivility / belief in civil discourseyGenerosity
Qualities of CraftyUniquely human voiceyPacingy Attention to detail
Station call
letters:
Content Questions Talent Questions Production Questions
Selecting
Content and
Topics
What are the key issues that
make this something we
should cover for our
listeners?
What does our host,
reporter newscaster or
producer need to meet our
content goals?
How can we write, structure,
edit and texturize* this content
for the ear?
( possible texture elements
include ambience, actualities,
vox, music, movie clips)
Framing /
Shaping
Content and
Topics
How can we add new depth,substance and perspective
on these issues for our
listeners?
Whose voices do we need
to hear and what questionsdo we need to ask?
How can we re-version thiscontent to reach more of our
listeners in other programs and
dayparts?
Questions
for different
types of
news
programs
Newscast ± How should we
stack the newscast?
Talk Shows ± What is the
pathway for callers to
participate in the program?
Magazine Programs ± how
should the elements:
(interviews, features, music,
news items, etc.) relate to each
other editorially and
contextually?
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 8/34
Context
T he defining element of
public radio news
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 9/34
What is ³Context´
Part of the story that tells listeners why they
should care
The competitive advantage public radio holds
over commercial radio and television
Standard in a national story; often missing
in a local story
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 10/34
Different Flavors of Context
Historical: has this happened before?
Geographical: where else is this happening?
Political: how does it reflect shifting partisantides?
Behavioral: what does it say about changing
beliefs/attitudes?
Demographic: is this part of a ³Gen X´ or
³Baby Boomer´ trend/movement?
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 11/34
Where to Find Context
Analyst
Researcher
Historian Journalist
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 12/34
Closing Thoughts
Reporting the context of a story takes
time, but it¶s why people listen to you.
It helps listeners understand their place in
the community, the nation, and the world.
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 13/34
Depth vs Breadth
Breadth: more stories, less detail, less
production
Depth: fewer stories, more detail, more
production
Research shows public radio listeners
want depth over breadth
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 14/34
Resources
Find Sources Fast
± www.newswise.com
press release email list (searchable, customizable)
searchable expert database
expert query (sent immediately ± best for tight
deadline)
± www.profnet.com press release email list
expert query (batched and sent a couple times a
day)
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 15/34
Interviewing
Maximizing Your Time, Their
Time, and Results
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 16/34
It¶s Not a Conversation
" Interviewing requires more than a good
ear for quotes. It's a process, like writing,
that involves a series of decisions and
actions designed to get the best possible
information.´ -Chip Scanlon, author: Reporting and Writing:
Basics for the 21st Century
The process starts with Preparation
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 17/34
Pre-Interview
To ensure you have a ³good talker´
To get facts, not emotions
To get chronology, not insight
To get a µcontract¶ on what the on-tape interview
will be about
If you can¶t interview your source, interview the
flak ± Breaking news
± Political spot news
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 18/34
Research
Necessary for new angles
Good for establishing credibility
Blogs, articles, transcripts Phone-a-Critic
Identify ³juicy center´
You DO have time: 10 minutes is all ittakes
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 19/34
Roadmap
Know where you want to start and end
Scribble down µmust haves¶
Be open to new routes
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 20/34
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 21/34
³Do¶s & Don¶ts´
DO: ask simple questions: why, what, how
DON¶T: ask double-barreled questions
DO: ask for details, examples, pictures
DON¶T: be afraid to admit you don¶t understand DO: ask µhow do you know that?¶ (burden of proof)
DON¶T: use trigger words
DO: strategize on difficult or sensitive issues
DON¶T: be afraid of silence
Most important: listen more, talk less.
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 22/34
Golden Rules
First Questions: dive right in
± What happened?
± What¶s at stake?
± Why did you do it? Last Questions:
± What would you like to add?
± Who else should I talk to?
Don¶t provide a list of questions to source ahead of time
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 23/34
Writing
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 24/34
What do strong stories have?
Iceberg Effect
Gold Nuggets
Little Things
Sense of Place
Sense of People
Sense of Time
Other
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 25/34
Best Practices
Write for the ear
± Use conversational style, including contractions
Use active verbs
± ³A car hit him´ NOT ³He was hit by a car´
Use present tense
± ³Jones says´ NOT ³Jones said´
One thought per sentence ± Candow: whenever you see a µconnecting¶ word,
[which, that, and] break it into two sentences.
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 26/34
Best Practices con¶t
Plainspeak
± ³The city will use the funds soon´ NOT ³the
city will utilize the funds soon´
Economize
± ³The city will spend the money soon´ NOT
³the city will utilize the funds given to it by the
federal government sometime in the next twoto three months.´
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 27/34
Best Practices
Avoid cliches like the plague
No long-phrased introductions to sentences, or
clauses in the middle of sentences.
± ³ Walking amongst the wavy winter wheat, thefarmer¶s eyes grow big at the prospect of large
profits´
± ³T he mayor, who thought he was late, burst
through the council chamber doors to testify.´
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 28/34
The Strong Script Concise
Least # Words
Active Verbs and Active Voice
Short titles
No fact trains
Strong anchor intro and ending
Gold coins scattered throughout
Good transitions
Good tape
* Remember the Cardinal Rule for Radio: You¶re writing for the ear, not for thepage, so READ ALL SCRIPTS ALOUD.
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 29/34
Leads« or Ledes, if you prefer
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 30/34
Does this sell the story?In impoverished Honduras, problems range from a lackof resources for education, to the lack of food and eventhe most basic healthcare. A group of medicalmissionaries from the greater Birmingham area takesseveral trips a year to help the Hondurans who need it
the most. But what they've encountered over the yearsis a big catch-22: a cyclical environment of malnourishment and disease. The missionaries'challenge is to teach Hondurans the wherewithal tobreak the cycle. Dr. Tom Camp, who heads up the Alabama/Honduran Medical Educational Network, or AHMEN, spoke with WBHM¶s Joe Blow.
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 31/34
How about this?
A quarter of all Hondurans live on less than a
dollar a day. They lack formal education, food and
even the most basic healthcare. A group of
medical missionaries from Birmingham
Just returned from a trip to Honduras. Doctor Tom
Camp heads up the Alabama/Honduran Medical
Educational Network, or AHMEN. He spoke with
WBHM¶s Joe Blow.
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 32/34
Writing for the Web(it¶s more than just deleting pronouncers from the script)
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 33/34
Writing for the Web
79% of people scan websites. Only 16% read word-by-word.
Help them by using: ± Highlighted keywords (hypertext links, typeface/color variations)
± Meaningful sub-headings (not "clever" ones)
± bulleted lists
± one idea per paragraph
± the inverted pyramid style, starting with the conclusion ± half the word count (or less) than conventional writing
Source: web usability expert Jakob Nielson
www.useit.com Alert Box, Oct 1997
8/8/2019 PRNDI Reporting Webinar
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prndi-reporting-webinar 34/34
Writing for the Web: Credibility
Credibility is important for Web users
Increase credibility by using:
± high-quality graphics
± good writing
± outbound hypertext links. Links to other sites show that the authors have done their homework and are not afraid to let readersvisit other sites.
And avoiding "marketese´