Profile Stories News Gathering

Who makes a good profile? a teacher battling cancer a student who finishes top of the class despite being homeless a former NFL football player coaching a high school team a principal who is a passionate fisherman a group of students going on a mission trip to Haiti for the summer a teacher who rides a Harley to school and goes on trips with other Harley owners Ask: What do these people/stories have in common? Help students come to the conclusion that profiles have to be about something – something someone accomplished or does or is doing that matters or is interesting. It’s NOT a biography. It’s focused on one aspect of a person.

A profile story … is focused on one aspect of a person, not everything about that person. reveals background, lifestyle, challenges or accomplishments of a person or group. might also reveal failures, particularly if overcome. focuses on a specific story angle that tells something interesting about the subject. is not a complete biography.

How to find profile stories First, embrace these statements: There are stories to be told within the school walls. Every person has a story. So, how do you find these stories?

Search and you shall find Make a point of talking to people and listening for things that make them special. Gather information from students, teachers and other school staff. What about custodians, security guards, office workers, coaches, counselors and cafeteria workers? What’s their story?

What are you looking for? Superlatives. No, not most popular, best all-around, cutest smile ... Those are opinions. Look for fact-based ways people stand out from everyone else.

Superlatives as story ideas 1. Who traveled the farthest last summer? 2. Who earned the most money through summer jobs? 3. Who is the youngest student at school? 4. Who is the youngest teacher? Oldest teacher? 5. Who was the first student to enter the school building on the first day of school?

Superlatives as story ideas, cont. 6. Who most recently met a celebrity? 7. Who is the leading performer for a team, a play, a band? 8. Who owns the most pets? Or the most unusual pet? 9. Who has ridden the most roller coasters? 10. Who owns the oldest car in the student parking lot?

How can you find superlatives? ASK! Use the daily announcements or social media to invite students and teachers to submit their own ideas. Even if you do not find the best, worst, least or most, you are bound to find some good story leads. Using social media, word-of-mouth or announcements to collect information or story ideas is a type of crowdsourcing. This term is in the news gathering vocabulary.

Observe and listen Be a journalist 24/7. Always look for potential stories. Do not look for stories only within the school. Extend to the community where you live. Everyone likes a good story.

What ideas do you have already? Write down five ideas you have for profiles. They don’t have to be great ideas, just a start. This is your exit ticket for today. THEN KEEP TRYING … In the next week, have a conversation with five people you don’t know well. Try to find out one or two things about them that make them different from everybody else. FIRST DAY CAN END HERE. Use remaining time getting students to share ideas about who they know and where they might find more potential profiles. You can require the five story ideas as an exit ticket.

Reporting Profile Stories News Gathering

Did the subject really do what you were told he/she did? First, is it VALID? Did the subject really do what you were told he/she did? Always check facts. What documents, records, confirmation or anything else can provide evidence? Who can provide outside confirmation? If someone says that a potential source spent the summer in Paris, do you automatically assume you have a story? What if the student spent the summer at her grandmother’s home in Paris, Texas, not Paris, France? Might still be a story, but maybe not …

Research is essential. Once you find a valid subject to write about, you must research the person and the topic. Research helps you find a strong news angle and build a solid background for your interview questions.

Research: Finding background What evidence will support the story? Is the subject associated with a group or organization? Learn what that group does. What other sources will contribute to the story? Find out more about them, too. Has another media source covered this story? Read those stories. What can you learn about the topic you’ll discuss with your source? Gain some expertise, especially before preparing your interviews. Do your research.

News judgment Does the subject offer a story that has news value? Will readers care? Look for prominence, human interest, novelty or oddity, consequence or impact, conflict, timeliness, currency and proximity. Some of these values offer ideas for research. If currency, what does this topic have to do with other current issues? Research those. If impact, who is impacted and how?

Before the formal interview, spend some time in observation mode. See your subject in action and experience his or her environment. Observing will help you to show, not just tell, the story to your readers. Consider these possibilities. - You have a female playing on the football team. Spend some time watching her practice and play in a game. A mother has started an organization to help reduce teenage suicide after losing her son to an overdose of drugs. Attend a speaking session; interview her at her home. A group of students are hosting a 5K run to fundraise for a student in need of major medical treatment. Watch them plan and conduct the event.

Interviewing The live interview is essential, but … The subject of the profile might not be your FIRST interview. Who else is familiar with the story? What can he/she tell you that might help you ask better questions of your subject?

Interviewing Plan to interview several people for each profile story – a minimum of three. Your background research should reveal several sources to talk with. More sources might also come up in your interviews.

Source examples Profile: teen father Sources: teen mother, parents, counselor Profile: female football player Sources: coaches, teammates, best friend, parents Profile: fly-fishing principal Sources: wife, kids, fishing partners

Interviewing Plan for a conversational interview. Make your subject feel comfortable with you. Use audio or video to record the interview and some of your observations. Develop a long list of questions. Focus on getting the how and why of the story.

Interviewing Ask open-ended questions. Use phrases such as “tell me about …” and “describe for me …” Listen carefully to the answers and ask follow-up questions to anything that you don’t understand or that surprises you.

Interviewing Base questions on your background research. Show your expertise. Visualize the types of response you might receive. Listen for the surprise responses. Ask tough questions, especially with stories of consequence or conflict.

Interviewing Be thorough. Make that live interview count. Gather more information than you can use in your story. Make sure your source knows you might need to contact him/her again for fact- checking or follow-up.

Fact check Always check your notes and your story for accuracy. Verify information provided by your sources. Read back quotes to the source. Be careful not to overstate the truth. Sometimes with profile stories, hyperbole is an issue.

Final notes While many profile stories are mostly for entertainment, do not overlook tough stories. Think of members of your school community who face struggles and challenges. These stories, if told effectively, thoroughly and carefully, will increase your readership by impressing and touching your readers.