Reporting Basics Journalism

Table of Contents 1.Where do stories come from? 2.Finding and using sources 3.Using the internet 4.Observations 5.Interviews 6.Quotations 7.Attributions 8.Math for journalists

1. Where do Stories Come From? Breaking News Events Scheduled Events News Releases Your Ideas

Breaking News Events You must be ready. The bigger the story, the more you need to be on the scene as it happens. After the breaking news story, you may need to write a follow-up or second-day story to further explain the story.

Scheduled Events Many newsworthy events are scheduled long in advance. –Elections, games, concerts, festivals These events are easier to cover because you have a general idea of the importance. Prepare for scheduled events by… –Keeping a long-range calendar of events. –Researching before the event even occurs. –Planning the page and story with editors, photographers and other reporters.

Scheduled Events cont. You may also write advances, precedes, or previews before the scheduled events occur. Be careful not to become a publicity pawn for every speech, debate, meeting, march, and press conference. –People use the “media” to influence the public all of the time.

News Releases (Press Releases) Bureaucrats, event organizers, and public relation experts constantly send news releases to newsrooms. Some may end up in community calendars, local events sections, or may even be turned into features or news stories. News releases may contain useful information. They are meant to highlight possible news (and sometimes promote a certain cause).

News Releases (Press Releases) cont. Never ever ever print news releases word for word. Rewrite them to cut the fluff and add balance, context and fairness. –If the press release is simply announcing an upcoming event, you may have no choice but to print it word for word. All information from news releases must be verified before printing. Do not let the angle of the news release change the real angle of the story. Be careful quoting sources from news releases. It is better to contact the source and use a real quote.

Your Ideas! Most news stories are a result of breaking news, scheduled events and press releases, but most features come from the ideas of reporters, editors, and readers.

2. Finding and Using Sources A reporters is only as good as his or her sources. You must… –Select for relevance, to focus on importance –Check for accuracy, to ensure truth –Balance for fairness, to represent all sides –Cultivate for tips and ideas in the future Possible sources for dorm fire – –Officials at the scene, reporter’s direct observation, police and fire reports, photographer’s observation, ordinary people at the scene, anonymous police official, news release for university website.

Possible Sources Sources provide… –Depth –Context –Reliability There are six main types of sources. - Newsmakers- Official records -Spokespeople- Reference material -Experts- Ordinary folks -Refer to handout for more details.

3. Using the Internet Refer to the “Links” page on the Journalism website for good internet resources. R_Lounds_Profile/journalism/links/

Plagiarism From plagiarism.org According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means –to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own –to use (another's production) without crediting the source –to commit literary theft –to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source. In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.

Plagiarism From plagiarism.org But can words and ideas really be stolen? –According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).

Three Ways to Avoid Plagiarism Quote and credit Paraphrase and credit Rework and reword until the majority of the idea is your own.

Who do you trust? Check websites for: –Authority Do you know the author’s reliability, identity and credentials? Is it ran by a reputable organization? Is there a way to contact the author? –Accuracy Did the information originate with this source, or does the site direct you to the original source? Can you verify the information from another reliable source? Are there spelling, grammar or other errors that show unprofessionalism?

Who do you trust? Cont. –Objectivity Is the site affiliated with a sponsor or group with a slanted agenda? Can you trust the site to differentiate between facts and opinions? Does this site present feedback from readers that challenge the information? Might this be a satire? –Timeliness Has it been updated recently? Are there publication dates? Can you ensure all information is current? Are the links to and from the page updated regularly?

Other Internet Sources Newsgroups (message-boards or forums) –Good source of ideas, but do not quote from a newsgroup, or trust anyone unless you can verify their identity. –Most efficient way to contact people and even conduct interviews. Many news releases come through . Blogs –Most blogs are opinion based. They can be a good source of ideas, but should not be quoted unless the author can be identified, verified and cited.

4. Observations To bring stories to life, you must engage your senses, and the reader’s too. –Sight –Sound –Action –Emotion -Refer to handout for more details.

5. Interviewing The best interviewers are good listeners. Types of Interviews –Formal interviews –Quick phone interview –Walkaround interview Accompany interviewee while he or she is doing the newsworthy thing you are writing about. –On-the-fly chat Fire questions at a newsmaker while they are on the go. –Background Informally asking an expert about a topic.

Advantages and Disadvantages In person Builds rapport Surroundings provide useful info Cues from body language They take you seriously Time consuming Distractions (people, phone calls) often interrupt Any nervousness, (or rudeness) is quickly obvious By phone Fast and efficient Less intimidating Can occur anywhere, anytime It is impersonal. Cannot see body language, facial expressions, etc. Difficult to record More likely to mishear and misquote. By Time to think about responses Flexible and convenient for time Easy to copy and paste. No personal interaction at all Lag time between questions and answer make follow up difficult Typing takes time Are you sure of their identity Advantages Disadvantages

Tips for Interviews Setting up Preparing During After Refer to handout for more details.

Interview Terms On Record Off Record On Background On Deep Background

On Record The reporter’s source agrees that anything said can be printed, and the source can be fully identified. You can/should –Use the information –Identify the source –Run the actual quote

Off Record The information cannot be printed in any form. If the reporter is told off the record, the reporter must confirm it from an entirely difference source before printing it. You cannot and should not –Use the information –Identify the source –Run the actual quote

On Background The information can be used in a story – and can even run as a quote – but the source can not be identified by name (but can be by a non specific title). You can/should –Use the information –Run the actual quote But you cannot and should not –Identify the source

On deep Background The information can be used, but the source cannot be revealed. The reporter could use it, but relying on unattributed speculation may be risky. You can –Use the information But you cannot and should not –Identify the source –Run the actual quote

Advice on Off the Record “If you want something to remain off the record, don’t say it.” Anita Creamer “The reporter who believes all that he is told will not last long.” Neil MacNeil. Can I persuade this person to go on the record? Can I obtain this through another source? Have we agreed on the ground rules for the interview? What is my newsroom’s policy?

An Example of Off the Record Obama: Kanye West a ‘jackass’ for outburst –Off-the-record comments were sent via Twitter, opening ethics debate white_house/

6. Quotations Quotations make stories more appealing and believable. Two Problems with Quotations –People lie When your mother says she loves you, check it out. –People yammer “By all means, fill your stories with voices – but just as you’d steer clear of a windbag at a party, spare your readers those bloated quotes that deaden a piece of writing.” – Chip Scanlan

Types of Quotes Direct Quotes –Capture word for word –Always begins and ends with quotations marks –An attribution usually follows (or precedes, or is in between) the quote. –Use direct quotes when the speaker’s entire sentence presents ideas or opinions in a relevant, concise way.

Partial Quotes –Use if an entire quote is too long, or wordy. –Beware of overusing fragmentary quotes. –Using quote marks to “highlight” certain “words” may just make them look “odd”.

Paraphrase –A summary without exact words or quotation marks. –It’s a common way to condense or clarify someone’s statement. –Paraphrasing is necessary because sometimes people do not speak articulately or effectively.

Dialogue –Dialogue is used to capture a conversation between at least two speakers. –It uses direct quotes, attributions and quotation marks.

Problems and Punctuations Don’t bore readers Don’t rehash what the quote is saying Avoid using a quote as a lead Don’t read people’s minds Beware of monologues Its best not to mimic dialect Beware of foul language Don’t distort the meaning Refer to the handout for more details

7. Attributions Make sure sources get proper credit (or blame) for what they say. –Nine Guidelines for Attributions –Ways to say said –Examples of attribution Refer to handout for more details

8. Math for Journalists Percentages Mean and Median Polls and Surveys Charts and Graphs

Percentages % Percentage decreases and increases measure the change in value by comparing the difference to the original amount. –The city budget grew from $40,000 one year to $50,000 the next. What percent did it increase? Difference is $10,000 10,000 divided by 40,000 =.25 Increase of 25%

More Percentages Percent decreases are calculated the same way. Increases of 100 percent is doubling. Increases of 200 percent is tripling. So on and so forth…

Mean and Median The mean is arithmetic average. Add all of the numbers and divide the sum by the total number of items. –Means can be distorted by one or more outliers (extreme highs or lows). The median is the halfway point, the middle number in the series. –Use the median when there are several outliers (extreme highs or lows)

A group of seven people aged 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 73 and 81 were traveling on a train headed south at 74.3 mph. What is their mean age? = /7=31.6 years What is their median age? 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 71,81 15 years old Which one better represents the group? Mean and Median Examples

Polls and Surveys Polls and surveys are estimates. Some are accurate, some are misleading. Consider: –The source – Who is conducting the survey? Call-in and write-in poll are statistically bogus. –The sample size – The larger the survey, the more accurate it is. –The questions – Are they leading? –Other variables – Does it represent the population? How many people did not answer? Etc.

Types of charts and Graphs Pie Charts Bar Chart Line Chart

Important Points Simplify the statistics. Use understandable values. Round off. Put budget numbers into context. Above all, be accurate. Learn how to generate simple charts and graphs. Assignment – Make a chart based on your grades in this class. Use the most appropriate type of chart, and then explain the data in a paragraph using the above rules.

Review WHERE STORIES COME FROM News stories usually come from: –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?

Review Continued USING THE INTERNET For the reporter, the Web is the ultimate research tool—if you use it in an efficient, responsible way. The Reporter's Webliography Research & reference suggestions Useful search engines Journalism tips & tools 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.

Review Continued Whom Do You Trust? Evaluating a Web Site's Reliability Authority Accuracy Objectivity Timeliness Beyond the Basics 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

Review Continued INTERVIEWING Ask Yourself: "Which Type of Interview Should This Be?" Long, formal interview Quick phoner Walkaround On-the-fly chat Backgrounder 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

Review Continued 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 Story MATH 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