1. Chapter 15 – Speeches, News Conferences and Meetings
News Reporting and Writing
10th Edition

2. Distinguishing Among Speeches, News Conferences and Meetings
What is a speech?
A public talk
In person or on radio or T.V.
A speech is one-way communication
Speakers are usually invited to address an audience
What is a news conference?
A news conference is “held” or “called”
Invitations aren’t sent to the general public, but news media are alerted
Media respond because of the importance of the person calling the news conference and because the person may have something newsworthy to say.
A news conference is usually two-way communication
The speaker usually gives an opening statement and then accepts questions from reporters
What is a meeting?
a meeting is primarily for communication among the members of a group or organization
Reporters who are permitted to witness a meeting tell the public what is of interest and importance

3. Preparation Preparing for the Speech Story
Look up background info on the speaker either before or after the speech
Identify the speaker correctly (middle initials, Jr. Sr. etc.)
Prior to the speech, contact the group sponsoring the speech and ask for the topic
If you are lucky, you might get an advance copy of the speech
If the speech is important enough, contact the speaker ahead of time for a brief interview
You may also want to arrange ahead of time to interview the speaker after the speech
Keep up with local and/or national current events so you understand what a speaker is talking about

4. Preparation Preparing for the News Conference Story
Research up-to-date background info on the person giving the news conference
Learn why the news conference is being held
Check out any rumors, call the person’s associates, friends or secretary
Talk to you editor about specific info they want
Draw up a list of questions to ask at the news conference
The better prepared you are, the better chance you will have of coming away with a coherent, readable story
If may be impossible to arrange an interview before or after a news conference, but you can always ask. You might end up with some exclusive info

5. Preparation Preparing for the Meeting Story
Know who is holding the meeting, what kind of organization is involved and who the key figures are
Contact the key figures
Get a written agenda if possible
Study and investigate the issues before arriving
Knowing what to expect and being familiar with the issues will make covering the meeting easier

6. Covering Speeches, News Conference and Meetings
The Medium Matters
If you are writing for print, good notes, an audio recorder and getting audience reaction might be enough
But if an editor expects a Twitter or mobile phone update from the site of the event or breaking news item for the website, you might need to send an instant update, write a brief item for the Web during the meeting and update the story in several forms when the event is over
Learning to become a multimedia journalist – able to produce written material, video material, sound bites and info for the Web – makes you a more valuable reporter.

7. Covering Speeches, News Conference and Meetings
Getting the Content Correct
Consider using an audio (or video) recorder
Practice using it before you get there
Know how sensitive the microphone is
Some reporters shun audio recorders because they think that listening to an entire recording takes too long and finding quotes to double check is too hard
Even if you record an event, take notes – most reporters develop them own shorthand. You never know when a recorder will fail.
Quote people exactly and in context
Note the background, personal characteristics and mannerisms of the main participants
Cover the event. Also look at audience size, reactions and sometimes at what is happening outside the building
Get there early, position yourself and hang around afterwards.

8. Covering Speeches, News Conference and Meetings
Describing the Participants
Watch the gestures and expressions of the speaker
You might note that a speaker deliberately winked while reading a sentence or hear an unmistakable sarcasm in his/her voice
Understand when physical facts about the speaker are essential to the story. Example: A blind person pleading for funds to educate the blind

9. Covering Speeches, News Conference and Meetings
Be Observant
Measure the mood and reaction of the audience
Listen to the tone of audience questions
Is there laughter, applause or boos
Is the speaker or person holding the news conference relaxed, calm and in control?
Sometimes the real story is what’s happening outside the news conference…. for example, protesters kept away by police
Don’t overlook the obvious… for example, don’t say it is was a “full house” unless you also indicate the seating capacity.

10. Covering Speeches, News Conference and Meetings
Arriving, Positioning Yourself and Staying On
Arrive early – not all events have special seating for reporters
The first row isn’t necessarily the best place if you are reporting on a speech. You may want a location that allows you to better see audience reaction.
Be in a good position to be able to ask questions
If you are attending a news conference, you should have your questions prepared
Listen to other reporters questions (even if you don’t get a chance to ask yours), and be able to recognize the makings of a good story – identify what’s newsworthy and pursue it
If you are attending a board or council meeting, know which members are sitting where so you can take notes on people’s quotes more easily
Don’t leave as soon as the meeting ends. Listen to reactions from the people who attended. Ask for clarifications. Arrange to interview a key spokesperson.

11. Structuring and Writing Your Story
Writing a lead for the speech, news conference or meeting story is no different from writing the lead for any other story
All of the qualities of the inverted pyramid news lead are important for these types of articles
Reminder: Inverted Pyramid
Put the most important information first
Arrange the paragraphs in descending order of importance (most important to least important)
Requires the writer to rank the importance of information
Because of the nature of the inverted pyramid, you probably won’t be following the chronology of the event. However, the flow of your article may demand some attention to the order of events so that you don’t accidently distort or cause readers to misinterpret the meaning of the event.

12. Structuring and Writing Your Story
Writing the Speech Story
Convey an accurate message
Get reaction from listeners
Read the Associated Press story on reaction to President Obama’s 2009 speech calling for a new era in U.S.-Muslim relations = page 325

13. Structuring and Writing Your Story
Writing the News Conference Story
Because you will go to the conference with different questions than other reporters, you may come away with a different story or a different lead.
News conferences often cover several topics
Usually, you will treat the most newsworthy item first and deal with the other topics in the order of their importance
Remember, your job is to give readers the news as simply and clearly as possible
Read example on page

14. Structuring and Writing Your Story
Writing the Meeting Story
You are the eyes and ears of the reader at the meeting you are covering
Remember to the 5Ws and H for possible inclusion in the lead graphs
Also report on who was there, who represented the public and any reactions after the meeting was over
In addition to getting the facts, your jobs is also to be interesting and get people to read the story.
Your article should be relevant, useful and interesting.
Read examples of a local school board meeting story on page

15. Finish Harbor Campus Story
Due today at end of class
Submit on TurnItIn.com
Remember to include:
Quotes and attribution
At least 3 sources
One idea per paragraph
1-3 sentences per paragraph
Quotes are their own paragraph
Double check name spellings, titles etc.
Use clear, straight-forward language
No particular length = as short/long as it needs to be to be to convey the news ( words)
Spell check