6. What is a beat?

7.  Journalism that involves in-depth reporting on a particular issue, sector, organization or institution over time

9. Typical journalist beats  Education: primary, school board, colleges

10. Typical journalist beats  Education: primary, school board, colleges  Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence

11. Typical journalist beats  Education: primary, school board, colleges  Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence  Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend

12. Typical journalist beats  Education: primary, school board, colleges  Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence  Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend  Politics: city, county, state, federal

15. Typical journalist beats  Education: primary, school board, colleges  Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence  Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend  Politics: city, county, state, federal  Business: real estate, manufacturing, unions, marketing, advertising, finance, banking, retail… even individual companies

16. Typical journalist beats  Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities

17. Typical journalist beats  Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities  Entertainment: restaurants, theater, movies, comedy, music (classical, rock, jazz, opera, hip hop)

18. Typical journalist beats  Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities  Entertainment: restaurants, theater, movies, comedy, music (classical, rock, jazz, opera, hip hop)  Among others are science, environment, obituaries, health care, food & nutrition, the web, religion, non-profits, community, home and garden, weddings... even crosswords and bridge

19. Why have beat reporters?

20.  Beat reporters develop relationships with sources, leading to better stories

21. Why have beat reporters?  Beat reporters develop relationships with sources, leading to better stories  Beat reporters become experts in their coverage areas

22. Why have beat reporters?  Beat reporters develop relationships with sources, leading to better stories  Beat reporters become experts in their coverage areas  They can provide both facts and commentary to make their beat relevant to readers/viewers/listeners

23. You got a beat, now what?

24.  Research

25. You got a beat, now what?  Research  Talk to predecessor and editors

26. You got a beat, now what?  Research  Talk to predecessor and editors  Meet your sources: bosses and underlings

27. You got a beat, now what?  Research  Talk to predecessor and editors  Meet your sources: bosses and underlings  Get organized: sources, upcoming events, story ideas

28. You got a beat, now what?  Research  Talk to predecessor and editors  Meet your sources: bosses and underlings  Get organized: sources, upcoming events, story ideas  Hit the streets!

29. A few beat tips  Follow the money

30. A few beat tips  Follow the money  Don’t get used

31. A few beat tips  Follow the money  Don’t get used  Write for the readers, not for the insiders

32. A few beat tips  Follow the money  Don’t get used  Write for the readers, not for the insiders  Translate jargon into English

33. A few beat tips  Follow the money  Don’t get used  Write for the readers, not for the insiders  Translate jargon into English  Don’t give up too easily... be persistent

34. A few beat tips  Follow the money  Don’t get used  Write for the readers, not for the insiders  Translate jargon into English  Don’t give up too easily... be persistent  Don’t shun good news

35. A few beats

37. Obituaries  At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats

38. Obituaries  At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats  Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit

39. Obituaries  At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats  Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit  People die, not “pass away”

40. Obituaries  At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats  Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit  People die, not “pass away”  Generally don’t go into personal problems or cause of death if something such as overdose or suicide

41. Obituaries  At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats  Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non- celeb), then it’s an obit  People die, not “pass away”  Generally don’t go into personal problems or cause of death if something such as overdose or suicide  Funeral homes provide you with most details… age, date of death, address, relatives, military service, funeral arrangements

43. Accidents and disasters

44.  “If it bleeds, it leads...”

45. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best

46. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims,

47. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death

48. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause

49. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location

50. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times

51. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances

52. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles

53. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges

54. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges, comments

55. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges, comments, acts of heroism

56. Accidents and disasters  “If it bleeds, it leads...”  Standard inverted pyramid is usually best  For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges, comments, acts of heroism, other facts

59. It’s a crime  Usually time for inverted pyramid

60. It’s a crime  Usually time for inverted pyramid  Avoid jargon

61. It’s a crime  Usually time for inverted pyramid  Avoid jargon  Don’t convict people arrested: “arrested and charged with robbery”... not a “robber” or “arrested for “robbery”

62. It’s a crime  Usually time for inverted pyramid  Avoid jargon  Don’t convict people arrested: “arrested and charged with robbery”... not a “robber” or “arrested for “robbery”  Get victim’s names and info, extent of injuries/death, location, time, circumstances, description of suspect, name and ID of perp, unusual factors

64. Fires  Get to the scene if possible and get as close as possible

65. Fires  Get to the scene if possible and get as close as possible  Usually inverted pyramid but don’t forget the drama

66. Fires  Get to the scene if possible and get as close as possible  Usually inverted pyramid but don’t forget the drama  Seek out the captain on the scene at command post

73. Assignment 1/21  We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat

75. Assignment 1/21  We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat  Research Jim via internet

76. Jim Curtis  Search hints: use Sarasota Herald- Tribune, Tee time golf pass, Sunshine Skyway disaster, tee time marketing (note “core values”), Shippensburg (small town in Pennsylvania)

77. Assignment 1/21  We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat  Research Jim via internet searches  Research the 1980 accident that destroyed one of the original spans

78. Assignment 1/21  We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat  Research Jim via internet searches  Research the 1980 accident that destroyed one of the original spans  Research book Skyway by Curtis (available on amazon etc.)

79. Assignment 1/21  We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat  Research Jim via internet searches  Research the 1980 accident that destroyed one of the original spans  Research book Skyway by Curtis (available on amazon etc.)  Develop questions to ask Jim in prep for a writing assignment

80. Assignment 1/21  Read pages 100-109 of Inside Reporting

81. Assignment 1/21  Read pages 100-109 of Inside Reporting  Do exercise #2 on page 110