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Reporting the News
See also On
Assignment: Getting the Story
See also The
Newspaper as a Voice
If you plan to publish where you live, you will want to be sure and
practice common sense when you say things in print. You also
want to make sure that what you say makes sense to the average
reader.
Some folks make the mistake of thinking
that big words and obscure or complex wording in sentences is a sign
of real intelligence and good education. But in all
communication, the first objective should be to convey meaningful
information, directly and simply. The very best writers do
this well.
First, make sure that you say what you
really mean. Avoid ambiguous statements that could be
interpreted in more than one way. Even when you make no errors
in writing, there will be readers who misunderstand what you say.
But when you make the mistake of using obscure and ambiguous phrases
in your reporting of the news, you open the door to confusion and
trouble.
Also be slow to use terms, words and
phrases that you haven't really mastered. Be especially
careful in reporting crimes and police reports to make proper use of
legal terms and phrases. Don't rely on other news sources or
even official documents to give you the right use of such wording.
Get out the dictionary, make use of style manuals, and do your
research. Make sure you know what you're saying. Make
sure it makes sense. (Some
quick examples.)
Make sure that you distance yourself
from observations and allegations made by witnesses, the police,
hearsay, and even the most well-meaning sources. Unless you
witnessed an event yourself, make it clear that you're quoting
someone else. If someone has been accused of a criminal or
other improper act, take care to avoid assuming guilt. Report
the facts.
The Truth is in the Details
Above all things, get your facts
straight. Double check the facts given to you. When
possible (not just when convenient) check records and other
witnesses, etc. to corroborate the stories given in earlier
interviews. The more background information you gather, the
more meaningful (and accurate) a story you can deliver to readers of
your newspaper.
Whatever you do, you don't want to gain
a reputation for getting the facts screwed up. Yes, you're
very busy. But the news is your business. Do what you do
well.
Keep notepads handy. Keep small
ones in your pockets. Keep extras in your car. Pack some
in your camera case. Keep plenty of pens and pencils around.
You should make heavy use of a small tape recorder when interviewing
anyone and everyone. But also take written notes, for spelling
names, etc. Make sure you always carry extra batteries.
Build a reputation for getting the facts
right in every story. It's not as easy as you may think.
But it isn't so difficult once you develop the habits required.
Never send anyone out to cover a story without preparing them ahead
of time. Train them, as needed, in the use of the tools you
use.
A Picture is Worth the Effort
Every story worth telling needs a photo.
You may not have a photo of an event, but you can get photos of the
participants, witnesses, groups, and so on. Always take more
photos than you could ever use, and then pick the very best one or
two that captures the heart of your story. If you have a good
digital camera, you can save lost of time and money on processing.
I used to spend a lot of money and time processing film.
Digital cameras pay for themselves very quickly.
If you run a weekly or monthly
publication, the daily paper and possibly the radio and TV stations
in your area may have already covered the games and events you wish
to print. If they do, then don't simply repeat what they have
already said. Get more inside news, with fresh angles on the
story. Make it worth your reader's time to read your paper.
Make sure your stories are gold.
Make Good Use of Continuing
Education Resources
If you join your state and regional
newspaper associations, you'll be able to gain help and ideas on
news coverage and more. Many colleges and universities also
offer classes in journalism. You can even get good help
online. And there are always good books on the subject of
reporting and news coverage.
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