It’s All About the Story

It’s All About the Story

Using digital tools to get it

Using digital tools• To help with reporting by

–Quickly learning about the topic and staying current

–Finding sources

Using digital tools–Gaining background for interviewing prep

or writing–Verifying information –Developing story ideas

Using digital tools• To stay organized

–Keeping track of large amounts of information

–Need to have information at your fingertips at all times

Organization• To help with notes and file

management, these are two good options: Google docs and Dropbox

Organization• Both are on the cloud and share

attributes:–Good backup systems–Files are always accessible from any

computer (and phone) –Notes and documents are easily

searchable (terms within documents)–You can share with others

Dropbox• Dropbox

Organization• Social bookmarking sites

–Keep online documents organized and have quick access to them

–Offer a streamlined way to collaborate and share information – you don’t have to e-mail separate links

–Help with discovery by allowing you to search the bookmarks of others interested in the topic

Organization• Delicious

Additional hints• Test drive some of the sites to find

one you like. • Make using it a habit• Nothing is more frustrating than

trying to recreate a search to find something you read on online

Additional hints• Using a common folder-naming

system across platforms is helpful–Bookmark tags–Word and Google doc folders–e-mail folders –Paper file folders

Learning about a topic and staying current• RSS readers help you quickly get

up to speed on a subject• It pushes information to you and is

a one-stop shop for–Blogs–Web sites–Searches–Twitter feeds

RSS Readers• Google Reader

–My Google Reader

To set up “news” about this topic, go to bottom of the page and click on “create an email alert. That calls up this dialogue box:

From the pull down, choose “Feed”

Rss Readers• Include the class blog in your feed,

too.• My bundle

Another option for staying current• Twitter – another automatic feed

that helps you to stay in the loop–You can follow sources, government

agencies, advocacy groups, fellow journalists

– It’s helpful to create a list so you can easily include that Twitter feed in your RSS reader.

Click on your list in Twitter and copy the url here.

Then copy and paste that url into your Google Reader

Building your Twitter feed• When you follow someone, Twitter will

suggest others• You can add the followers of the

people you follow• You can follow the lists of others• Additional suggestions

Beat reporters nirvana• Jenna Johnson of WaPo

Additional hints– Include information in your Twitter profile

about your beat and/or interests (most people you select to follow will follow you in turn)

Additional hints• If you set aside some time each day

or each week to scroll through your reader, you’ll start to see trends, recognize experts and develop story ideas

Using digital tools• Getting all these tools in place may

take some time initially• But have a streamlined and

organized system will save far more time in the long run

• Digital tools links

The Art of Story Development

Journalism 350

Story Ideas and Development

Types of stories• Issues• Profiles• Trends• Breaking news• Reaction• Localization

How to cultivate ideas• “Nearly every good story idea

begins as a question.” – James B. Stewart in Follow The Story

• Be curious.

Talk to people• Who: Friends, classmates,

teachers, secretaries, people in lines, store clerks.

Talk to people• Questions: What’s on your mind?

What gets you mad? What would you change? What issues are you passionate about? What are you talking about today?

Where to get ideas?• Read everything you can. Read

stories with a critical eye. –How did the reporter develop the story?–Who did they interview? What’s another way

to tell that story?

Where to get ideas?• Eavesdrop – coffee houses,

restaurants, Union, elevators and Twitter.

• Change your route.• Monitor your RSS feed.

An example

An example

Twitter• Browse and search.

–#LNK–#UNL–#Huskers

• Follow the right people

Twitter• You have to spend time wading

through garbage but there are gems.

• #LNK :–Pet food bank–Entrepreneurial pitch night–How local moms are using the iPhone

Think creatively• Think about different approaches.

Potholes.• Whose point of view?• What is most interesting?• Who is most affected?

How to cultivate ideas• You need to spend quality quiet

time – off-the-grid time – thinking about ideas and how you’d develop them.

• Check time

Finding the focus• Be specific.• Story ideas: Not the debt ceiling

legislation, but instead how the cuts created by it will affect student loans.

• Who did what?

Finding the focus• Use an outline.• Write a headline.• Tell the story in six words. Three

words.• How would you tell the story to your

Mom?

Questions to ask• What’s the news?• Who cares?• What’s the impact?• Has the story been done before?

Visualize your story• Devote some quality time to thinking about your

idea. Best to do so unplugged.• Imagine what the lede would be. Imagine where

the story goes from there.• Who would you need to interview or what

information would you need in order to write that lede?

• Who would you need to interview or what information gather in order to flesh out the story.

Getting the story• Do background research.• List possible sources.• List questions you’ll want answered.• Call sources to nail down the idea.

The story pitch• The heart of a written pitch is what

you think the story’s nut graph will be.

• The idea needs to be focused. To help you focus, try to distill it in three to five words.

The story pitch• Clearly state exactly what the story

is about and why it’s worth doing. • Clearly answer why readers should

care about the story and why now.

The story pitches• For each pitch:

– Include the basics of the story.– Include statistics, if applicable.–Start with a sentence that’s to-the-point.– Include the “so what” – why should we

care.–Keep it short.

Why write a pitch• Helps you visualize and focus.• Helps your editor “sell” the story.

Story pitches• How to pitch a story -- AP

Pitch Examples

Keys to a story• News• Impact• Human element• Context