Basic police reporting

COVERING THE COP SHOPAndrew Chavez

THREE KEY STEPS OF CRIME REPORTING Story generation

Knowing that a story exists or Reporting

Getting the facts as soon as possible Properly developing a story

Follow-up Staying on top of a story Finding all angles Providing a resolution to the storyline

STORY GENERATIONThe most important step

WHERE STORIES COME FROMRumors

5%

Tips from LE29%

Scanner24%

Beat reporting43%

GENERATING STORIES Rumors Tips Scanner Beat reporting +

Good police reporting is about running traps

GENERATING STORIES Rumors / Tips

Can generate first stories and folos (case developments, settlements, etc.)

Easiest way to get stories Least reliable method Some stories will only happen this way

Getting more tips Be willing to entertain tipsters Keep contact information visible in all locations

(even on every page of site) Read comments on stories

GENERATING STORIES Scanner

High payoff with little effort Anyone can listen to it (not just reporters) Not quotable, but can lead to good info Great way to get visuals

Getting more from the scanner Use a handheld and take it to scenes with you Get to know the codes (many are available

online)

GENERATING STORIES Beat reporting

How do you define beat reporting?

GENERATING STORIES Beat reporting

Building relationships with sources Staying on top of stories (75/25) Being the person who runs the traps Establishing yourself as the in-house expert Cover all angles of the beat while others

sometime take low-hanging fruit The police reporter isn’t the person who writes

the crime stories

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS Have a presence Cultivate sources before you need

them Throw them some fluff Keep a dialogue open Don’t let bad habits persist Develop a phonefile

SET MULTIPLE TRAPS Scanner Reports Check-in calls Use your whole staff Don’t forget fire and EMS (they’re at

the big stuff, too)

REPORTINGGetting the info you need

THE TOOLS

•Required by federal law on federally-funded roads (interstates, state and county roads)•Available from NNA for $15

•Handheld is ideal•Find the frequencies online•Check the iPhone/Web apps

•Big pad is great for sketching•Small one best for back pocket

THE TOOLS

•Audio, video recorder•Camera•Mobile address book•Inconspicuous

•Instantly duplicate important source documents•Leave with photos, videos

BE PRECISEFocus on the 5WsEstablish a timelineDon’t “write around it” – admit

what you don’t knowDitch the jargon

CYAAttribute, attribute, attributeGet the documents, recordings,

videos …Verify accounts (try a timeline or

sketch)Be a detective and a defense

attorneySave contact info for your sourcesConsult the AP Stylebook

GET OUTReach out to the accusedTalk to the familiesVisit the crime sceneFind witnesses

… You owe it to them

FOLLOWING UP

YOUR SOURCES

Police reports

Court filings

Raw' items

Police interviews

Witness interviews

Victim interviews

Accused interviews

0% 10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

FOLLOW THROUGHIt doesn’t end at the arrestBe consistent about your treatments

– headlines, page position, etc.Keep case filesRun trapsKeep a calendar and use others’

calendarsCheck on court dates, scheduled

events in advance

FOLLOW THROUGH

• Just the facts, ma’am

5Ws story

• Victim/accused profile

• Detailed, narrative account

Human story • Incremental

stories• Explaining the

stalemate• Unsolved

mysteryUpdate

• Case comparison

• Stats story

Trend

SOME RESOURCES

SOME RESOURCES Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma

http://dartcenter.org/ Covering Crime and Justice: A guide for

journalistshttp://www.justicejournalism.org/crimeguide/

Freedom of Information Foundation of Texashttp://foift.org/

Q&A TIME