Covering the News

Journalism

Table of Contents

1. Covering a Beat2. Obituaries3. Accidents and Disasters4. Fires5. Crime6. Courts7. Speeches8. Meetings9. Politics10.Sports

1. Covering A Beat

• Do– Know laws

regarding meetings and records

– Follow the money– Call sources back

to verify facts– Write for your

readers

• Don’t– Get too cozy with

sources– Get used by people

trying to control spin.

– Waste sources time

– Mimic other beat reporters

Beat reporters focus on a specific topic or institution.

2. Obituary

• “There’s nothing morbid about a good obituary because a good obit is about life, not death.” – New York Times editor

• Funeral notices are brief announcements providing basic facts.

• Obituaries are longer and provide more details and details. They are often written by the funeral home and have a standard form.

• When a prominent citizen dies, the obituaries become stories. Reporters will use the information from the obituaries, interviews and research to create a fulle story.

Be Careful With

• Addresses – Some editors delete home addresses of the deceased to protect the families.

• Cause of Death – Avoid listing the cause of death if it has ANY type of controversy.

• Past Personal Problems – Obits are not an appropriate place to bring up past problems. (Do not ignore crimes or major mistakes by public figures, but weigh the pros and cons.)

• Flowery Phrases – Avoid funeral home clichés, however, respect the wishes of the family if you had contact with them.

• Other Terms – Funeral are scheduled, not held.– People die unexpectedly, not suddenly.– People die after surgery, not as a result of.– A man is survived by his wife, not widow.

Essential Obituary Information

• Name – Use full name. Nickname in parentheses. Check all spellings.

• Identification – A phrase that best summarizes who the person was.

• Age – Unless family wants it withheld.• Day/place of Death• Cause of Death – Be careful• Birthdate/Birthplace• Background• Survivors• Funeral/Burial Information

3. Accidents and Disasters

• Criteria to consider– Is it severe?– How many people are affected?– Is it local?

Essential Information

• Victims– Name, age, addresses, other relevant personal information.

• Extent of injuries/cause of death– Identify where injured were taken

• Cause of accident– According to police

• Location• Time• Circumstances• Vehicles• Arrests or citations• Comments

– From police, witnesses, victims, passengers

• Acts of heroism• Relevant facts

What to do

Before• Anticipate scenarios• Know your history• Obtain emergency planning

informationAt the scene• Go where the actions is• Question authorities first• Talk to victims and eyewitnesses• Record details and capture scene

4. Fires

• The bigger the fire, the bigger the story.

What to Include

• Victims• Extent of

injuries/Cause of death

• Type of building• Location• Time• How the fire was

discovered• Cause of fire• Number of firefighters

required• Estimated cost of

damage

• Extent of Insurance coverage

• Acts of heroism• Weather• Effect of the fire on

evacuees• Plans to relocate

victims or rebuild structures

• Arrests or citations• Anecdotes and

descriptions• Any other unusual

aspects

5. Crime

• Add color, not clutter• Avoid sloppy allegations• Use chronological story structures.What type of crime stories and how many crime stories that are run depends on the newspaper.

Some include everything, some only the extraordinary, and some only the local.

Include

• Names• Extent of injuries / cause of death• Location• Time• Circumstances• Description of suspect• Name and identification of arrested• Comments• Unusual factors

If it is a theft…• Type, and value of items

Withhold names of

• Minors• Victims• Endangered

victims

• Suspects• Also avoid

stereotypes

6. Courts

• Trials to cover-– Murder cases– Celebrity trials– Important legal rulings (civil rights, free speech etc.)

– Human interest stories

Tips and Advice

• Do your homework• Learn to navigate court records• Monitor future cases• Study the background• Be there for key moments• Don’t trust everything from attorneys

Be Careful…

• You could end up in court if you:– Are sued for libel (Example: Calling a

defendant a murder).– Refuse to testify.– Do not name confidential sources when

a judge orders you to.– Use cameras where they are banned.– Talk to jurors or witnesses while the trial

is under way.– Print names or testimony that the judge

has ordered sealed.– Behave rudely in court.

Include:

• Court name and location of trial• Judge’s name• Specific charges• Translations of jargon• Brief recap of case• Descriptions and details• Quotes and dialogue• What happens next

Verdict stories should include:• The sentence, or in civil cases, the damages

awarded.• Details about the juries deliberations.• Reactions• What it means.

7. Speeches

• Convey a speaker’s remarks fairly – and with flair.

Tips for Covering Speeches

• Research the speaker• Research the topic• Ask for an advanced copy of the speech• Estimate size of crowd• Monitor the mood of the crowd• Structure the article

– Lead – Most newsworthy point from speech.– 2nd paragraph – Powerful quote to back up

lead.– 3rd paragraph – Explains where, when and

why.– Rest of the story – Quotes, descriptions,

background information and audience reaction.

Include:

• Speaker’s name• Credentials• Reason for speech• Sponsor• Time and location• Description of audience• Quotes from speech• Comments from audience• Responses from opponents• Speaker’s fee if the amount is

exorbitant of newsworthy.

8. Meetings

• Watching clubs, councils and committees debate and decide.

Tips for Covering meetings

• Start with research• Clarify. Condense. Concentrate.• Encourage readers to attend meetings.• Go early• Dress appropriately• Stick around after meeting• Make the story real• Remember, meetings are not automatically

newsworthy.• Meetings can be boring, but your stoy

does not have to be.

Include:

• Group/Agency name• Location and length of meeting• Topics of debate• Important decisions• Quotes from anyone that addresses the

group• Reactions from speakers and spectators

(or people not at the meeting)• Crowd size• Atmosphere• Any unusual events• What happens next

9. Politics

• A political reporter is part teacher, part watchdog.

• They will cover:– Decision making– The election process– Money

Sources for Political Stories

• Meetings• Speeches• News releases• News conferences• Your network of sources• Documents

Five Unfortunate Truths about Politics

1. Politicians can lie, distort the truth and avoid answering questions.

2. Politicians will schmoose you so they can use you.

3. Everybody believes your stories are biased.

4. People don’t want to read about government process.

5. You must peel away layer after layer to get to the truth.

10. Sports

• Sports play a central role in every community, which is why sports coverage is so popular.

Three Common Types

• Game Stories– Recap the events and the result of the

game. Many begin with a summary lead. Others use a feature style lead.

• Feature Stories– Topics from history of team uniforms to

How To Throw a Perfect Spiral.– Two main categories are Analysis

Stories and Profiles.• Columns

– Combination of your emotion and opinion on a certain topic, team or player.

Include

• Final score• Team’s name• When and where• Key players and plays• Quotes from coaches and players of both

teams• Strategies• Key statistics• Injuries• Both team’s records and effect on

standings• Other relevant factors

– Weather, crowd, noise, etc.

Advance stories

Include:• Significance of the game• History• Key players• Records and recent performance• Quotes from coaches and players• Strategies that might affect the outcome• Injuries and other conditions• Other factors – Venue, weather, etc.• Who is favored• Time, place and ticket information

Tips for Covering Sports

Covering Events• Know the sport• Get to know your sources• Ask tough, pointed questionsWriting Stories• Think plot, not play-by-play• Avoid jargon and clichés• Remember, it is a game

Journalists shouldn’t take sides.

you should know and understand:

• how to cover a beat; • how to write an obituary - telling the story

of a life; • how to cover accidents, disasters and

fires; • how to cover crime stories; • how to cover civil and criminal court

proceedings; • how to cover speeches; • how to cover meetings, and what to expect

when you do; • how to cover politics and political activities;

and • how to cover sports.

Review

COVERING A BEAT – News is everywhere, but beat reporters focus on specific

topics or institutions.

• Assigned to a New Beat. Now What? – Do research. – Talk to your predecessor. – Achieve a mind-meld with your editors. – Meet people. – Make lists (key sources; upcoming meetings and events;

story ideas).

• Advice and Suggestions – Ideas and advice for covering a specialized beat: a list of

organizations providing advice and resources for most common beats (e.g., business, education, health care, science, etc.)

– Working a beat: Do's and Don'ts. Every beat is different, but a few general truths apply to all.

Review cont.WRITING OBITUARIES• Obit Style: Watch Your Language

– Most publications develop guidelines dictating how reporters handle addresses, cause of death, past personal problems, flowering phrases and other terminology.

• Types of Obituaries – Standard news obituary – The feature obituary: adding depth and character

• Advice and Suggestions – Essential information: name, identification, age, day/place of death, cause of death, birth

date/birthplace, background, survivors, funeral/burial information. – How to talk to families about the deceased: six tips.

COVERING ACCIDENTS & DISASTERS• Guidelines for Writing Stories on Traffic Accidents

– Writing the lead – Writing the rest of the story – Checklist of information to include: victims, extent of injuries/cause of death, cause of

accident, location, time, circumstances, vehicles, arrests or citations, comments, acts of heroism, relevant facts.

• What to Do When Disaster Strikes – What to do to prepare your newsroom. – What to do when you arrive on the scene. – Disaster Web sites: a list of some of the best online resources.

• Dealing with Victims of a Tragedy – Advice on telling the story honestly and professionally-and with extra sensitivity.

Review cont.

COVERING FIRES• Guidelines for Reporting and Writing Fire Stories

– Checklist of information to include. – Options for organizing your details and drama: writing the lead,

covering the aftermath, and adding dramatic narrative.

COVERING CRIME – Crime news attracts and repels readers. How much crime coverage is

enough? Every newsroom sets its own threshold.• Crime-writing Style and Structure

– Add color, not clutter. – Avoid sloppy allegations. – Explore chronological story forms: Most crime stories are breaking

news, so they're written in inverted-pyramid style. A suggested alternative is to begin with an inverted pyramid lead, shift into a chronology, and then end with a kicker.

• Advice and Suggestions: – Advice on covering the crime beat more effectively: nine tips. – Some details should be withheld from stories: minors, victims of

sensitive crimes, endangered victims, suspects and stereotypes. – Checklist of information to include in stories on homicides or assaults.

Review cont.

COVERING COURTS – Most trials aren't newsworthy, but some cases are exceptions:

murder cases, celebrity trials, important legal rulings, and human-interest stories.

• Advice and Suggestions – Tips for reporters covering the court beat. – Contempt of court: Be careful—or you might wind up in court

yourself. – Checklist of things to include in court stories.

• A Guide to Criminal and Civil Court Procedures – Misdemeanors – Felonies – Civil suits

COVERING SPEECHES• Advice and Suggestions

– Tips for covering speeches: before, during and after. – Checklist of things to include in a story on a speech.

Review cont.COVERING MEETINGS

– Whether you're covering the school board, the state legislature or the Amateur Orthodontists' Club, it's your job to explain what the issues are, how decisions are made, and what it all means to readers.

• Advice and Suggestions – Tips for more effective meeting coverage. – Checklist of things to include in a story on a meeting. – Tips to keep your meeting coverage as compelling as possible—and to help your readers

focus on what's most important. – Personalizing meeting stories: Write about real people, real issues. – Personalizing meeting stories: Look for ways to involve readers.

COVERING POLITICS – As a political reporter, you'll become part teacher, part watchdog. You'll take a front-row seat

from which to scrutinize and demystify key aspects of the government beat: decision-making, the election process and money.

• Advice and Suggestions – Where to go for facts you can trust: meetings, speeches, news releases, news conferences,

your network of sources, documents. – Advice on covering campaigns and elections. – The advantages and dangers of using unnamed sources.

• Five Unfortunate Truths about Covering Politics – Advice, commentary and a sprinkling of cynicism from a panel of veteran political reporters:

• Politicians lie.

• Politicians will schmooze you so they can use you.

• Everybody believes your stories are biased.

• People don't want to read about the government process.

• You must peel away layer after layer to get to the truth.

Review cont.

COVERING SPORTS• Sports writing: The Three Most Common

Types of Stories – Game stories – Feature stories (analysis stories; profiles) – Columns

• Advice and Suggestions – Checklist of things to include in a story about sports. – Compiling and crunching sports statistics: Conduct solid

research, take careful notes, use stats selectively, and add charts, graphs and sidebars, if needed.

– A brief intro to sports style: The AP Stylebook offers comprehensive advice, but every publication customizes its own rules.

– Tips for reporters on the sports beat: covering events and writing stories.