reporter tips

[repes]

Looking for advice on how to further my reporting skills. I just started reporting. I was a producer for four years before that, so I have the writing, editing, pkg format, and grammar down. I just need help on enterprising story ideas, how to find sources, helpful websites for story ideas etc.
Thanks in advance for any helpful tips!

[nightsider]

Keep your eyes peeled for things on your way to work. I've gotten more story ideas off store signs and billboards than I remember.

Another good way to get stories is to ask for them while you're out on a story or doing your normal errands. Talk to your bank teller, grocery clerk, librarian, everyone about anything. Champions of small talk find out stuff.

Most important, never ever forget to ask an interviewee when you're finished with questions for that day's story, "is there anything else we should know?". This will frequently give you 1) a good wrap up bite for your story or 2) a follow-up angle for later or 3) an entirely different story about something unrelated that your interviewee finds interesting.

I try to write down all my story ideas in a notebook and date them. Once you get in the habit of always looking out for stories, you'll be overwhelmed.

Poynter.org has a great list of story ideas, plus Al Tompkin's daily list of ideas is good too.

[Dick Shun]

Introduce yourself to one new person in your community every week. A minister, a city council member, a business owner, grocery store clerk, etc. Make sure some of those contacts are important community leaders, some regular people.

Take 30 minutes and ask them what's new. What bugs them? What makes them mad. What new and exciting things are going on in their work, life, etc. Sound awkward? Just be honest. Tell them you're a reporter and you want to get to know the people (and institutions) in your community better. You'll be surprised how much some people will open up.

Put away your notepad, though. Just talk. And listen.

Then, leave them a business card with your direct line at work and an e-mail address, if you have one (which you should). Get their phone and e-mail, too.

In a year, you'll have 52 new sources (not counting the ones you encounter in your everyday coverage). And, you'll learn a lot about the place you live.

Do this on your own time if you can't find time during the work day. It's 30 minutes a week well spent.

[Roll Q]

Good stuff here! Another thing, don't just hand out your business card, make sure that the recipient understands you WANT them to call you with ANY story idea, not just if they think it's a good one. You'd be surprised how many times I got calls from people saying I realize this probably isn't worth covering... when it made it into our A or B block!

[ May 14, 2006, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Roll Q ]

[Legally Blonde]

Talk to people! Ask them what is happening in their world! Sometimes they can give you great story ideas.

[RollTide98]

Maybe an old thread, but there's one source I haven't seen listed yet.

A gossippy hair-dresser.

Works every time.

[ChickPhotog]

Don't forget the court house security guard.

He knows who is there, where they went and how long they stayed... Take him a coffee mug or hat and he will look for you to tell you what's up!

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[Signature on File]

7-11 store clerks have a wealth of information overheard from cop talk during their donut runs.

[Eyegetit]

This is a great thread! It can never get old.

My tip - secretaries and personal assistants! Always get their names. Make sure they know yours. Take a few minutes to chat. They know where all the bodies are buried.

[RollTide98]

A while back, I was visiting relatives in another state and went to a festival with my aunt. She's taught in the public schools there for 20 years. EVERYONE at this festival knew her. They had been students of hers. Or they had children that had been in her class.

It hit me -- Any eductation reporter in that market should have her as a source. She knows everyone and everything that's going on.

[overthehill]

The best stories do NOT come from websites.

They come from your community, city, town. You need to get out, meet people, talk to community leaders (not just the mayor, police chief, sheriff and such).

You can sometimes hear decent story ideas waiting in line at the movies, at the grocery store, in the waiting room of the doctor's office, etc.

Create a contact list. Cover a beat--education, crime, medical-health, entertainment. Check those contacts every day.

None of this comes easy. It takes WORK on your part.

[ChickPhotog]

Once, waiting for a couple of hours at the DMV, spoke with a teacher that happened to work for the school system that had the most current controversy... She had many opinions and shared them.