Where Do You Find Them?

[midwestnewsgirl]

Hello all!

I just recently started a new job as a reporter in a mid-sized market I had never been to before my interview. I really love the job, but I'm having some trouble with story ideas.

When all of you start new jobs in unknown cities, where do you go to find original hard news story ideas?

I would appreciate any suggestions all of you may have!

Thank you so much!!!

[Obewon]

Come on this is ridiculous. Did you ever hear of getting out in the community and meeting people, prowling city hall, dropping off business cards?

Are your serious?

God help us

[WOS]

Most "new to the area" reporters I worked with simply lifted them out of the morning paper.

[midwestnewsgirl]

Come on this is ridiculous. Did you ever hear of getting out in the community and meeting people, prowling city hall, dropping off business cards?

Are your serious?

God help us

I understand that, and I'm doing that. I don't have business cards yet, so I've just been giving out pieces of paper with my name and phone number on them. I've also been following up on stories I've already done. I've called and emailed some of the newsmakers around town to introduce myself. Plus, I spent my first two days off driving around town and popping my head in and out of different places.

I'm talking more immediately...it takes time to build up resources, so now, in the first couple of weeks, I'm running dry. I don't want to go to the meetings every day and not have anything because I haven't developed reliable contacts yet, nor do I want to go to the meeting with day-old newspaper stories or story ideas I found from Poynter Online.

I'm just tired of feeling like I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to our assignment meetings. I've done it for a week, that's enough! That's why I'm asking for some help with this very obvious question.

[Obewon]

I understand that, and I'm doing that. I don't have business cards yet, so I've just been giving out pieces of paper with my name and phone number on them. I've also been following up on stories I've already done. I've called and emailed some of the newsmakers around town to introduce myself. Plus, I spent my first two days off driving around town and popping my head in and out of different places.

I'm talking more immediately...it takes time to build up resources, so now, in the first couple of weeks, I'm running dry. I don't want to go to the meetings every day and not have anything because I haven't developed reliable contacts yet, nor do I want to go to the meeting with day-old newspaper stories or story ideas I found from Poynter Online.

I'm just tired of feeling like I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to our assignment meetings. I've done it for a week, that's enough! That's why I'm asking for some help with this very obvious question.

I'm sorry, I really don't mean to be mean. It's just that this is exactly what is wrong with broadcast journalism today. Stories don't just "come." The problem is that broadcast school never taught you how to be a journalist. You just don't sit around thinking about story ideas. Any monkey can do that. It takes leg work. The hell with the "I don't have any business cards" excuse. Local journalism is LOCAL. Get out in the community and find out what the hell is going on and brings THOSE ideas to the table. If you are too lazy to do that in your off time you'll be just another one of the nameless, meaningless rabble that populate TV newsrooms today...sitting around waiting for some drunk assignment editor to hand you something.

Quit whining and begging and have some pride in yourself.Get off your ass and learn the trade. Don't come on a stupid board like this asking for other people to do your job for you! Stand up to the plate!

Yes, I am a hated news director because I didn't stand for this kind of wimpy nonsense. Everyone in this business hates people who make them work and think for a living.

[!]

Yes, I am a hated news director because I didn't stand for this kind of wimpy nonsense. You "are" an ND?

You said you used to be an ND and had gotten out of the business.

So which is it?

[Obewon]

I do so love the ignore function

[TVMattNYC]

I'm sorry, I really don't mean to be mean. It's just that this is exactly what is wrong with broadcast journalism today. Stories don't just "come." The problem is that broadcast school never taught you how to be a journalist. You just don't sit around thinking about story ideas. Any monkey can do that. It takes leg work. The hell with the "I don't have any business cards" excuse. Local journalism is LOCAL. Get out in the community and find out what the hell is going on and brings THOSE ideas to the table. If you are too lazy to do that in your off time you'll be just another one of the nameless, meaningless rabble that populate TV newsrooms today...sitting around waiting for some drunk assignment editor to hand you something.

Quit whining and begging and have some pride in yourself.Get off your ass and learn the trade. Don't come on a stupid board like this asking for other people to do your job for you! Stand up to the plate!

Yes, I am a hated news director because I didn't stand for this kind of wimpy nonsense. Everyone in this business hates people who make them work and think for a living.

Aaahh. Management.

That explains the expectation of reporters to be working in their OFF HOURS (for no pay, of course).

[Obewon]

Aaahh. Management.

That explains the expectation of reporters to be working in their OFF HOURS (for no pay, of course).

Like I said, you're either one of the nameless, worthless pieces of rabble who sits on their ass in the newsroom waiting for someone to assign them a story or you're a real journalist who is out finding news. Anyone in their early years who isn't willing to work on their own time for no money is either a loser or a union hack.

Both are the same to me

[Another side]

I understand that, and I'm doing that. I don't have business cards yet, so I've just been giving out pieces of paper with my name and phone number on them. I've also been following up on stories I've already done. I've called and emailed some of the newsmakers around town to introduce myself. Plus, I spent my first two days off driving around town and popping my head in and out of different places.

I'm talking more immediately...it takes time to build up resources, so now, in the first couple of weeks, I'm running dry. I don't want to go to the meetings every day and not have anything because I haven't developed reliable contacts yet, nor do I want to go to the meeting with day-old newspaper stories or story ideas I found from Poynter Online.

I'm just tired of feeling like I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to our assignment meetings. I've done it for a week, that's enough! That's why I'm asking for some help with this very obvious question.

1. Don't ever again respond to Obewon. He's a very small boy, banging around in a world of grownups.

2. Check your PMs.

[TVMattNYC]

Like I said, you're either one of the nameless, worthless pieces of rabble who sits on their ass in the newsroom waiting for someone to assign them a story or you're a real journalist who is out finding news. Anyone in their early years who isn't willing to work on their own time for no money is either a loser or a union hack.

Both are the same to me

Well, this "union hack" has done quite well for himself, thank you ... having climbed out of the hellhole of local news quite a few years ago.

[Obewon]

And another thing you pussy morons..
I didn't start out in management. I started out at the bottom and I worked my ass off day and night. I've done every job in the newsroom and I've done it better than any one of you idiots. I never whined about overtime and days off and vacation and that's why I became the best at what I do. You lazy fools will always be working for nothing at nothing jobs because you are losers.

You losers want to enable another loser to stay a loser. Typical socialist morons.
Go vote for Obama. Just don't drag this young lady along with you on your pathetic trail. Let her be the best she can be by trying, by working and not comparing herself to lazy ****s like yourselves. She might actually turn out well
You stupid ****s

Midwestnewsgirl..PLEASE run away from these fools and be a success!!! Nobody can do this for you. Stand up to the plate!!

[Another side]

And another thing you pussy morons..
I didn't start out in management. I started out at the bottom and I worked my ass off day and night. I've done every job in the newsroom and I've done it better than any one of you idiots. I never whined about overtime and days off and vacation and that's why I became the best at what I do. You lazy fools will always be working for nothing at nothing jobs because you are losers.

You losers want to enable another loser to stay a loser. Typical socialist morons.
Go vote for Obama. Just don't drag this young lady along with you on your pathetic trail. Let her be the best she can be by trying, by working and not comparing herself to lazy ****s like yourselves. She might actually turn out well
You stupid ****s

Midwestnewsgirl..PLEASE run away from these fools and be a success!!! Nobody can do this for you. Stand up to the plate!!

You haven't spent one day in management, and you know it.

[Obewon]

You haven't spent one day in management, and you know it.

I don't live in my mother's basement when I'm 40 years old either, loser

[Another side]

I don't live in my mother's basement when I'm 40 years old either, loser

Nor have you ever been in management, and you know it.

[Sigonfile]

Flipping around all the news channels today, I figured out that "discussing" the news is what's wrong with it. Too many people on the news talk programs giving their personal opinions. Just give me the news and I'll discuss it in my home.

[Obewon]

midwestnewsgirl

do you REALLY want to take advice from people who have nothing better to do than make 7000 posts on a stupid forum like this?

Don't you think that if they really had any value or function in life they would be actually working instead of throwing insults around here? These are nothing but anonymous internet bullies who literally have nothing better to do because they don't work for a living. If they did, they wouldn't have time to spend all day here. I'm not especially happy that I've posted 800 times in three years.

These are the greatest losers on the face of the earth. The successful people are out doing it, not pontificating about crap they know nothing about.

Reach inside yourself and find your purpose in life. Don't pay attention to the pathetic losers here. Don't wait for someone to solve your problems for you. Stand up on your hind legs and achieve what you are capable of achieving!

This is still a free world. Don't get suffocated by those who want to convince you that being second place is acceptable. I think you are too smart for that.

Go away from here

[s'news]

Hey newsgirl. I'm going to guess that nobody expects you to have awesome story ideas when you're so new. Continue to develop contacts. Follow up on previous stories. Read the entire paper every day. Go online and research the city. Do not be afraid to ask for help and don't act like you know everything. Talk to people and listen to what they have to say.

Watch the news. Flip around and see what the competition is doing. Listen to the best local news radio station. Think about what those reports may be missing. Look for new angles.

Do that kind of stuff and you'll be fine.

One more thought. Get a map of the city. At the end of the day, look at it and go over where you went. Get to know the place.

[adam & doctor drew]

I'm sorry, I really don't mean to be mean. It's just that this is exactly what is wrong with broadcast journalism today.

I'd argue what's really wrong is that newsrooms (and the tapes in ND offices) are full of people who care little to nothing about news and just want to be on TV.

if you're really interested in the news in your local market, you'll see story ideas all around you.

it sound like you're more interested in just being on TV and covering your a--- in the morning meeting.

[Combat Correspondent]

I never worked in TV and am only 22, but I worked at a radio station and I found my stories by befriending the local concerned citizen groups. They had the heads up on the issues.

[The Mockingbird]

You get most of your best ideas talking to people when you're out on crappy stories the assignment desk puts you on because you don't have any good stories of your own.

Talk to people get their numbers, etc. It takes time.

[!]

I do so love the ignore function
Yes, it allows you to sidestep those issues you find so painful--like when people point out your contradictions.

It's okay, everyone else still sees them.

[NewsGuy22]

This thread is Exhibit A in why this forum is frustrating. Someone wants some help, and instead of providing it, it degenerates into back and forth barbs. Yeesh.

midwestnewsgirl:

Here are some ideas.

1) when you are covering something, spend your time before and after the interview/press conference talking to everyone in the room. Ask them what stories THEY think are going on in the community that aren't getting told. Too many reporters seem to use the pre-press event time to get to know people that work at other stations. Commaraderie is good, but right now, work the room.

2) Don't go to lunch with your co-workers. Go to local places, alone. If there is a counter, eat there. Go to coffee shops. Strike up conversations with strangers. It's uncomfortable, but possible.

3) Check out any local blogs. While many of them are written by lunatics with more time than sanity, in every city there is at least one or two that can be a great conduit to story ideas. Check them out, but be very careful.

4) This is a dicey one, but I found going to church events can be a great way to meet people and learn about the community. Proceed with caution, but its a real opportunity to get some perspective you can't get in the usual ways.

5) Call all your contacts in your old market, and ask them who they know in your new market. That's a great way to build the rolodex. If you did a lot of stories on "issue a" at your old job, there is a good likelihood those contacts will know people that are on the front edge of the same issue in your new area. And if you can call and say, "So-and-so suggested I call you", that helps break the ice.

By the way, all of these things can be done while "on the clock",

[Diplomat]

NewsGuy 22 has some excellent ideas.

I'm sure after you're settled in to your new community, you may find yourself joining some local organization (Jaycees, Rotary, etc.) and you'll make good contacts there. If you join a church or synagogue, you'll meet people there as well.

In a few weeks, you'll be amazed at how many people you know and contacts you have.

[midwestnewsgirl]

Thanks to all who took the time to give suggestions! I greatly appreciate all the advice!

[Clubbeat]

Thanks to all who took the time to give suggestions! I greatly appreciate all the advice!

First, congrats on the new gig. Next, it's going to take a minute to get comfortable in your new gig, so don't rush it. Don't feel like you have to come to the morning meetings with all these great and original ideas. After all. you just got there.

In addition to the good advice from the grown ups on this board (ignore the little kids who like to pick fights here), try going through your newsrooms archives. Join a group that interests you. You'll meet people who can give you the skinny on what's going on in town. Get a national news mag and read the stuff there. Some of the stories I read in those publications always helped me with ideas.

Hope this helps!