Focusing the story

Focusing the story

Mary Turck

[email protected]

Good story, bad story

• Accuracy: Does this story get facts right? How can you tell?

• Balance: Does this story include multiple POV?• Fairness: Have people been given opportunity

to respond?• Independence/transparency: What is the

reporter’s interest?• Reader interest: Is this story interesting?

What’s your story?

1) Brainstorm ideas for stories you want to write. (3 minutes)

2) Discuss ideas with partner — identify focus of story, possible sources, how you would report story (10 minutes)

3) Report to group — what’s your story?

Stakeholders

• Who is affected by the story?• Who is involved in the story?• Who cares about the story?

Inverted Pyramid

who, what , when, where, why

explanation,

supporting information

details

stories

Four Box Structure (Doug McGill)

Interviewing

• Research the subject• Know your interviewee• Prepare a list of questions• Be friendly• Be polite• Get names right

The medium and the message

On the record

• On the record – “normal” – when you say you are a reporter, everything is on the record

• Off the record – background, not quotable

• Anonymous sources – want to be quoted, but not identified

Both Sides: Who is ‘the other side?’

Anyone with “a dog in the fight” – stakeholders

Suddenly public figures

The official sources

Getting to the facts

• Official records• Public statements, including public meetings• Interviews• Other news stories

Assignment: Write a story

• Write your story• Send it to me• Post it on Facebook • Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – next week, we’ll

make it better!

(Email me with questions during the week – or post them on the Facebook page so everyone can learn.)