Unit B - Newsgathering Flashcards
This unit offers a seven-point definition of news. What are those elements?
- News is something new to our readers.
- It contains factual information.
- It affects our readers.
- It is often dramatic and out of the ordinary.
- It often involves conflict, and information that one party would rather keep secret.
- It gets stale very quickly.
- It must be presented in the form of a good story told well.
How would you define news sense?
Being good at judging what will interest our readers.
What is meant by an angle to a story?
Your take on a story. Whatever angle you choose, it should be focused on people.
The unit states that most stories may not come complete. What should you do to expand on them?
Make phone calls, conduct face-to-face interviews.
What is meant by a contact? Give examples.
A contact is someone you know and who will pass on information, e.g. firefighter, police officer, traffic warden, councillor, postmistress, friend or relative.
What advice does the unit give on how to get a story on a dull news day?
Phone your contacts.
Which section of the ads is always worth checking for stories?
Births, deaths and marriages.
Give two examples of the type of story you might get from reader feedback – either in the form of comments posted on a story on the paper’s website, from a reader poll, or from a letter to the editor.
Reader comments on a story might reveal that a seemingly isolated incident is part of a pattern, a reader poll might spark a story about the views of the readership, stories that are not on our news agenda.
What is the value in checking local websites?
Check the facts and get the writer’s permission.
What is meant by emergency services?
Police, fire brigade, ambulance, hospitals and coastguards.
In covering council stories which are highly political, what should you try to do?
Balance the stories, giving both sides.
What is the value in having good contacts among a range of religious groups?
Churches, mosques, temples etc are often at the heart of their communities and good contacts there can help you cover a multi-ethnic patch.
What sort of stories would you get from a parish magazine?
Stories about events in the parish, activities of parishioners and even controversy within the church. Clergy may be very useful contacts.
What do you sometimes have to do to get a good story out of a charity event?
Look for the story behind the attempt to raise cash.
Why do schools make good copy, and what relevance does the IPSO code have when covering school stories?
Parents, pupils and other family members are interested in school stories. The IPSO code warns that we must get the permission of parents or teachers before interviewing school children.
What should you do if given a story by a pressure group?
Get the opposing view to balance the story.
What are handouts and how should you treat them when using them as a source of news?
Stories sent or given to the media seeking publicity. Be careful and follow them up to expand on what you have been given. They are often the start of a more balanced account.
How can other newspapers become a source of news?
They can alert you to a story or give you a lead to a local angle.
Why should you be aware of activities special to your area?
Because they will identify special areas of interest for your readers.
Why are press conferences held? What should you do before attending one?
To communicate with the public through you. Brief yourself about the speaker and the subject and prepare a few questions.
Faced with a national story, who might you go to for a local angle?
Local specialist - for example local MP, peer, farmer etc.
List the main sources of news for a local newspaper reporter.
- Contacts
- Classified ads
- Feedback from readers
- Local websites
- Emergency services – police, fire, ambulance, hospital, coastguard
- Courts and tribunals
- Local government
- Clubs and societies
- Religious groups
- Voluntary organisations
- Schools
- Health authorities
- Pressure groups
- Handouts
- Other newspapers and media
- Press conferences
- Local MPs and VIPs
- Colleagues
What are the strengths and weaknesses of using social media as a news source?
Strengths:
Social media can be the eyes and ears of a newsroom
It can provide tip-offs while incidents are unfolding
It can provide eye-witness accounts
It can provide photographs and/or video
Weaknesses:
Tweets and Facebook users are not trained reporters
Their accounts may not be accurate
Their accounts will need verifying
They may have acted illegally in taking photographs or videos
Their reports may be intentional disinformation
