Journalism Tipsheets

Journalism Tipsheets
By Doug Cosper, Michelle Fulcher and Nadine Alfa
Produced by the West Bank Project at the University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication April 3May 14, 2005 Published by the International Center for Journalists with support from the Center for International Private Enterprise
About the International Center for Journalists

The International Center for Journalists, a non-profit, professional organization, promotes quality journalism worldwide in the belief that independent, vigorous media are crucial in improving the human condition. Since 1984, the International Center for Journalists has worked directly with more than 50,000 journalists from 176 countries. Aiming to raise the standards of journalism, ICFJ offers hands-on training, workshops, seminars, fellowships and international exchanges to reporters and media managers around the globe. At ICFJ, we believe in the power of journalism to promote positive change.
Contents
4 5 6 7 8 10 12 15 16 18
News Judgment
-Michelle Fulcher
9 8 11 11 19 99 88 88 77
Covering Speeches
-Doug Cosper
Separating Fact from Opinion

-Michelle Fulcher
Writing from News Releases and Conferences

-Doug Cosper
Lead Writing
-Doug Cosper
Math for Journalists

-Michelle Fulcher
Hard News Story Structure

-Doug Cosper
Internet Research
-Jason Crawford
Interviewing
-Michelle Fulcher
Photojournalism
-Doug Cosper
Quotes and Attribution

-Doug Cosper
Interviewing for Television

-Nadine Alfa
Complex Story Structure

-Michelle Fulcher
Reporting Breaking News for TV and Radio

-Nadine Alfa
Covering Elections
-Michelle Fulcher
Television and Radio News Writing

-Nadine Alfa
Covering Beats
-Doug Cosper
Television Reporting and Package Production

-Nadine Alfa
Covering Meetings
-Doug Cosper
International Center for Journalists
News Judgment
Identifying and weighing the elements that make a story important or interesting to a reader can help you decide whether to pursue a story, what to emphasize in the lead and how to organize the story.
Among the elements to consider:

Importance/Relevance: Consider whether the issue under debate will have a major impact on the communitya potential change in government or policy, for instance. Timeliness: The story is more interesting and relevant if it happened recently and if it will quickly result in change.
Proximity: The story is more meaningful to people if it happens close to them geographically or in terms of their personal interests. Prominence: Stories that involve well-known people offer attract reader attention. If the subject is prominent, identify him or her in the lead. If someone is not well-known, focus on the event and place the identifications in the second paragraph. Audience: If a large number of people are affected by an event or issue, it is more important to the reader. If a large amount of money is at stake, the story has added weight as well. Conflict: Stories that show a strong disagreement or a clash between individuals or groups draw more attention. Novelty: Stories about highly unusual situations are intriguing. The old dogs tale says it best: When dog bites man, thats not news. When man bites dog, thats news.
Separating Fact from Opinion

Set a balanced and neutral tone:
Respect your readers or viewers rights and abilities to form their own opinions from a factual news story. Conduct research on all sides of the issue, and present your findings fully. Work to find sources on all sides and ask equally probing questions. Represent your sources fairly in the storydont quote the side you agree with heavily and neglect those with different positions. Present statements in context make sure your story fully reflects the intent of the sources remarks. Quote sources accurately and completely. Attribute every quote and all other information other than common knowledge. Keep opinion on the opinion pages and news on the news pages.
Avoid words that reflect bias or a judgment about a sources credibility:

Use neutral attributions: said rather than claimed or insisted, which imply questionable credibility, or noted, or pointed out which imply the source is stating fact Use neutral words in copy: Dont say the government refused to pass a tax increase; say the council voted against the increase. Dont say something that happened was unfortunate or that someone is engaged in a scheme.
Avoid conflicts of interest:

Do not affiliate with any organization or advocate for any issue that might cause a reader or viewer to question whether you can write a fair and impartial story. Do not cover issues in which you have personal or financial involvement. Do not cover issues, companies or other organizations in which family members are involved. Fully disclose any potential conflicts to managers.
Lead Writing
A news lead:
Is the first sentence or paragraph of news stories. Captures the ESSENCE of your story. Answers the question: WHAT IS THE STORY? Hooks the reader and pulls him into the story. Remember, the easiest decision a reader can make is not to read your story. Is the hottest point of creation in the profession. Journalists are only as good as their leads. Use the active voice when possible. Always include the time element in hard news leads. Try to write your lead before continuing with your story. If you cant write your lead, you probably have not done enough reporting. If you get stuck on your lead on deadline, imagine that your mother or wife or husband asks you when you get home from work, What story did you work on today, dear? The answer is probably your lead.
Remember:
Journalism is founded on the principles of accuracy, fairness and balance. These principles also apply to writing leads. No matter how skilled a writer you are, you cannot make a good story out of a bad idea. No matter how skilled a writer you are, you cannot write a good story unless you have done the reporting well. Think of writing as a process. Finding good ideas is writing. Reporting is writing. The actual act of writing is only the last step in a longer process of creation.
Check list for writing clear, powerful news leads:

First ask, What is the story? Include only essential information. Most details belong lower in the story. Try to express only one thought, usually in one sentence. Keep them short and sweet25-35 words. Keep your sentence structure simplesubject-verb-object. Write in past tense.
Hard News Story Structure

Checklist for writing clear, well-structured hard news stories:
In the inverted pyramid structure, its first things first, second things second. Begin with a strong lead that summarizes the story. The second paragraph should support the lead, adding more details. OR, a strong quotation supporting the lead can be very powerful here. The third paragraph should support the first two, adding yet more detail, and so on throughout the story. Be sure your first attribution is in the lead or second paragraph. Use simple sentence structure subject-verb-object. Keep sentences brief. Make only one point per paragraph, and limit paragraphs to one or two sentences. Write in the active voice as much as you can. Write in the past tense.
Remember:
Think of each paragraph flowing from the source, or essence, of the story down the pyramid until the end. All of the 5 Ws and H usually dont belong in the lead. Lead with only the essence and include the rest in later paragraphs. Paragraphs at the bottom of your story may be cut to make the story fit the allotted space. The inverted pyramid structure helps the reader get as much of the news as he can as quickly as possible and allows him to stop reading whenever he chooses.
Interviewing
Before the interview:
Research your subject and his or her field of expertise, so you can ask thorough questions, understand the answers and pose follow-up questions. Showing your interest also encourages the subjects full involvement in the interview, producing a stronger story. Arrive on time and dress appropriately. Always identify yourself as a reporter. Schedule a personal interview instead of a telephone interview, if possible. This allows you to observe how the subject reacts to questions, and to glean colorful details. Explain to the source generally what your story is about and the information you seek. If you have written similar stories, send copies so they can see that you are serious about your work. Consider taking a tape recorder so youll have complete quotes and an accurate record in case of dispute. Some reporters, however, find it unwieldy to review an entire conversation before writing the story. If you will be accompanied by a photographer, inform the source so he or she can prepare. Explain the
story to the photographer so he or she can plan a photograph that illustrates the story well.
During the interview:

Start with a few minutes of casual conversation. This helps the subject relax and is a good time for background questions. Prepare a preliminary list of questions, in order of priority. Check the list during the interview so you ask the most important ones and have the basis of a story. Dont restrict yourself, however. Your sources responses may generate follow-up questions, or he may offer information that leads to an entirely different line of questioning. Structure questions. Avoid those that produce yes/no answers (closed-ended questions) in favor of those that require thoughtful responses (open-ended questions). Dont ask, Will you vote for the president? Ask Who do you think is the best candidate, and why? Establish the ground rules. In most cases, your source will speak onthe-record and will be quoted by name. Sources may ask to go on background, meaning they cannot be quoted by name. Instead, you would attribute the information more
generally, to a senior government official, for example, or an expert in a particular subject area. The source may ask to go off-therecord, meaning the source is not quoted at all, but you may query other sources, and, if the information is verified, publish it without the original sources name. Use follow-ups. When you get an answer, think about what further questions it might spark for the readerand ask. Listen carefully. Is the source offering even more information than your question required? Sometimes this provides the most interesting material. Dont miss it because it isnt what you expected. Clarify if needed. Dont be afraid to ask what sounds like a dumb question if it will save you from making a mistake in your story. Pause if necessary to catch up on your notes, and to give the source time to think further about your questions. Dont inject your own opinion into the interview or into the story. During the interview, consider your subjects opinion with an open mind. Always keep yourself out of the story. Control the interview. If the subject strays from the topic or avoids a question, repeat it until you are satisfied with the answer. Save the sensitive questions for last. If a question might prompt the source to end the interview abruptly, ask it at the end of the interview.
Be accurate. Ask the source to spell names, titles, etc., as they arise during the interview. If the source says something you dont understand, clarify.
Ending the interview:

Ask, Is there anything I forgot to ask you? Is there anyone else I should talk to? This gives the source a chance to elaborate on earlier points, volunteer information or suggest additional experts for your story. Ask the source if you can call him if further questions arise. Ask for home and mobile telephone numbers or e-mail addresses. This is a good time to get personal contact information not ordinarily shared with reporters.
Quotes and Attribution

Attribution:
Keeping yourself out of your story
Always stay out of your story. Let your sources tell the story to your readers. The facts are more powerful than your opinion. The importance of attribution: Clear attribution tells readers where the information came from so they can make up their own minds about what or whom to believe. Attribution protects the journalist. When not to attribute: To protect a source. Dont overuse unnamed sources, as this robs credibility from the story and invites unethical reporting. If you do use an anonymous source, tell readers why it is necessary. Some attribution tips: Keep attribution simple. He said, usually is enough. Tell your readers enough about the source to allow them to decide whether to believe them or not. This is especially true of experts.
Quotations:
Bringing stories alive
Good use of quotations: Give stories credibility and authority. Make stories feel more human by putting readers in touch with the speaker. Gives visual relief by the reader in the story. Support information in the lead and throughout the story. Makes stories come alive. Readers can hear, see, taste and feel the words. Adds variety to the pace of the story.
Use the good quotes and avoid the others.

Good quotations: Contain strong feelings or images. I know how to do two things in life: catch fish and eat fish. My father fished and so will my sons. Summarize a situation or illustrate a point well. Contain live words, not dead ones. Show something about a persons character. The veteran wept when
he saw his old friends gathered at the battle site. Use good quotes when: Someone says something unique. Someone says something uniquely. Someone important says something important. If someone important says something important in a boring way, paraphrase it or use a partial quote.
Know your publications policy on changing the content of quotations and follow it.
Ask Yourself:
Did you find the most qualified sources for the story? Are there enough sources to tell the whole story and all sides of it? Is all the information clearly attributed? Could points have been made better with direct quotes? Is everything inside quotations worthy of being in quotations?
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Complex Story Structure

The inverted pyramid summarizes the essential facts in the lead and then explains them in order of importance. Other, more in-depth stories may be written differently. They may begin with: An anecdote, or story within a story, that illustrates the storys subject: In a story about a teenage boy whose face was disfigured by fire, the anecdote established that the boy was so self-conscious he had never had a mirror in his room. After the boy had facial surgery, the closing scene showed him posing for his yearbook picture at school. A chronology: A story about a mass shooting at a high school begins:
The next minute would change his life, but Lance Kirklin never knew it was coming. Kirklin steps outside his school, hears gunfire and watches his friends fall. Then, Kirklin turned his head to the sky and saw someone standing over him. Help, Kirklin said. Sure, I'll help you," a voice replied. The person pointed a sawed-off shotgun at Kirklin's head. And boom, Kirklin recalls, he shot me in the face. The Columbine High School massacre had begun.
A description or observation: A story about Mexican immigrants who die crossing the scalding desert to sneak into the United States begins:
Among the carnivorous insects that flourish in the arid sandscape west of this city are beetles that feast on human skin
Any one of these options allows the writer to tell the story of an event, an issue or a personality. They can even be used to tell complicated stories about science or business. The lead can effectively evolve quickly to a nut paragraph that summarizes the story and explains its importance. This may be more than one paragraph, but it must be succinct and clearly explain the storys themes. The nut in the story about the boy simply asks the reader to relate to the child.
You find yourself instantly pulled past the deformity and into the world of a completely normal 14-year-old. It is a window into the world where Sam lives. You can imagine yourself on the other side of it.
moans of pain, and then silence the cries with a final gunshot at point-blank range. Other times, they pointed their guns at a classmate but spared him for no apparent reason.
The rest of the story alternately details the boys concern about this appearance and his journey through life-threatening surgery.
With four guns, 67 bombs and two hearts full of hate, classmates Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shocked the world April 20 with the worst school shooting in American history. The Denver Post interviewed dozens of students, teachers, investigators and parents to reconstruct the way two youths, cloaked in black trench coats, killed 13 and wounded 20 before fatally shooting themselves in the head. The eyewitness accounts are full of terror and courage, heartbreak and luck. They tell a story of senseless tragedy on the 110th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth that stole the lives of the strong and popular as well as the handicapped and lonely. From these recollections, a chilling picture of Harris, 18, and Klebold, 17, emerges: These two suburban teenagers enjoyed killing. They laughed about it. They celebrated it. Time and again, they were savage enough to spray a classmate with bullets, hear the
The mass shooting story takes longer to summarize its themes: The rest of the story weaves the eyewitness accounts together in a chronology of the day.
The U.S. Border Patrol says at least 151 immigrants died attempting to illegally cross from Mexico into the United States during a 12-month period ending Sept. 30. Human rights groups put the toll higherat 205saying that Border Patrol figures do not include all the bodies found by local law enforcement officers. Last year, at least 145 immigrants died on the trek. In July, at the height of summer, temperatures regularly exceeded 105 degrees. On a single dayJuly 15 eight people died in separate incidents along the state's 350-mile border with Mexico.
The nut graph in the immigration story uses numbers to illustrate the depth of the problem: The story then focuses on the debate over immigrant smuggling.
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The ending: While the inverted pyramid simply lists the facts in descending order of importance, the more complex story has an endingoften described as a kickerto reemphasize the storys key theme or provide a last emotional punch. The ending may return to the scene or event described in the lead:
Harris had taken off his trench coat sometime earlier, and was wearing a white T-shirt. Klebold, who wore a vest and ammo belt over his dark T-shirt, had dropped his trench coat onto the library floor.
A writer has greater freedom in fashioning these stories, but the basics of journalism still apply: The story must be accurate, balanced and unbiased; facts and quotes must be complete and correct.
Some Tips:
Tell a story with a purpose: Every story must provide valuable information and insight to the reader. Dont let your writing ego overcome the story you are trying to tell. If the facts are strong enough, they will carry the story. If they are not, you probably dont have a story. Report carefully: If you think youve talked to enough people, talk to two, three or a halfdozen more. They may offer valuable information, quotes or detail than you need at the end, but that leaves you to choose the best. Ask open-ended questions that produce detail and description. Use your senses: Use the senses of sight, hearing, feel, taste, smell to observe all that is going on around you. Choose vivid words to share those observations with the reader. Write! Dont restrict yourself to who, want where, when, why and how. Identify the elements of conflict, drama, setting, character, dialogue or common themes and consider building the story around them. Take this time to experiment with words and structureis there a better way?
The school shooting story, for example, returns us to the killers, each having shed the trench coats they wore in the opening scene:
About 4 p.m., Denver paramedic Troy Laman was ushered into the library. Warned that bodies might be boobytrapped with bombs, he felt gingerly for some sign, any sign, of life. One girl, facedown, was warm. The paramedic rolled her over and found open eyes full of tears. Lisa Kreutz had survived. Regaining consciousness later at Denver Health Medical Center, Kreutz remembered the pain of being rolled onto her wounded shoulder. That's when, she told her father, I knew I was still alive.
The final scene briefly describes the fate of each student Harris and Klebold encountered in the course of the story, naming 10 students who died and ending with a girl named Lisa Kreutz, who was shot in the shoulder.
Every word countsmake it as descriptive, active, direct and colorful as it can be. Vary the length of sentences and paragraphs. Read key sentences and paragraphs back to yourself: Are they clear? Do they contain dull, repetitious or expendable words? Are they nicely paced? Rewrite: Take a break after you finish the first draft. Clear your head and look at the story again for clarity and writing.
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Covering Elections
Be fair:
Strive for equal coverage of each candidate and issue. If you focus on major candidates or issues, establish a uniform coverage plan to ensure voters have a basic understanding of everything theyll see on the ballot. Place remarks in context. Quote sources accurately. Avoid words and descriptions that convey bias. office and what concrete change will happen if a ballot issue is approved. Follow the money: Identify who is supporting the candidate or issue financially and why. What policies are they promoting? What potential conflicts of interest do they have (the desire for government contracts on a project the candidate promotes, etc.)? Inform the readers of the political affiliations of those you quote.
In reporting elections:
Push beyond routine coverage of press conferences, speeches and rallies. - Cover the issues as well as the candidates. - When an issue is under debate, do your own research and call on neutral experts to explain the facts as opposed to claims of supporters or - opponents. In the case of a candidate, do the research that will allow you to pose tough questions. If the candidate makes an error in fact, give him or her the chance to explain, but inform your readers of the mistake. Use multiple sources, supporters, opponents and experts. Give readers the information to predict what the candidate might do in
The numbers:
Be skeptical of polls. Determine who sponsored them; whether the questions were worded to encourage certain responses, whether the sample size is adequate and reflects voter demographics. Explain polling methods and accuracy rating to readers. Dont trust candidates crowd estimates. Ask police or other official sources. Better yet, estimate it yourself using the block method if you were there. Dont trust candidates claims about government budgets or other financial information. Verify their arithmetic.
Covering Beats
Beats provide the publication the best opportunity to lay its fingers on the communitys pulse to probe society and culture. Parachute and brush fire journalism cant do that. Most big stories are broken by beat reporters because beats are rich in hard news and feature story ideas. Your readers depend on you to keep them informed about what their public officials are doing or are not doing. The system depends on you to keep it greased by living up to your responsibility to your readers. Develop a network of sources secretaries and night watchmen as well as the top officials. The depth and breadth of your source network largely will determine the depth and breadth of your stories and your success as a beat reporter. If you earn the readers trust, you can expect good telephone tips from strangers. Be physically present on your beat. Almost daily contact is essential. Several phone calls every day are necessary on some beats, especially law enforcement or other beats that may have quickly developing news. When working a beat, dont let yourself drown in routine. If you cant cover everything, dont try. Go for NEWS and miss a few small meetings if you have to. Keep a current file of office, home and mobile phone numbers. Remember to write for your readers, not your sources. A word about sources: People are not tools or objects or merely means to an end. And they are usually not stupid. They know when they are being cultivated, and they dont like it. Would you? Establish honest, open relationships with your sources. After all, you must trust them, and they must trust you.
Tips on getting started on a new beat:

Study documents relevant to your beat and people on it. Study the organizations budget, calendar and founding papers if there are any. They are filled with story ideas. Review the morgue, or publication library, for past stories. Some of the best ideas come from following up forgotten old stories. Read the competition. Get on the mailing and emailing lists on your beat. Keep a tickler file for follow up stories.
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Formally introduce yourself to the chief sourcesthe secretaries and their bosses. Let them know that you are a professional and that they can expect you to act like one. Get to know other sources in the course of your frequent beat checks. Show your sources you care about them and their work by frequent visits and sound, responsible reporting. Help your sources with a little public relations when you can.
Remember:
Everything that happens on your beat is your responsibility. Dont miss it!
Covering Meetings
Watch for the News
Meeting stories dont have to be dull. Remember to report the NEWS that comes out of the meeting. Dont just tell the readers that someone had a meeting. Who met where, when and why belongs in the second paragraph.
Listen Between the Lines

Listen for hints of developing trends or anticipated announcements hidden or accidentally dropped by speakers. Then ask them to elaborate after the meeting.
Ask Questions
Merely recording what is said at a meeting is not reporting. Ask participants to elaborate or follow new angles during breaks and after the meeting is over. Dont ask questions during the public portion of a meeting. Let the audience do that.
Sit Up Front
On the front row if possible. If you cant hear and see, you cant write.
Make a Participation Seating Chart

Outline the seating arrangement and assign each player a number for quick attribution to quotes in your notes. Be sure you get names and titles down accurately.
Ask More Questions

Watch for the authoritative and colorful speakers from the audience. Find them after the meeting for follow-up questions and their phone number for more questions later.
Good Writing Begins with Good Reporting

Keep in mind that reporting is really just an extension of writing. Its all one process. You already are sculpting your written report as you listen and observe, as you decide what to write in your notes, and as you think of the right follow-up questions. If you gather solid, exciting information and observations, you will write a solid, exciting story.
Write for Your Readers

Keep in mind who will be reading what you write, and write directly to them, to their interests, to their needs, maybe to their passions.
5 Ws and H
Ask yourself before you leave the meeting if you have the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How.
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Chances are, the speaker didnt give you everything you need in the public portion of the meeting. Be sure you understand the issues before you leave the building. Remember, the only stupid question is the one you were afraid to ask.
Use the Good Quotes

When you fail to use quotations in a story, especially a meeting story, you rob it of its humanity, of color. But use only the best quotesthe ones that made an impression on you. Dull words are best paraphrased.
Story Organization
Most meeting stories are complex stories. Lead with the main news story, then, in the second paragraph, give the reader a hint of the other main elements you will flesh out after the main story is told. Put the least important paragraphs at the end of the story.
If You Are Writing a Story of Record

Get every official action that occurs during the meeting. Most of it will play at the end of your story, as explained below.
Covering Speeches
Be prepared, do the research on the speaker. Arrive early, leave late. Sit up front where you can see the action. Note the mannerisms of speakers and audience. Get business cards for correct spelling of names and titles. Cover the eventlook around the edges at the audience (size, reaction). Its OK to clarify quotes after the speech, also to get new quotes and angles. Be sure you have the 5Ws and H in your notes. WRITE WHAT WAS SAID, NOT THAT SOMEONE GAVE A SPEECH.
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Writing from News Releases and News Conferences

A reporter must go out and capture the news. Only publicity comes to the newsroom to surrender.
News releases can be valuable resources for reporters, but remember that they are produced for one primary purpose: to influence the opinions of your readers through your story. News conferences can be valuable resources for reporters, but remember that they are produced for one primary purpose: to influence the opinions of your readers through your story.
Tips for covering news conferences:

Be prepared. Do your homework. Arrive early, leave late. Sit up front where you can see and hear the action. Get business cards for correct spellings and titles. Note the mannerisms of participants. Cover the eventlook around the edges at the audience (size, reaction). Its OK to clarify quotes after the conference, and always best to get new quotes and angles. Remember, if you ask a question during the conference, everyone will have the answer. If you wait until afterwards, you will have the scoop. Be sure you have the 5Ws and H before you leave the building. WRITE WHAT WAS SAID, NOT THAT SOMEONE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE.
Tips on writing from a news releases:

Treat it as a news tip, usually little else. Check for the 5Ws and H. Look for what is new and interesting. Look for unanswered questions, holes and what is NOT said. Call the contact people for verification, elaboration, clarification or a new angle. Call sources who might provide balance for the story. Talk to people whose lives are directly affected by the release. Add background and context. Consider putting the information into a calendar of events or briefs if it doesnt make a story.
Math for Journalists

Percentage:
Percentage change: Old number minus new number, divided by old number. Percentage increase: The budget rose from $50 million (old number) in 2004 to $60 million (new number) in 2005. Therefore, $60 million-$50 million = $10 million divided by $50 million = .20 or 20 percent increase. Percentage decrease: The budget fell from $60 million (old number) in 2004 to $50 million (new number) in 2005. Therefore, $60 million$50 million = $10 million, divided by $60 million = .166 or 16.7 percent decrease. (To convert a number to a percentage, move the decimal point two places to the right.) Percentage points: The difference between two percentages. A percentage point reflects a share of a larger number. (If 4 percent of babies are born prematurely, for example, then 4 of every 100 babies were born prematurely) If that rises from 4 percent to 5 percent, it is not a 1 percent increase, so the difference is described as an increase of one percentage point. relationship between a number and 100. For example, a communitys birth rate may by 65 per 100,000. If that were 65 of 100 it would be 65 percent. It is, in fact, .00065 percentmore often expressed as 65 per 100,000.
Average:
To find an average number, add a group of numbers together and divide by the sum of the numbers: 12 + 24 + 36 + 42 = 114 114 divided by 4 = average 28.5 This number is useful when all of the numbers are generally in the same range so an extreme number does not influence the average.
Median:
The midpoint in a series of numbers; it varies depending on whether there are an odd or even number of items in the sequence: In a series containing an odd number of items, the median is the number halfway between the highest and the lowest: 2 + 24 + 30 + 36 + 60. The median is 30, because there are two numbers higher and two numbers lower. In a series containing an even number of items, the median is the number midway between the two middle
Rate:
The relationship between the number of incidents and population or some other base number, as opposed to the
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numbers: 20 + 24 + 30 + 78. The median is 27: (24 +3 0 = 54 2 = 27) This number is more useful when there is a number at the extreme (such as 78) that might otherwise distort the average. For example, if you are trying to show how old most of the people in a town are, and the majority range from 20-30 but one person is 78, the average will provide a distorted picture. (The average will be 38 when most of the ages are between 20 and 30).
is described as the margin of error. The larger the sample, the smaller the margin of error and the more accurate the poll. If a poll shows that Candidate A has 52 percent of the vote, and Candidate Y has 49 percent of the vote, with a 3 percent margin of error, Candidate A may actually have anywhere from 49 percent (minus 3) to 55 percent of the vote (plus 3 percentage points). Candidate Ys total could be 52 percent or 46 percent. Because each candidates total might be 49 percent, this race is too close to call: You would report that candidate A appears to be leading, but that the race is statistically too close to call.
Public Opinion Polls:

Who sponsored the poll? Avoid polls generated by interest groups, as the results may be biased. If you must, identify the sponsoring group and its position on the issue fully. Are the questions neutral or slanted to generate a certain response? The best questions address one topic and ARE limited to a yes/no answer, as broader questions generate less specific answers that are open to interpretation. How are respondents chosen? Polls generally should reflect a range of ages, races and other demographic factors. Participants should be chosen entirely at random. Calls should take place during both day and evening (so the poll isnt limited to those who are home during the day) and should include both listed and unlisted numbers. Because polls measure a sample of the population, there is a statistical probability of error. This probability
Internet Research
By Amy Webb, Webbmedia Group, October 2008 Search for information from a particular domain: by country (site:jp, site:de, etc.), by type (site:org, site:gov, site:mil, etc). Search for particular filetypes using commands: filetype:xls, filetype:doc, filetype:ppt and all of the new extensions (docx, etc.). Search for particular keywords using commands: intitle, inurl.
Places:
Sometimes, the amount of results from a standard search query can offer too many results. There are many alternative engines that will help you to search more specifically: Blogdigger (http:/.www.blogdigger.com) Search only blog content Technorati (http:// www.technorati.com) - Search only blog content Search.Twitter.com searches Twitter feeds TweetScan (http:// www.tweetscan.com) searches Twitter feeds by keyword Everyzing (http:// search.everyzing.com) searches audio and video content PolyCola (http://www.polycola.com) allows you to search multiple search engines at once and look at the results in a split-screen format
Techniques:
Evaluating online sources: Do you know whos behind a website? Who registered the domain? Why are they publishing the information? Has the site been hacked? Where its located? The best way to start your search is using the WhoIS database at http:// www.networksolutions.com/whois. Unless the site has been registered using a proxy, you should be able to find the name, phone number and email address for the sites registrant.
The Dark Web

Did you know that much of the information available online is hidden because search engines cant find it? There are many ways to search for specific kinds of files, just within certain organizations and more. For example, if you wanted to find a municipal budget for the city of Chicago, you might try using the following search: site:gov filetype:xls budget Chicago.
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Some Sources:
By Jason Crawford, West Bank Project, University of Colorado at Boulder, April 2005 Google: http://www.google.com/intl/ ar/ Google text translation tool: http:// www.google.com/language_tools? hl=ar CIA World Factbook: http:// www.cia.gov/cia/publications/ factbook/ (English) United Nations: http://www.un.org/ arabic/ U.S. National Institutes of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ (English) Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law: http://www.soas.ac.uk/ Centres/IslamicLaw/Materials.html (English) Middle East Network Information Center: http://menic.utexas.edu/ mes.html (English) Middle East Maps & Encyclopedia: http://www.i-cias.com/e.o/atlas/ index.htm (English) A handful of blogs http://dear_raed.blogspot.com/ (English) http://www.ihath.com/arabi/ http://www.nasser99.com/
International Journalism Resources:

http://www.ifj.org/ Palestinian members: http:// www.ifj.org/default.asp? index=1507&Language=EN http://www.wpfc.org/ http://www.ijnet.org/ http://www.freedomhouse.org/ http://www.ifex.org/ http://www.icfj.org/ http://www.apfw.org/ Arab Code for Journalists: http:// www.al-bab.com/media/docs/ intcodes.htm - fed
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Social Network Research

By Amy Webb, Webbmedia Group, October 2008. An early version of this article was originally published in Uplink on 10.20.2007. It isnt enough to simply rely on Google to return comprehensive, relevant information, not with the number of new content added online every day. And while Google, as well as other major search engines such as Yahoo!, indexes web pages regularly, it often misses the content that is hidden deep within discussion boards, blogs, podcasts and other social networking tools like Facebook and LinkedIn. Part of the problem is technology: Standard search engines are programmed to look for certain bits of code on websites. The other obvious problem is volume: web pages rise within search results to some extent based on keyword relevance and the number of times users click on that particular link. So if you were working on a story about a high school football scandal, chances are pretty good that you might miss out on local chatter between students without also running a pointed search through the social web. There are dozens of new web tools that now enable you to search across networks and deep within social networks to find information. Incorporating a handful of alternative search tools into your daily reporting routine should help you work faster, more efficiently and towards finding those esoteric bits of information that separate a good story from a spectacular achievement. Before you go deep, keep a few things in mind. First, many people can spot a reporter without much prodding. If your story absolutely requires details about Jane Does personal life and youre convinced that her Facebook page is the place to visit, don't try to friend her without an introduction. Same goes for LinkedIn and other personal/ professional social networks. On the other hand, you should absolutely establish accounts with these and other popular services. Keep it professional, join relevant groups and follow those people/ organizations who contribute to your beat. (For more information on how to get started, keep reading!) Second, be honest when commenting within blog spaces or discussion forums. An easy way to find yourself blacklisted from an online community is to lurk in the background, ask an occasional question, and then publish your findings. Its okay to participate in the discussion but share your identity when acting as a reporter, with others. If you wouldnt do it in person, you shouldnt do it online either.
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Book Title Goes Here
Getting Started
Create free accounts with a number of social networks.
Were asked often why someone should join a bunch, why s/he cant just use one. The reason is because you never know what your sources might be using. While one person favors Delicious, someone else might rely only on Facebook. The only way to participate is to join. And since these services are free, theres no reason not to at least try them. We cannot stress this enough: If youre going to use it for work, keep your network 100% professional. Dont post photos of your kids or talk about your latest spaghetti dinner masterpiece. You can certainly create pages on networks that are intended only for your friends and family, but work networks should stay exclusively work-based. Delicious is a social bookmarking tool (http://www.delicious.com). Just as you bookmark web pages in your browser (that would be Firefox or Internet Explorer or others), you can store your bookmarks online. You can tag and categorize them and share them with others. You can also write summaries of the pages you bookmark, and others can add their comments as well. Delicious can function as an intranet for your reporting team. You can post important websites or other content online, and share those links via delicious only to those you invite. You can use Delicious as an online sourcebook and store all of your
sources web pages and other information in one place. With Delicious, as long as you can get online, youll always have your bookmarks with you - even if you dont have a computer! Delicious also works on mobile phones. Ning (http://www.ning.com) is a social networking tool that will enable you to set up your own network. This means that you can easily create your own website that offers a calendar, discussion features, blog, photo gallery, video gallery and a number of other tools. In addition, users can create their own profiles, just as they would on Facebook or LinkeedIn. You can use a Ning site for your beat. For example, if you cover city hall, you can create a city hall Ning site and invite your regular sources, insiders, elected officials and others associated with that beat. You can use your Ning site to solicit feedback, story leads and more. And at Ning you can keep the site private and unlisted. LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com) is designed as a professional networking tool and is a good way to search for connections within your network of contacts. If you need to bypass the PR folks at Comcast and want to talk to someone directly, you may be able to find a name and phone number through someone within your network. You can also pay a premium monthly charge for the ability to email folks out of your network directly. Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) was originally created for college and high school students, however it has recently opened to everyone. The tone of profiles on Facebook tends to
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be more casual, and the site offers groups and discussion boards, where users talk about issues that interest them. Examples include professional organizations (Online News Association), alumni groups (Columbia Journalism School New Media Alumni) and pages for specific topics (D.C. Tech Talk). People often post news and local events here, and that can serve as a wonderful tool to help you meet new people and to learn more about various subjects. You can also create a Facebook group page to serve your beat. If you cover fashion, you might create a local fashion group where users comment on collections, offer feedback and links to additional material. You can also use your group to announce an in-person meeting, so that you can gather people together to talk more about moves in the fashion industry. Twitter (http://www.twitter.com) is a microblogging tool. Essentially, that enables users to send a message of 140 characters or less out to a large group of people. The message, or tweet, is only delivered to those who follow you - however if you make your Twitter URL available, anyone can view your messages on the web. Twitter can be a great way to survey the zeitgeist, find additional sources, monitor your beat and solicit comments and ideas. There are a number of incredibly useful Twitter applications that can be applied for journalism. While all of these web tools can be used as reporting tools, they are primarily meant to function as social or professional networking spaces. Its best to check sites youre registered to
at least once every day. Or try FriendFeed (http:// www.friendfeed.com) and aggregate many of your social networks into one site!
Search the Blogosphere

Blogdigger (http:// www.blogdigger.com) Blogdigger is a powerful search tool that digs only through blogs to retrieve information. A reporters tool: Some bloggers/ blog sites typically break news before local journalists even hear about an event. Examples include TechCrunch and Slashdot. Find the bloggers who cover your beat and read what theyre saying. Technorati (http:// www.technorati.com) This site indexes and tracks whos linking to who throughout the blogosphere. A reporters tool: You can search by keyword, by broad topic, by blog name and by Technorati user. An easy way to develop reporting on a specific topic would be to simply follow links. Everyzing (http:// search.everyzing.com/) Originally called Podzinger, this site indexes video and audio content. A reporters tool: Search by keyword results are returned with the sentence where the keyword occurred and the time on the audio or video track. Rather than listening through an entire 45 minute podcast of a
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Hillary Clinton speech on health care, you could zing it to find the exact phrase and surrounding context and then play the recording from that point forward.
Search People
Spock (http://www.spock.com) Spock is now in public beta and delivers thorough results on people. It pulls content from other websites and allows users to enter their own information, wiki-style. A reporters tool: Because this is a wiki, people have the ability to enter and edit information about themselves. Additionally, others may edit information, too, so you may be more likely to find leads on people here than by using a simple Google search. Pipl (http://pipl.com/) Pipl searches the deep web to find information hidden within databases and other areas that standard web crawlers cant or wont search. A reporters tool: This search engine aggregates databases for you, which can be a plus when searching for information on deadline. Wink (http://www.wink.com) Wink is a smart search tool that pulls information only from social network sites such as MySpace, LinkedIn, Bebo and Friendster. A reporters tool: This is an easy, efficient way to search through social networks, however you will need to enter both a name and a location. Spokeo (http://www.spokeo.com) Spokeo searches across various social networks and tracks people using their email addresses.
Search the Zeitgeist

Omgili (http://www.omgili.com) Search through what people are saying in forums and discussion boards. A reporters tool: What are people saying about this particular topic? Are they mentioning other names/ companies/ websites? Will they point you more towards what youre researching? StumbleUpon (http:// www.stumbleupon.com) StumbleUpon is actually a toolbar that can be installed on any web browser and, based on a set of your preferences, delivers new web pages you may like. A reporters tool: Just as looking through the footnotes of SEC reports can produce interesting story ideas, so too can rummaging through user comments. Wikirage (http://www.wikirage.com) This site tracks pages in Wikipedia that are currently receiving the most traffic and edits. A reporters tool: When a story breaks, it may be worthwhile to check out what users are contributing at Wikipedia to help inform your own reporting.
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A reporters tool: Youll never believe whats out there if you just know how to look. This tool is so powerful youll be surprised at what you can find on virtually anyone!
Search Across Networks

Sputtr (http://www.sputtr.com) Sputtr offers single search window with many different options: Type in Second Life and search through YouTube, Flickr, Digg, etc. by selecting your button of choice. A reporters tool: Use this to find multimedia files very quickly. Whonu (http://www.whonu.com) At Whonu, search through images, videos, news, maps, blogs, books, calendars, notebooks and more. After, you can share or bookmark your search results. A reporters tool: If your newsroom doesnt have an intranet, you can potentially use Whonu as a way to share reporting resources on a particular story, on a beat or on a geographic area.
More Search Ideas

Midomi (http://www.midomi.com) Need to find the name, title and artist of a song fast but only remember the tune? Midomi allows you to hum a few bars of a song into your computer and it matches your rendition to its database, returning the original song information.
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Understanding and Using Twitter

By Amy Webb, Webbmedia Group, October 2008.
entries to everyone who's following you. http://twitterfeed.com/ Twhirl This is a nice desktop application that allows you to update and read your Twitter account. This application really functions more like an instant message client. Still, it can help reporters stay on top of breaking news. http://www.twhirl.org/ Autopostr You can use Autopostr to post Flickr photos to Twitter and also send a tweet to your followers. http://Autopostr.com Twellow This is a search engine that you can use to browse people and other topics, uses Twitter and other social networking tools. http:// www.twellow.com/ Twitter Answers Ask Twitter a question, find an answer. http://www.mosio.com/twitter/ Summize Twitters own search engine. http://search.twitter.com TwitterTroll Yet another search engine, TwitterTroll also shows the most popular searches at any given time. Can be useful to search the zeitgeist. http://www.twittertroll.com Snitter This is a popular desktop client, but it requires Adobe Air to run. http://getsnitter.com/
Whats all the fuss about Twitter? What can it do, and why should you care?
Twitter is one of the newer micropublishing tools, and it can be used to both collect and disseminate information. Want a better handle on microblogging as a viable communication platform? Have a look at this study from the University of Maryland. http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/ paper/html/id/367/Why-We-TwitterUnderstanding-Microblogging-Usageand-Communities. Their findings aren't necessarily earth shattering we connect with others because we either have something in common or want their knowledge - but the paper does a great job of explaining how we stay in touch, digitally. Try harnessing Twitter as a reporting tool and see what new information you can uncover. The information below offers basic advice on Twitter along with a list of useful Twitter applications. TwitterFeed Got a blog? This will automatically update your posts to your Twitter account. If you're not sure how to effectively Twitter at your news organization, create a basic Twitter account - like BaltimoreNews. Then, you can automatically send out announcements of your new blog
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Twitteroo Desktop client, works best on PC. http://rareedge.com/twitteroo/ Mobypicture Shares photos via Twitter, enables you to post directly to Flickr and your blog. http://www.mobypicture.com/ Twitterrific Desktop client for mobile or desktop. http://iconfactory.com/software/ twitterrific PocketTweets This tool enables you to post and read tweets via your iPhone. http://pockettweets.com/ Twadget If you're a (blech) Vista user, this is a gadget that will track and send all new tweets from your account. http://arsecandle.org/twadget/ Twitter Tube Tracker Track the status of London's Tube trains and get delays sent to Twitter. http://tommorris.org/blog/ 2007/02/22#When:12:43:46 TwitterGram Tired of just sending out 140 characters? Use TwitterGram to send mp3s tweets. Use it for journalism: This could be a fantastic way to share breaking news audio reports. You might also consider using it to send out quick advertisements every X# tweets. http://www.twittergram.com/ TwitterLit This application will send out the first line of a book and a link to Amazon. It's part trivia - can you guess the author and title? - but mostly a marketing ploy to get Twitter users to buy more stuff on Amazon. But it's
effective - and lots of people are using it. Mimic this application for use in your own newsroom. Tease new stories. Use quick-hit trivia to drive traffic to your site. What about promotions? Selling photos or archived video? http:// www.twitterlit.com/ TwitterLocal Filter out tweets from just a certain area. Reporters can use this as source material to find out what's happening within a certain range of miles, postal code, state, city, etc. http://www.twitterlocal.net/ Twittervision Twittervision displays random updates from people around the world. It's a bit like watching an aquarium, and it's addictive. Want to get included? Add TwitterWhere, which will automatically post your tweet location. http://twittervision.com/ and http:// twitterwhere.com/ Twitzer Want more than 140 characters? Twitzer works with Firefox and will allow you to type in longer posts. Be warned, though. Twittering is meant to be is micro-sized, and some of your followers may not want long, rambling posts from you. http://shorttext.com/ twitzer.aspx Twubble Want to follow more people but not sure where to start? Twubble will make recommendations based on who you currently follow and your geographic location. This is a good way for jurnos to get started using Twitter, especially if they're not sure who to start following just yet. http://www.crazybob.org/twubble/
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Tweet Scan This is another search engine for tweets. Again, you're not quoting directly from folks - just looking for leads and additional context to aid in the reporting process. http:// www.tweetscan.com/alerts.php Twitbar For our Linux friends, a Twitter client for Gnome users to post from the Deskbar. http://philwilson.org/blog/ 2007/03/post-to-twitter-from-ubuntudeskbar.html
Photojournalism
Photos guidelines:
News photos also tell a story. News photos, like news stories, are about people, so include people in your photospeople doing something that tells the story. Get up close, then get closer.
Cutline guidelines:
Cutlines describe the action and identifies the main characters by name in the present tense. For example, on a photo of a football player making a point: States Jan Johnson scores a last-minute goal against Tech. It may contain second or third sentences of background, but these are written in the past tense. For example, on the photo of the football player: States Jan Johnson scores a last-minute goal against Tech. The score meant that State will compete in the Cotton Bowl in April. Every photograph must have a photo credit. This is the name of the photographer who took the picture (photo by Billy Bob Johnston) or credit given to the source of the photo, such as: photo courtesy of the Department of Education.
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Interviewing for Television

Person on the street:
Make it colorful and diverse. Talk to old people, young people, women, men, etc. Ask the same question in exactly the same way. Ask a simple question. What are you doing here today? What do you think of the latest legislation passed? Are you for or against this law and why? What are your thoughts about this? Dont phrase your question in a way that invites a yes or no answer. For editing purposes, change your location behind the camera for each interview. For example, first you are to the right of the camera, next to the left of the camera, and so forth. Keep this process up every time to avoid jump cuts. have them spell it out for you on camera. Start with soft, easy, general questions. Make your character comfortable. Sit close to the lens of the camera, either to the right or immediate left. Make sure the mic isnt in your frame. Do not interrupt the interview with reaffirming comments to make the interviewee feel more comfortable For example, dont say uh-huh, yes, I understand etc you ruin your sound. Just NOD in agreement. Same affect. If they ramble or talk too long, do not be afraid to ask the question again and say can you briefly summarize that for me. If you miss something, say, Im sorry, I didnt understand that. Can you explain it to me again? Ask: So, whats the bottom line? Whats your main goal? Dont be afraid of awkward silence or emotional, teary interviews. Look concerned, sympathetic, but do not stop the taping. That can be your best on-camera moment. The less you talk, the more they will talk.
Sit-down interviews:
Do not talk to your character about the main topic BEFORE the camera starts rolling. This ruins the fresh momentum of the interview, or the character ends up saying things later like as I told you before Always start the interview with a sound check. Ask your character to state his or her name and title and
Dont be afraid to ask the tough questions and play devils advocate. Say: Some people we spoke to about this have said such and such about you. How do you respond to these allegations? Listen well. Think sound bites. Take notes. Write down the quotes. Take the time code. Put a star or two stars near the sound bites that you think are powerful and useful. In closing, ask them if there are any concerns or anything more they want to add or say. Make sure you have set-up and cutaway shots. Never fake your setting. Do not rearrange the furniture and put a flag or picture behind your interviewee so that it appears in the shot. Many do this, but its unethical and theatrical. Do not make any promises you cannot or do not want to keep. If they ask for a tape of the interview, say you cannot provide it, but that you can let them know when the piece will be aired so that they can record it at home. Just Be Honest! In breaking news deadlines: make air, not art. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Go with the facts. Go with what you know, and no further.
If you cannot independently confirm, attribute. Tell the viewers you are checking/ trying to confirm other reports. Its more important to be reliable, credible and accurate than to get the story first and false. Be honest. If you dont have the answers, never assume or speculate or analyze. Thats not your job. Describe the mood, the scene, whats happening around you. Use fresh choice of words. Always remain collected and calm under pressure. Remember the viewer does not know nor care about all the difficulties and obstacles you are facing behind the scenes.
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Reporting Breaking News for Television and Radio

Get the story out and get it right. A lead makes one point. And one point well. Your story should be loyal to your lead. If you cannot be loyal to your lead. Dump it. The lead should grab and capture your audience immediately. Shock value is crucial. Remember: Impact, Familiarity Singular of News is New. Always try to relate the news to your audience, the you factor. Your job is not only to tell the new, but to connect it to the familiar. Ask yourself, Why should I care if I was watching/listening to this? Write to the pictures and for your audiences ear. Smooth transitions are what keep your audiences hooked and tuned in. Its like keeping the romance alive in an old relationship. Always try to advance the story. Dont say what happened today if you know what is scheduled to happen tonight or tomorrow. Right now is much more appealing than a stale old story that happened earlier this morning. Always use present active voice. Always use a conversational tone. Speak to your audience as if you are there in his/her living room. Dont use fancy words and language that you would never use with your brother/sister/friends. Scripting: Use sound and pictures to help tell your story. Let the pictures and sound and writing go hand-in hand, complimenting one another but NOT repeating or stating the obvious or stupefying your audience. Remember only a good picture can be worth a thousand words. Try to always start and end with your most powerful pictures. The first picture will grab them, and the last can make your piece unforgettable. Use sound bites or quotes for dramatic effect, not to explain the story. Be fair. Be brief. Be concise. Always put yourself in your characters shoes. Would you be happy if portrayed the way you are portraying him or her?
Television and Radio News Writing

Do not try to please or be liked by everyone. Aim to be respected, not liked. Gaining people/sources/officials respect is much more valuable than having them like you. They will then know they can trust youeven if they dont agree with you. Revise. Revise. Revise. Dont repeat unless for emphasis. Dont repeat. Dont slavishly attribute if any idiot would know where you got the information. A long story is like a house. It must have four walls and a roof. Remember that a wall not connected to the roof probably doesnt belong to that house.* Nothing signals poor journalism like poor grammar and spelling. If you cannot get the easiest, simplest facts right, your audience wont believe you got the whole story right. A delayed lead is more interesting than a straight lead. If it isn't, dump the delayed lead and go straight.* Journalists dont know what people think. They know what people say and do.*
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*(by John Dinges. The Rules.)
Some television shorthand: MOS SOT BSOT FS VO NAT VO Bird TRT OC PKG DNT VO
Man on the street Soundbite Butted sound bites (backto back interviews/ connected) Full screen or graphic Video VO with natural sound
Satellite feed transmission Total Running Time Outcue Package Donut Reporter's bridge, VO
Television Reporting and Package Producing

Research your story BEFORE heading out of the bureau. Know your story well. Prepare a draft script. It will help keep you focused. But remember, its only a draftnot set in stone. It can be changed. If theres no time to write a draft script at least prepare the first, middle and end stages or topics of your piece. Prepare a shot-list. Think of the possible elements you may need to compliment the script you are thinking of. Make sure you have all the right and appropriate equipment. Its your responsibility to tell the cameraperson what to bring, how long you think you will be on the shoot (batteries), what type of lighting you might require (indoors or outdoors), whether you will be doing a sit-down interview or man on the street sound-bites (mics). Make sure you communicate well with your cameraperson about the story. Inform him or her of your ideas and needsask for suggestions. Its all about team work. You need your cameraperson on your side! When you are out shooting footage, try to log and keep track of all the images and shots your
cameraperson is taking. This will save you a lot of time when you get back to the bureau. Before you leave, ask your cameraperson what he or she shot so that you can then, and only at the end of the shoot, suggest what more you need and what may be missing. Do not interrupt your cameraperson when they are working unless its really necessary. If you do need to suggest something, just tap him or her gently on the shoulder. Then speak up. Dont shake or surprise them. That will only ruin YOUR SHOT. Do not over shoot. Its a waste of your time and energy. Stay focused on your story line, on your elements and what you need. Dont get sidetracked. As you are shooting elements, always keep your script in mind. You are writing for pictures. Also think of your first and end shots when you are out in the field. Shoot your stand-up at the scene of the action. The seminar, the protest, the airport, the market etc. If you are not sure whether to do a bridge or a stand-up, do both. You can choose your best one later in the bureau.
When writing your bridge or standup, its easiest to just mention the facts of what you know. For example, make an estimate of how many people attended a protest. Strive to be accurate. Its better to go with the lowest safe number than be wrong: At least 500 people gathered here today in front of Martyrs Square, or say no one is exactly sure of the exact number of people gathered here today but as you can see behind me they are in the hundreds. Do not say,around 800 people gathered here today. It may turn out to be less. Numbers are always changing. Be safe and accurate. You can always add the exact figure by the time you get to the bureau and have it in your toss. Your bridge should always be something thats factual yet flexible enough to be worked into a transition. Your stand-up, on the other hand, is your ending. It can either be a forecast of whats next or a simple summary. Back in the bureau, you log your tapes. Write your script, voice it.
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Journalism Tipsheets

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Journalism Tipsheets

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Journalism Tipsheets

By Doug Cosper, Michelle Fulcher and Nadine Alfa

About the International Center for Journalists

Separating Fact from Opinion

Writing from News Releases and Conferences

Math for Journalists

Hard News Story Structure

Quotes and Attribution

Interviewing for Television

Complex Story Structure

Reporting Breaking News for TV and Radio

Television and Radio News Writing

Television Reporting and Package Production

International Center for Journalists

Among the elements to consider:

International Center for Journalists

Separating Fact from Opinion

Avoid words that reflect bias or a judgment about a sources credibility:

Avoid conflicts of interest:

Check list for writing clear, powerful news leads:

Hard News Story Structure

During the interview:

Ending the interview:

Quotes and Attribution

Use the good quotes and avoid the others.

International Center for Journalists

Complex Story Structure

International Center for Journalists

International Center for Journalists

International Center for Journalists

Tips on getting started on a new beat:

International Center for Journalists

Listen Between the Lines

Make a Participation Seating Chart

Ask More Questions

Good Writing Begins with Good Reporting

Write for Your Readers

Use the Good Quotes

If You Are Writing a Story of Record

International Center for Journalists

Writing from News Releases and News Conferences

Tips for covering news conferences:

Tips on writing from a news releases:

Math for Journalists

Public Opinion Polls:

The Dark Web

International Journalism Resources:

International Center for Journalists

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Social Network Research

Book Title Goes Here

Section Title Here

Search the Blogosphere

Book Title Goes Here

Search the Zeitgeist

International Center for Journalists

Section Title Here

Search Across Networks

More Search Ideas

Book Title Goes Here

Understanding and Using Twitter

International Center for Journalists

Section Title Here