Chapter 5

Ethical Dilemma Should you show your story to a source

before publication?▪ Why/Why Not?

▪ Entire story?▪ Part of the story?▪ None of the story?

Now Back to Chapter 5 A source book

Journal of information on contacts Used to reconnect with sources▪ Past/Present/Future

What type of information▪ Would you put in a source book?

Name of source Phone numbers▪ Work/Cell (home if possible)

E-mail address Physical address Notations▪ Additional information about the source

For your next article (Q&A) You need to include at least (2) two▪ Ways to contact your source▪ (in case you need to do follow up)

Good reporters count on ▪ People to interview▪ Written sources

▪ Scenario▪ You are assigned to cover a crime story▪ The person arrested was a person of interest in a past crime▪ Do you include the previous info in your story?▪ What if….

Human Sources Make stories more

▪ Credible/readable

▪ Eyewitnesses/Participants▪ Give immediacy▪ Provide interesting quotes/soundbites

Finding human sources▪ News releases▪ Usually list a contact person

▪ Up and down the ladder▪ Seek out people in charge & people involved

▪ Names in the news▪ If there is a quote in an existing article▪ Don’t just quote the article, try to contact the source

▪ Admin Assistants

▪ Community & campus leaders▪ Groups, departments, programs, etc, ▪ These are good places to start

▪ Self-Sponsorship▪ Referencing a previous article you did about the source

▪ Matchmaking▪ Asking a source for additional contacts

▪ Fairness▪ Seeking out both sides of an issue/controversy

To get the other point of view

▪ Primary Sources▪ When information is received directly from the party involved in

the news event▪ Secondary Sources▪ When information provided by a third party not directly involved

in the news event▪ Blogs▪ Usually opinion columns and personal reflections▪ Can be good for contacting human sources

regarding issues/stories, etc.

Beat Reporting▪ Involves continuous coverage of the same

area or dept. ▪ City Hall/Council▪ School districts▪ Colleges▪ Sports, Sports teams

Other defined beats

▪ Beat reporters have more sources than ever before▪ Websites & social media▪ Blogs, data sources, research▪ Community members, workers, etc

Anonymous sources The more you rely on unnamed sources▪ The less credibility your story has

▪ Review AP policy on anonymous sources (pg 81)▪ Most editors will say no▪ Unless there is no other way to get the info▪ Even then many would still say no

▪ When would you say an anonymous source is ok▪ How would you refer to them?

Terms often used to establish rules for interviews Promises On the record Off the record Not for attribution Background Deep background

Multicultural sources Ethnic demographics are changing in the U.S. The media tends to be stereotypical News stories should ▪ Reflect the diversity in society▪ Use racial/ethnic labels only when relevant to story

How do you create a realistic diversity▪ In your news stories?

Telephone directories Help to locate sources

▪ Business, Govt.▪ people

Reverse directories▪ Help to find people▪ Phone #, Address, etc

Libraries Wealth of information▪ Newspapers, federal/state docs, reports, journals, etc

How do you know what’s credible online? Government sources

▪ Info is official and public

University studies▪ Peer reviewed (should be linked to university site of research journals)

Personal sites▪ Least trustworthy▪ Good for ideas or contacts▪ Beware of citing them without verifying info

▪ Journalism directories▪ Websites by journalists with links to valuable media

resources

▪ Find experts▪ Seek experts to provide added credibility to your

publication

▪ Find a map▪ Help you to get to a location in order to cover your

assignment

▪ Find press releases & Wire services▪ Sites for story leads for college and professional

publications▪ prnewswire.com, preweb.com, businesswire.com, and

more

Effective searching Understand domains Find site contacts Check state sites Find press releases/Wire services Social networking sites Databases▪ And more (Pg 98-99)

Public records A lot of information is available via public records▪ Political contributions▪ Real estate records▪ Voter registration▪ Salaries▪ Police records, school, etc▪ More on pg 90-91

▪ Zaba Search Intelius

Freedom of information act Established by congress in 1966▪ Made federal records available▪ To the public▪ Often time consuming in getting records▪ Have proven invaluable to reporters