What is a beat?.

Film Department Student Life

Photo Department

Student Government

Activities

Theater Department

Clubs Events

Any defined area of Coverage

Creative Writing

Graphic Design

Define the beat Make a list of initial key people to talk to,

and possible story ideas Set up interviews Leave every interview with a story idea and

the name of someone else to talk to Start a “tickler” file

Getting started

What are the issues within your beat? What entities does your beat include? Who are the official people within your

beat? What kinds of public meetings/events

happen in your beat? What kinds of public documents exist in

your beat?

Step 1: Define the Beat

Top 10 people to meet. What events are happening within your

beat. What written information is already out

there? What stories do the people within your beat

think should be told?

Step 2: Make a list

Beat reporting—literally: make the rounds Reading the news Reading bulletin boards, virtual and real Attending events and meetings Press conferences Monitoring groups and issues via the

Internet

Finding Stories

Step 4: Start a tickler file Create a system

for tracking who you’re talking to and what you’re working on: meetings, interviews, public requests. Share these with your editor or other writers to get more ideas.

Step 5: Talk to People Make regular lunch,

coffee, coffee, snack, cocktail (if you’re over 21) meetings with potential sources.

Get out as much as possible

Talk to people when you don’t need them.

Don’t rely on the Internet.

Read other publications, looking for stories that you could do in your community

Read virtual and real bulletin boards to look for strange events, calls to action

Use Social Media to find stories and find sources.

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Reading the News

A reporter’s knowledge of a story should be shared completely with the photographer

Work together to come up with ideas for the best way to visually capture the essence of a story, whether it’s a profile or a larger feature

The reporter and photographer should be together for this process

Try a variety of shots, from candid to more contrived

Work Together

Personal Example