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Sourcing stories and story types

Sourcing stories and story types

A broadcast journalist relies on a wide range of sources and contacts in the never ending search for new news

The best journalists do not just wait for a story to appear, they go and find it, eg newspapers, social media, word of mouth, news agencies

Source must be verifiable

Fishman (1997) called 'beats’ - ‘ patrolling’ much like a police officer on recognized chains of information to supply potential stories with 'news value’

What 'beats’ form part of this chain of information

Many of these ‘beats’ are exclusively accessed by news journalists eg calling police stations or press offices
But in doing so, what other stories are ignored? Is it right to give priority to those particular stories? Why?

Where the news room finds its stories
Primary sources
●      Your own direct contacts
●      Original sources direct from source material eg archive material from libraries etc such as Kew ( National archives )
●      Public appeals
●      Press releases/ stats/ official statements
Secondary sources
●      Stringers ( freelancers )
●      Other platforms/ media

Wires
Newsrooms frequently trawl 'the wires’ for up to the minute tip offs in news stories such as:
●      Press Association - provide a range…...
●      Reuters

Correspondents
These subject specialists work in newsrooms and are prized for their in depth knowledge and we'll honed contacts - often invited to confidential 'lobby’ briefings with politicians and on the mailing lists of important relevant bodies

Foreign news sources
Journalists, editors and correspondents based permanently abroad for news networks eg Gavin Hewitt Europe editor or Mark Martell North American editor
Sometimes pooled foreign news 'bureau’ with other broadcasters
Again valued for their local contacts and on the ground

Archives
Many broadcasters have their own archived material which is a rich source of pictures, as well as independent archives which sell on their material under licence

Beware fake news!
They look like news packages and sound like them, but stories are to be approached with caution, as they are very often propaganda
Think about how many 'stories’ now pop up via social media - who is sending them and why?
Blurring the lines between marketing and news
………

Communication
Whichever your source of information and stories, you will need to be a consummate communicator in order to access these

Know the essentials before you make the call - do your research and know what questions you want to ask

Get used to using the telephone

Emails are good for exchanging in and more functional tasks, but nothing can replace a conversation, thus build a rapport, gauge the person you are talking to and make a decision about them and the story

Finding your angle
The news 'angle’ is key to developing your story
The angle can be defined as the main significance of the story to your particular audience. It is a particular viewpoint of any story

What makes a story newsworthy?
Relevance/ resonance
Controversy
What recent 'leads’ can you remember?
Why were they chosen?

Developing your story
Copious research needs to be matched with copious note taking
Be organised and ensure you keep your contacts and relevant information somewhere you can easily access

Who said that?
Whenever you are delivering information, ensure you attribute the information to a reliable source

Setting up your story
What is your story?
Who is in your story?
Where is it?
When is it to be shot?
How will you tell it?
Why are you making the story? 

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