Big story

The Big Story

Rachele KanigelSan Francisco State UniversityACP/CMA Summer Leadership & Management Conference

Types of Big Stories

Natural disasters -- hurricane, earthquake, fire, tornado, flood

Man-made disasters – terrorist act, major accident, serious crime

Major campus stories – a high-ranking official or coach steps down, scandal, suicide, disease outbreak

Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech

The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech University

The Daily Collegian

Penn State University

Before the event

Assemble a staff contact listDevelop a disaster planCreate a breaking news cultureCreate cooperative arrangements

with other campus media

As the news breaks

Assemble a team Staff the newsroom Assign a rewrite person Keep your readers in mind Think visually

Think about SPEED and DEPTH

Report the news as it unfolds

Post alerts on Facebook, Twitter and your website as soon as you know something

Update website frequently Post photos on Instagram Stream video of events (press

conferences, vigils, memorial events)

Use social media as a reporting toolSeek out sources on Facebook and

TwitterConnect with experts on LinkedInSeek photos on FlickrPut social media posts into context;

confirm whenever possible

Plan a package Think beyond a single story – break

information into sidebars and infoboxes If there’s a strong visual element, use

multiple photos – in print, online or both Use maps, timelines and other informational

graphics to tell the story Create a logo for the package Include an index to direct readers

The Exponent

Purdue University

The Daily Orange

Syracuse University

Use interactive maps

Encourage the staff to: Show the effects of a storm, earthquake, fire or other natural disaster on a campus or communityInclude photographs in the mapShow the path of a gunman or other threat to the communityPlot emergency shelters, first-aid centers, open stores and other services for victims

Use interactive features

Encourage the staff to:Give the community discussion boards or other online vehicles to share information and to ventSet up or link to memorial sites for victimsCreate discussion topics on related issues -- Should gun laws be changed? Did the campus deal with the traumatic event responsibly?Allow people to share their experiences -- where were you when the big one hit?

Mobile formats

Create news podcasts for people who don’t have consistent access to computers and/or electricity

Establish a mobile alert systemThink about how to link to users’ cell

phones and iPods

Serve your community

Think about the problems this trauma has created and how technology can help solve them.

What voids can your news organization fill? Collect and share useful information Use new media to help people connect Package your coverage so readers have a one-

stop shop for information.

Following up

Assess your coverage Brainstorm Editorialize Make space for letters Ask why Don’t drop the ball Mark important anniversaries

Daily Bruin coverage the week after a major flood on campus

The Daily Wildcat’s project on gun violence on the 13th anniversary of a mass shooting.

Take care of your staff

Get help from campus counseling services Let students talk through their feelings of

covering a challenging story Use the Dart Center for Journalism &

Trauma resources at http://www.dartcenter.org/

dartcenter.org

For more information on covering big stories

Rachele Kanigelrkanigel(at)gmail(dot)com@JourProf

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