Researching a Researching a StoryStory

Cultivating SourcesCultivating Sources

Researching a StoryResearching a Story

““The best news is not planned: it’s just The best news is not planned: it’s just responding to events as they unfold. But no responding to events as they unfold. But no newsroom can operate without some degree of newsroom can operate without some degree of planning. This includes checking important planning. This includes checking important dates for a developing story or finding a follow-dates for a developing story or finding a follow-up which can help to fill a gap on a quiet day. up which can help to fill a gap on a quiet day. In television, much of the lighter end-of-In television, much of the lighter end-of-programme features can be pre-planned as programme features can be pre-planned as they can easily be held over to another day if they can easily be held over to another day if the ‘on the day’ news agenda changes.”the ‘on the day’ news agenda changes.”

Simon Hare, BBC Reporter. Simon Hare, BBC Reporter.

Researching a StoryResearching a Story

• Researching a story is an important Researching a story is an important element of news gathering process to element of news gathering process to obtain accurate information which is obtain accurate information which is pertinent to the story.pertinent to the story.

• The process of researching a story The process of researching a story may be different in different news may be different in different news situations and may involve not only situations and may involve not only the reporter but other researchers too.the reporter but other researchers too.

Researching a StoryResearching a Story

The main purpose of any research is The main purpose of any research is to make sure that you have got your to make sure that you have got your facts right. And before you embark facts right. And before you embark on this journey always ask the on this journey always ask the following question to be absolutely following question to be absolutely sure that you are on the right track:sure that you are on the right track:

• Is this really a story? Ask yourself if Is this really a story? Ask yourself if you would be interested in it as a you would be interested in it as a reader/viewer or listener.reader/viewer or listener.

Researching a StoryResearching a Story

• Would the audience learn anything Would the audience learn anything from the information you are from the information you are intending to provide?intending to provide?

• Try to identify the type of story you’re Try to identify the type of story you’re researching so that you know who to researching so that you know who to contact first.contact first.

• In case the story has emerged from a In case the story has emerged from a press release try to find out who wants press release try to find out who wants to get that story published and why? to get that story published and why?

Researching a StoryResearching a Story

• In case of an accident never rely entirely In case of an accident never rely entirely on the official version. Visit the scene of on the official version. Visit the scene of the accident and gather information from the accident and gather information from the people who are directly involved in the people who are directly involved in that accident.that accident.

• Try to meet people face to face to gather Try to meet people face to face to gather information besides using telephone or information besides using telephone or internet for this purpose.internet for this purpose.

• Identify the right people and contact as Identify the right people and contact as many people as you can to gather many people as you can to gather information.information.

Researching a StoryResearching a Story

• Listen people carefully. You may find Listen people carefully. You may find out a better story by listening to out a better story by listening to your sources than the one you are your sources than the one you are researching.researching.

Which news sources journalists Which news sources journalists generally use to do stories?generally use to do stories?

News SourcesNews Sources

• Press releases.Press releases.• Newsroom diaries.Newsroom diaries.• Emergency Services.Emergency Services.• Charities and Pressure Groups.Charities and Pressure Groups.• Government Officials.Government Officials.• Politicians.Politicians.• Business Houses and Trade Business Houses and Trade

Organizations.Organizations.

News SourcesNews Sources

• Internet, Wires and E-mails.Internet, Wires and E-mails.

Press ReleasesPress Releases

““Press releases do sometimes produce Press releases do sometimes produce good stories but there can be a tendency good stories but there can be a tendency for journalists to rely on them, for journalists to rely on them, particularly on a slow day. (But) many particularly on a slow day. (But) many press releases are often thinly disguised press releases are often thinly disguised advertising to a company and its advertising to a company and its products and services. Those should be products and services. Those should be avoided. The maxim ‘news is something avoided. The maxim ‘news is something someone wants to suppress and all the someone wants to suppress and all the rest is advertising’ is very true.”rest is advertising’ is very true.”

Simon Hare, BBC Reporter.Simon Hare, BBC Reporter.

Newsroom DiariesNewsroom Diaries

• Newsroom diaries consists of events Newsroom diaries consists of events that are known about in advance.that are known about in advance.

• They help in managing the pressures They help in managing the pressures of daily deadlines.of daily deadlines.

• But ‘calendar stories’ should not be But ‘calendar stories’ should not be done at the expense of original done at the expense of original stories and investigating reporting.stories and investigating reporting.

Emergency Services and Emergency Services and PolicePolice

• Emergency services are a very good and natural Emergency services are a very good and natural source of news. The police, fire brigade etc. all source of news. The police, fire brigade etc. all provide information about their work most of the provide information about their work most of the time willingly but sometimes unwillingly. All the time willingly but sometimes unwillingly. All the emergency services have press officers who love emergency services have press officers who love to answer your queries if they know you.to answer your queries if they know you.

• Reporters regularly make ‘check calls’ to Reporters regularly make ‘check calls’ to emergency services for latest information and emergency services for latest information and new stories. new stories.

• Always remember that emergency services work Always remember that emergency services work under tremendous pressure and need to be under tremendous pressure and need to be tackled cleverly to extract the required tackled cleverly to extract the required information. information.

Charities and Pressure Charities and Pressure Groups Groups

• Though they are a good source of Though they are a good source of news but as their name implies, they news but as their name implies, they are in the business to promote a are in the business to promote a certain cause and therefore their certain cause and therefore their information is invariably one sided.information is invariably one sided.

• Having said that, pressure groups and Having said that, pressure groups and charities do conduct or commission charities do conduct or commission original research that can reveal original research that can reveal important social or political trends. important social or political trends.

Charities and Pressure Charities and Pressure GroupsGroups

• Besides being a good source of Besides being a good source of information or news, people information or news, people associated with charities and associated with charities and pressure groups, can be called upon pressure groups, can be called upon to comment on a related issue, to comment on a related issue, providing the reader or viewer an providing the reader or viewer an alternate view.alternate view.

Government OfficialsGovernment Officials

““About a quarter of total Government expenditure is About a quarter of total Government expenditure is delivered through elected local councils to provide delivered through elected local councils to provide us services ranging from community care to us services ranging from community care to highways and schools. Much of this activity is of highways and schools. Much of this activity is of direct and daily importance to viewers, listeners direct and daily importance to viewers, listeners and readers of the local media. It is their children and readers of the local media. It is their children if the schools are sub-standard; it is their cars that if the schools are sub-standard; it is their cars that are damaged by pot-holes in the roads; it is they or are damaged by pot-holes in the roads; it is they or their relatives who are at risk if community care their relatives who are at risk if community care services are inadequate; it is their council tax bills services are inadequate; it is their council tax bills that rise if local politicians are corrupt or that rise if local politicians are corrupt or incompetent.incompetent.

Mark D’Arcy, Producer BBC Radio 4.Mark D’Arcy, Producer BBC Radio 4.

PoliticiansPoliticians

• Politicians at all levels are usually Politicians at all levels are usually more than willing to make themselves more than willing to make themselves available to journalists, especially on available to journalists, especially on non-contentious issues to keep non-contentious issues to keep themselves in public eye.themselves in public eye.

• But remember that politicians are But remember that politicians are essentially publicity seekers and the essentially publicity seekers and the journalists should not fall into the trap journalists should not fall into the trap of recycling the political rhetoric as of recycling the political rhetoric as opposed to legitimate political stories. opposed to legitimate political stories.

Business Houses and Trade Business Houses and Trade Organizations Organizations

• Rival business houses provide news and Rival business houses provide news and information about each other which often lead to information about each other which often lead to good stories which are in public interest. But good stories which are in public interest. But such information should always be treated with such information should always be treated with skepticism it deserves.skepticism it deserves.

• Trade organizations on the other hand look after Trade organizations on the other hand look after the interests of specific trade workers. These the interests of specific trade workers. These organizations may offer updates on the state of organizations may offer updates on the state of industry from surveys that they carry out from industry from surveys that they carry out from time to time. These organizations can also be of time to time. These organizations can also be of use when a comment is needed from the industry use when a comment is needed from the industry in light of any changes in law.in light of any changes in law.

Internet, Wires and E-Internet, Wires and E-MailsMails

• Internet has made access to news sources Internet has made access to news sources quick and easy. Similarly the websites of quick and easy. Similarly the websites of various government departments, various government departments, political parties, NGOs, and pressure political parties, NGOs, and pressure groups can now be accessed for quick groups can now be accessed for quick reference. Even the wire services are now reference. Even the wire services are now available on internet which makes the job available on internet which makes the job of journalists easy. There is a site of journalists easy. There is a site www.facsnet.orgwww.facsnet.org which gives advice on which gives advice on how to trace sources online and how best how to trace sources online and how best to use internet to research stories. to use internet to research stories.