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NewsTrain Project Director Linda Austin lays out a systematic approach to setting priorities on news beats by using a form of mind mapping called beat mapping. Austin delivered this presentation as part of the NewsTrain workshop in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 22-23, 2014. Please see an associated handout -- Beat Mapping, developed by Michael Roberts, former NewsTrain director. For more information about NewsTrain, a traveling workshop for journalists sponsored by Associated Press Media Editors, please visit http://www.apme.com/?AboutNewsTrain.
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UNLEASH
YOUR
WATCHDOG
WITH BEAT MAPPING
LINDA AUSTIN | [email protected] | @LINDAAUSTIN_
1
Photo
by F
lickr user
Kars
Alfri
nk
ARE YOU SUFFERING
FROM BEAT CREEP?
2 By Flickr user Natalie Maynor
UNABLE TO GET TO
WATCHDOG STORIES?
3 By Flickr user John Keogh
4
PULLED IN A MILLION
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS?
By Flickr user AJ Cann
DEMANDS FOR
STORYTELLING GREATER
5 Contents of veteran tech journalist Dean Takahashi’s bag, as
photographed by Tyler Orsburn for Columbia Journalism Review
WHY ARE WE SO
FRAZZLED?
6
1 IN 3 GONE
2 CHOICES:
7
By Flickr user Russ Seidel
BUFFETED BY WAVES
2 CHOICES:
8
By F
lickr user
Ville
Mie
ttin
en
BEAT MAPPING
WHAT IS
BEAT MAPPING ?
9 By Flickr user Peter R.
WHAT IS
BEAT MAPPING ?
10
Michael Roberts (standing), former NewsTrain director,
at NewsTrain in Vancouver
11
“Stories built on quotes.
No context. ‘Conflict’
stories rather than
explanatory or
investigative stories.
Reporters dependent on
sources to tell them what
is happening, rather than
sources being held
accountable.”
Michael
Roberts, former
NewsTrain
project director
and deputy
managing editor
for staff
development,
The Arizona
Republic
12
“Beat mapping is as much
to protect the reporter as
to cover the beat.”
Michael
Roberts, former
NewsTrain
project director
and deputy
managing editor
for staff
development,
The Arizona
Republic
By F
lickr user
Chri
sto
pher M
ichel
USE BEAT MAPPING
OR ANOTHER SYSTEM?
13
By Flickr user VCalsidyrose
4 STEPS TO
BEAT MAPPING
14
1. Beat map
2. Beat focus
3. Beat expectations
4. Beat sources
By F
lickr user
US
FW
S M
ounta
in-P
rairie
4 STEPS TO
BEAT MAPPING
15
1. Beat map
2. Beat focus
3. Beat expectations
4. Beat sources
By F
lickr user
US
FW
S M
ounta
in-P
rairie
“EVERYTHING IS
CONNECTED…
16
By F
lickr user
Ellio
tt B
row
n
…TO EVERYTHING
ELSE.”
By F
lickr user
Todd D
ailey
Leonardo da Vinci
HOW TO MIND MAP
17
1. Add the
central
topic.
2. Add
branches.
3. Add sub-
branches.
.
By M
ichael P
ow
ell
1. BEAT MAP
18
Draw a web to
illustrate all the
• organizations,
• people,
• events,
• issues
that could be within
your beat.
Circle those that
should be priorities.
By Michael Powell
Organizations People
Events Issues
YOUR BEAT
SHARE YOUR BEAT MAP
19
By P
aepin
Goff
-Mayol
4 STEPS TO
BEAT MAPPING
20
1. Beat map
2. Beat focus
3. Beat expectations
4. Beat sources
By F
lickr user
US
FW
S M
ounta
in-P
rairie
2. BEAT FOCUS
21
Review the beat map
and distill it down to
the most important
people,
organizations,
events and
issues to follow.
Discuss:
• Where you are well-
connected?
• What’s the issue for
the year?
4 STEPS TO
BEAT MAPPING
22
1. Beat map
2. Beat focus
3. Beat expectations
4. Beat sources
By F
lickr user
US
FW
S M
ounta
in-P
rairie
3. BEAT EXPECTATIONS
23
List expectations for
content and the
reporting activities to
achieve those content
goals on a daily,
weekly, quarterly and
annual basis. Express
expectations in
frequency and quality.
4 STEPS TO
BEAT MAPPING
24
1. Beat map
2. Beat focus
3. Beat expectations
4. Beat sources
By F
lickr user
US
FW
S M
ounta
in-P
rairie
4. BEAT SOURCES
25
List the sources to
meet expectations:
• officials,
• quasi-officials,
• experts, and
• real people.
Where do you need
more sources?
BEAT MAPPING:
WHAT DID YOU SEE?
26
By Flickr user Peter R.
BEAT MAPPING:
BEAT SUMMARY
27
• Contract between
editor and reporter
• “Radical clarity” on
expectations
• Cover for the reporter
• Anticipating more
than breaking news
when deciding use of
time
WHAT GETS MEASURED
GETS DONE
28
By Flickr user Celestine Chua
IS THE STORY LOOKING YOU
IN THE EYE A BIG DEAL?
29
By Flickr users brett jordan and C.P.Storm
TAKE CONTROL
YOUR CHOICE:
WATCHDOG LAPDOG
30
By Flickr user Frantisek Fuka
By Flickr user DVIDSHUB
Linda Austin
@LindaAustin_