The Reporting Process

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The Reporting Process

• Advanced Reporting and Writing
• Journalism and Media Studies Centre
• The University of Hong Kong
• Gene Mustain

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The Reporting Process

• This is how an academic describes the reporting
  process
• Reporting is the process of gathering
  information that is relevant to peoples lives
  and helps them understand issues that affect
  them.

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The Reporting Process

• How a journalist describes it
• When the call comes in the middle of the
  night, a fireman only has to put on his pants and
  extinguish the flames. A reporter must tell a
  million people who struck the match and why.
• --An Associated Press reporter,
• as quoted in Universal Journalist

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The Reporting Process

• The academics three basic levels of reporting
• Level 1 putting source-originated material
  into journalistic form for general audience.
• Level 2 reporter-amplified and initiated or
  the reporting of spontaneous events.
• Level 3 explanatory or interpretive.

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The Reporting Process

• Level 1 The source starts the news situation
  by issuing releases or making statements.
• Level 1 reporting is the accurate transmission
  of other peoples information.

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The Reporting Process

• Level 2 The reporter starts the news
  situation, or amplifies it.
• Level 2 The reporter responds to spontaneous
  events the news is beyond the control of those
  who would manipulate it.

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The Reporting Process

• Level 3 The reporter tries to answer the how
  and why of things, using analysis, explanation
  and interpretation.
• Level 3 reporting is the most difficult. It
  requires judgement, knowledge and experience to
  be an opinion shaper.

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The Reporting Process

• Levels 2 and 3 are the ones good reporters want
  to work at.
• Who wants to spend their time merely passing
  along other peoples information?

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The Reporting Process

• The most common reason stories fail is weak
  research. If you dont have strong research, the
  story gets fuzzy and flat fast. Readers and
  listeners know it, and will flee as fast as they
  can.

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The Reporting Process

• What to look for when on a story?
• Naturally, the basics. Who, what, when, where,
  when, why and how. But dont stop there.

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The Reporting Process

• Look for telling details you wont use them
  all, but until the story takes shape in your
  head, you dont know which will help you tell the
  most intriguing story.
• The most valuable details are the ones that
  surprise, or suggest something symbolic or ironic
  or poignant details that tell.

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The Reporting Process

• Details are bricks in the road ( that is a
  metaphor, or figure of speech, which makes
  language more interesting) they help you along
  the path you have set for yourself in the lead.
• Also look for anecdotes, little stories that
  entertain, explain or illustrate.

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The Reporting Process

• Look for examples that help illustrate what
  you are talking about. Doing a story about fake
  goods at Lowu? Tell us about a watch that fell
  apart the next day.
• Give your readers background and context.
  Stories are rarely unique eruptions of fate that
  stand on their own. Show people how events are
  connected.

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The Reporting Process

• Find the right perspective.
• Do not overstate or over-dramatize. Things are
  rarely the worst, the best or the only.

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The Reporting Process

• Where to get information?
• Three broad categories places to when you
  want to get smarter on a subject, and not just
  get a quote for a story
• Human
• Physical
• Online

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The Reporting Process

• Human sources
• Official spokespeople public officials and
  agencies usually have one.
• Paid press and information people many
  nonpublic groups also have people whose job is to
  talk to the media.

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The Reporting Process

• Another human source
• Institutional experts whatever the field of
  interest, there is probably a trade group or
  other type of organization that has an expert
  willing to talk to you or to steer you in the
  right direction.

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The Reporting Process

• Testing human sources
• What is the persons bias?
• Is the person qualified?
• Are other sources saying the same?

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The Reporting Process

• Dealing with sources
• Know what you want beforehand, but be ready to
  learn more.
• Start slowly, and seek information more than
  opinion, unless the opinion really matters.
• If you dont understand, say so.

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The Reporting Process

• Dealing with sources
• Know when to use, or not use, your notebook.
• Where possible, insist on documents.
• Be polite, but persistent.

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The Reporting Process

• Dealing with sources
• Always identify yourself (except in special or
  investigative pieces).
• Be fair. Treat people like you would want to
  be treated.
• Dont show copy dont take favors.

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The Reporting Process

• Dealing with sources
• Make sure you and source agree on terms of
  your interview and what they mean.
• On the record
• On background
• On deep background
• Off the record

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The Reporting Process

• Dealing with sources
• Collect phone numbers obsessively.
• Never be afraid to ask or contact anyone the
  worst that can happen is they will say no or
  refuse to return your phone call.
• Double-check names, spellings, titles.

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The Reporting Process

• Physical sources
• Documents, files, records.
• Books, magazines and newspaper clippings.
• Established reference books are better than
  newspaper clippings. (After all, newspapers are
  history on the run.)

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The Reporting Process

• Testing physical sources
• Are they up to date?
• What about the bias and reliability of the
  source for the information?

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The Reporting Process

• Online sources
• First, the written word.
• Second, the invention of the printing press.
• Third, the Internet a means for anyone on
  the planet to display information that can be
  almost instantly read by anyone else.

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The Reporting Process

• Testing online sources
• Who/what is behind the site?
• Does the site seem professional/unbiased?
• Can information be confirmed can its source
  be contacted?

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The Reporting Process

• A few online sites for journalists
• http//www.lib.hku.hk
• http//www.accessasia.org/database/quick
• http//www.china.org.cn/english/index.htm
• http//www.chinaonline.com
• http//www.chinatoday.com/med/a.htm
• http//www.powerreporting.com
• http//journalistexpress.com