Gathering News

1
Gathering News
Writing and Reporting
2
Getting It Right

• Background Research
• Polls and Surveys
• Interviews

3
Background Research
-info from published sources -gets main
questions answered -gives reporter insight on
topic -complete first in reporting process -use
Internet carefully
4
Surveys/Polls
-gives reporter feeling for readers general
thoughts on topic -use as bkgd. material/for
drawing conclusions -use results for transitions
between quotes, sidebars, infographics
5
Surveys/Polls structure
-poll no less than 10 of audience -multiple
choice keeps control over content/direction -anti
cipate responses w/short answer previewwatch
phrasing -include cross section of respondents
6
Interviews
-done with direct sources -use primary/secondary
sources -aim for for 3 sources per
story -clears up confusion, confirms facts -get
story-telling quotes for a story
7
Writing Questions

• ask routine ?s (who, what, where, when, how)
• write ?s to obtain relevant statistics
• ask several conceptually defining ?s (why?)
• follow up an answer with a probing question to
  get an explanation/elaboration
• ask ?s designed to get a storytelling quote
• avoid yes/no questions

8
Your Assignment

• Go online and find a news story that clearly uses
  background research, polls or surveys and
  interviews
• Print out the story and underline/highlight a
  sample of each type of resource
• For the interviews, find an example of a primary
  and secondary source