JOUR 225 Bonebright Exam 3 Chapters 4-6, 9, 10
common interviewing problems
1. What if the source says something is "off the record"? 2. What is the source tells me not to use their name AFTER the interview? 3. What if the source ends the interview before I have the information I need? 4. What if the source gives me false information?
some questions to ask when framing inverted pyramid:
1. What will affect the reader most? 2. What questions does the lead raise that need to be answered immediately? 3. What supporting quotes are strongest? 4. How does the story affect readers?
WSJ structure in broadcast
1. anchor lead-in setting up the problem 2. lead focusing on a person who exemplifies the problem 3. nut graph explaining the problem 4. supporting information in sound bites, facts and other sources 5. circular ending returning to the person in the lead or main point
common ways to organize section stories
1. by point-of-view 2. by time frames (past, present, future)
features should include the following elements
1. focus 2. lead and nut graph 3. history 4. scope 5. reasons 6. impacts 7. moves and countermoves 8. future
listening tips
1. focus on the hear and now 2. practice conversational listening 3. practice critical listening: listen first for facts, second for quotes, and third for elaboration/substantiation 4. be quiet 5. be responsive 6. listen for what isn't said (sometimes more revealing) 7. listen with your eyes 8. be polite 9. block personal intrusions 10. be flexible with the direction of questions
pros of digital recorders/videotape
1. helps capture images you can use on the Web or TV 2. exact wording of quotes 3. dealing with controversial topic
planning the interview
1. identify your focus 2. research the background 3. identify your goals 4. plan your questions (two lists in case short on time) 5. request the interview 6. dress appropriately 7. arrive on time
multimedia planning
1. immediacy: plan to file breaking news immediately on the Web 2. follow-up: plan the next cycle of your story 3. evaluate story content; consider what the media needs
Guidelines for telephone interviewing
1. immediately identify yourself, purpose 2. icebreakers may not be necessary 3. keep questions short, two lists of importance 4. clarification vital 5. ask for specific details and examples 6. chronology important in police and fire stories 7. control conversation 8. verify!
Guidelines for email interviews
1. limit number of questions to a max of 5 2. clarify your purpose 3. verify the source's full name and title 4. limit your follow-up messages 5. attribute to email in your story, not required
cons of digital recorders/videotape
1. not a substitute for good notes 2. can fail when you need it 3. may inhibit a source
storytelling reminders
1. use concrete details 2. use dialogue when possible and appropriate 3. set a scene 4. use action verbs 5. observe/ask questions involving all senses 6. use show-in-action 7. tell a story like a plot 8. "Don't say the old lady screamed - bring her on and let her scream." (Mark Twain)
Guidelines for using online sources
1. use journalism directories 2. find experts 3. find a map 4. find press releases and wire services
multicultural sources
1/3 U.S. is a member of a minority racial or ethnic group; important to represent fairly, include diverse points of view; use labels only when relevant, rely on visuals; avoid disabilities unless pertinent and avoid euphemisms "mentally challenged"
Free Flow of Information Act
2013 federal shield law to protect journalists with exceptions when the information is crucial to prevent terrorism or protect national security
Do most editors accept anonymous sources?
No, unless there is no other way to get the info; because the more you rely on anonymous sources, the less credibility your story has
one of the worse cardinal sins of journalism
Thou shalt not fabricate
______ states prohibit recorded conversations without the consent of the person being taped.
Twelve (CA, CT, FL, IL, MD, MA, MI, MT, NV, NH, PA and WA)
present tense
Web and broadcast
All states except for _______ offer some sort of protection for journalists from revealing their sources, but it doesn't often apply in federal courts.
Wyoming
multimedia
a combination of media - usually print, audio, video, photos, graphics and the Web
theme
a concept that gives the story meaning
new devices and formats are creating
a new kind of multi-platform news consumer
written sources
additional clues for human sources and other information from a variety of these sources; don't overlook some traditional sources, print and searchable online
wiretapping
against federal law; recording conversation between two people when you are not part of the discourse; could face $250,000 fine
hypothetical questions
ask what could occur, what their potential response is don't use this all the time, but good for elections, sports
attribution in broadcast
at the beginning of the sentence
When should you ask the hard questions in an interview?
at the end, building trust and credibility first, be gentle but get your point across
data sources
becoming more common additions as news organizations convert to digital delivery; past = investigative, present = readily available in publishable; getting the data to accompany your story is now a standard part of the reporting process
write for the ear and the eye
broadcast
list technique
can be useful in stories when you have several important points to stress; highlights box within the story or at the end of a story; useful for online stories and for mobile media delivery because readers often scan text
hourglass structure
can start like inverted pyramid, then chronological storytelling for a part or for the rest of the story; works for broadcast as well
promises of confidentiality
check with your editor before you grant it
The section technique lends itself to what type of ending?
cliffhanger, especially installments
two types of interview questions
close-ended: elicit brief, specific answers (who, where, when) open-ended: elicit quotes, elaboration or longer responses (what, why, how) remember NEUTRALITY
narrative techniques
combines show-in-action description, dialogue, plot and reconstruction of an event as it occurred; requires a bond of faith with the reader because attribution is limited 1. create tone 2. seek unusual stories
"says"
common in broadcast, more immediacy to who said it
"said"
common in print; past tense
interviewing tips
consider your mission: evaluate information for accuracy, fairness, newsworthiness and potential to make a readable story (5 Ws, H, and So What)
storytelling tone
create a mood (happy, sad, mystery, excitement)
observation
crucial reporting skill of being the moment, providing context for your story; essential to videotape/record to enhance story
visuals in broadcast
crucial to the story
What a report needs is ______, ______, ______!
detail, detail, detail
note-taking tips
detailed notes allow for more info if you need it later! 1. be prepared 2. concentrate 3. use key words to remember later 4. develop a shorthand system 5. slow the pace 6. request repetition 7. make eye contact 8. mark your margins or notebook covers 9. verify vital information 10. double-check 11. be open-minded 12. use a symbol system 13. stand and deliver 14. save your notes
past
development of the situation
personal questions
difficult to ask/answer elicit memories, horrific account (i.e. family of a soldier killed in action)
pseudonyms
discouraged but acceptable for unnamed sources; full names not preferred (check directories first); preferable to use no name or first name only
sections technique
dividing the story into sections, like book chapters, and separating them by a graphic device such as a large dot or large capital letter; best for in-depth stories such as investigations or long features
the dumb factor
don't worry about what you don't know, and even if you know the answer, ask it anyway to get it in the source's words
narrative writing
dramatic account of fiction or nonfiction story; requires thorough reporting and descriptive detail; dialogue enhances the storytelling; puts reader on the scene
writing for mobile media
easy answer: keep sentences and paragraphs short! 1. entice readers, clear compelling headline less than 25 words, or 140 characters 2. write a summary lead that gives the most important info in a brief sentence 3. use inverted pyramid structure 4. keep sentences short 5. keep paragraphs short 6. write for readers who scan: key words beginning and ends of sentences 7. spacing varies 8. use lists to itemize information if you want to make several points in your story 9. be concise 10. add visuals only if relevant and it enhances 11. provide links 12. offer interaction 13. test how it will look
email interviews
effective but not the best method for interviewing people Pros: more time to think, saves notes, accurate quotes Cons: prohibits spontaneity, follow-up, observations
question/answer format
effective technique for print and Web stories, some news releases; often used in profiles, explaining dense or controversial issues; answer part is verbatim
Freedom of Information Act
established by Congress in 1966 to make federal records available to the public; applies only to federal documents; allows for exemptions which prohibit the release some documents, can come redacted; time-consuming (have 10 days to respond to your request); before you file, contact agency directly
passive voice
explains what action is being done to whom; sometimes more appropriate than active
True or false: storytelling is limited to feature stories and can't be used for crime and courts and many others
false
Narrative writing is not _______.
fiction (stick to the facts)!
Limit lists in the beginnings and middles of stories to ____ items or fewer; lists at the end can be ______
five; longer (parallel sentence structure useful)
probing questions
follow-up to what has been said, delves deeper be ready for spur of the moment; new path may come
mobile reporting
forces journalists to think differently; one of the most important qualities is IMMEDIACY; many reporting principles still apply
The most important factors for any platform are still ____ _______ and ____ _______.
good content and good writing
The most effective section stories have ____ _____ and ____ _______ for each section.
good leads and good endings
Good writers are ____ _______!
good readers
matchmaking
human source: after you contact the source, ask who else you might contact
administrative assistants
human source: aka secretaries
primary and secondary sources
human source: ask the person and research other sources
fairness
human source: if you are writing a story involving conflict, find sources of opposing views; do not report accusations without contacting the person they are about
self-sponsorship
human source: if you have reported and written a previous news story about a subject of interest to the source, sponsor yourself
names in the news
human source: if you read another story, don't just quote - contact the person in the story (primary source)
community and campus leaders
human source: leaders in community and school
news releases
human source: list a contact person, public information officer or PR contact; ask to speak to people mentioned
blogs
human source: web; don't consider it as accurate news but valuable to find human sources
up and down the ladder
human source: who's in charge? or who is closest to the incident?
web storytelling
ideal medium for storytelling in many forms; short segments preferable; perfect to experiment; multimedia; interactive most of all
off the record
information may not be used at all
open-ended questions
interviewee can choose what info to convey provides the best information good for average people who aren't interviewed a lot
impact
lead with the effect a story will have on viewers; grab their attention; not always appropriate in breaking news; works well for print and broadcast
the most ethical approach to recording is to
let your source know you are recording the interview, except in undercover circumstances; deception is a last resort for many editors
reporting for visuals
locations: visuals statistics: graphics highlights: facts box
immediacy
major factor in multimedia, plan to report it first on the web
public records
many government records, such as data from state and local agencies, may be obtained from databases; provide details and names to contact
attribution in print and Web writing
may come at the end of the sentence
not for attribution
may use information as background, but you may not identify the source
deep background
may use information but may not attribute it even in a general sense
mojos
mobile journalists equipped with notepads, cameras, recorders, cell phones and laptop computers so they can file community news stories for the Web at a moment's notice; offices are in their cars, deadlines whenever they get the info; also defined as journalists who only use mobile phones to report and produce stories with audio, video, text and social media
observation for breaking news
more common in feature stories, but need same techniques to gather information for hard-news stories
inverted pyramid
most common form used for print, broadcast and online news as well as news releases in public relations; most important info at the top, descending order of importance; usually starts with a summary lead telling who, what, when, where, why
conversational style
multimedia: write simple sentences in this style, the way you talk, preferable for all media, but essential for broadcast
advantage of hourglass
narrative storytelling in the chronological portion adds drama to the story
human sources
news writing needs this to make the story credible and readable; eyewitnesses lend immediacy to a story, direct quotes and sound bites make a story interesting
Learning to use data is ___ _ ________ _____; it's just part of good reporting.
not a separate skill
agree or disagree questions
not frequently used; characteristic of Oprah "This is what someone said about you, do you agree or disagree?"
multiplatform consumers
not geared toward one form of mobile media; they are attached to many mobile devices; nation of "multi-screeners"
The quality of stories has something to do with the quality of _____.
notes
hard-news tone
objective, factual, absence of mood
Reporters should proceed with interviews on the assumption they are __ ___ ______.
on the record (if they still want off, try to move it back on after you are finished)
show-in-action
one of the most effective ways to describe people or places
other states have a one-party law which states
only one person, either the interviewer or the interviewee, needs to know they are being recorded
visuals in print
photos and graphics enhance a story
conducting the interview
pick your question types, ask simple questions and one at a time 1. plan your first question: spark interest 2. nonthreatening order 3. ask basics 5Ws, H, and So What 4. ask follow-up questions 5. keep quiet: let them talk! 6. nonjudgemental 7. control the interview but be polite 8. repeat questions if evasive or incomplete 9. ask background questions 10. construct a chronology, logical sequence to help write the story, may not keep it that way 11. ask about developments 12. role-play: if you were the reader... 13. ask about pros and cons 14. ask for definitions 15. verify: especially names! 16. use "blame others" 17. handle emotional questions with tact 18. ask summary questions 19. use matchmaker technique 20. ask free-choice questions 21. end on a positive note
Examples of public records
political contributions, real estate records, voter registration records, fish and game licenses, salaries of county employees, county government expenses, corporate records, court records, military records, personal property loans, tax payments or delinquent tax records, motor vehicle registrations, building inspection records and housing permits, etc..... (p.71-72)
past tense
write to be read, may be longer
The most common story structures were created for _____ _____...
print media, but smartphones, tablets and multimedia storytelling are fostering new ways of telling stories
advantage/disadvantage of inverted pyramid
reader gets the crucial information quickly, but they may not read past it
multimedia innovation
redefining journalism; what makes these projects special is the in-depth reporting, compelling writing and interactive features in which you can personalize your site
convergence
refers to a story or project that merges a combination of media; interchangeable with multimedia
information centers
reorganized newspapers and broadcast properties which develop local mobile sites for multiple platforms
present
return to present
online sources
search on the Web can return millions of results, must evaluate for accuracy, reliability first choice = .gov second = .edu journals third, or not at all = personal sites
background
similar to "not for attribution" use the information but can't attribute it, sometimes general attribution okay
Which technology dominates as the most common starting point for activities across multiple screens?
smartphones
on the record
source agrees that all information can be use and they can be identified as the source of it
anonymous sources
sources who remain unnamed
the Wall Street Journal formula
starts with a soft lead, focusing on a person, scene or event; idea is to go from specific to general; lead is anecdotal, descriptive or narrative
storytelling structure
still need to get the focus first; can be arranged topically or chronologically; literary form: beginning, middle, end (climax) 1. narrative storytelling 2. reporting techniques: construct chronology 3. writing techniques: organize sections
serial narratives
stories written like novels in chapter form, related to sections, but each part is a separate story in a continuing saga 1. character coping with a problem 2. development of the situation 3. resolution * start with a good plot
active voice
subject-verb-object: who is doing the action; preferable for all media but essential to broadcast (immediacy)
telephone interviewing
technique can still create more challenges than in-person interviews; harder to keep attention ≤ 20 minutes long
The most critical need (of mojos) is
the ability to file material to online quickly and regularly
disadvantage of hourglass
the chronological portion of the story may repeat some of the key information in the top of the story, making it longer than a basic inverted pyramid
sensitivity
the way you deal with sources can differ depending on public (used to it) or private (not used to it, need more sensitivity) individuals; all sources want to be portrayed well in the media
descriptive techniques
to much = clutter, too little = ??? 1. avoid adjectives 2. use analogies 3. limit physical descriptions 4. avoid sexist/racist descriptions 5. show-in-action 6. use lively verbs 7. set the scene (but don't be cliche)
WSJ formula is useful for what kinds of stories?
trends, major issues, features, news sidebars and news events that lend themselves to this approach; brightening bureaucratic stories
interactivity
try to get readers and viewers involved in all media, but particularly in broadcast and online; polls, comments, request photos, etc.
Good storytelling requires what?
using observation and gathering details; general to specific, don't always know what you'll need
close-ended questions
very short answers, typically "yes" or "no" good for hard questions
past and present
what led to the situation and the current status to explain why you are telling the reader this story now
future
what lies ahead
The questions that will elicit the most quotes and anecdotes start with ____, ___ and ___
what, why and how
When should you use the hourglass structure?
when the story has dramatic action that lends itself to chronological order for part of the story; set up with overview attribution
reverse directories
written source: "city directories" or "cross directories" list residents in three ways: by name, address and telephone number; *one of the most useful ways of locating people for comment when you can't go to the scene
telephone directories
written source: locate sources, information about city and county government agencies, utilities and other services
libraries
written source: useful in finding background; almanacs and other fact books, population data and financial records of major corporations; also online
