BEATS

What is a beat?

What is a beat?

Journalism that involves in-depth reporting on a particular issue, sector, organization or institution over time

Typical journalist beats

Education: primary, school board, colleges

Typical journalist beats

Education: primary, school board, colleges

Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence

Typical journalist beats

Education: primary, school board, colleges

Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence

Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend

Typical journalist beats

Education: primary, school board, colleges

Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence

Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend

Politics: city, county, state, federal

Typical journalist beats Education: primary, school board, colleges Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams,

high school, outdoors, football, weekend Politics: city, county, state, federal Business: real estate, manufacturing, unions,

marketing, advertising, finance, banking, retail… even individual companies

Typical journalist beats

Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities

Typical journalist beats

Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities Entertainment: restaurants, theater,

movies, comedy, music (classical, rock, jazz, opera, hip hop)

Typical journalist beats

Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities Entertainment: restaurants, theater,

movies, comedy, music (classical, rock, jazz, opera, hip hop)

Among others are science, environment, obituaries, health care, food & nutrition, the web, religion, non-profits, community, home and garden, weddings... even crosswords and bridge

Why have beat reporters?

Why have beat reporters? Beat reporters develop relationships

with sources, leading to better stories

Why have beat reporters? Beat reporters develop relationships

with sources, leading to better stories Beat reporters become experts in their

coverage areas

Why have beat reporters? Beat reporters develop relationships

with sources, leading to better stories Beat reporters become experts in their

coverage areas They can provide both facts and

commentary to make their beat relevant to readers/viewers/listeners

You got a beat, now what?

You got a beat, now what? Research

You got a beat, now what? Research Talk to predecessor and editors

You got a beat, now what? Research Talk to predecessor and editors Meet your sources: bosses and

underlings

You got a beat, now what? Research Talk to predecessor and editors Meet your sources: bosses and

underlings Get organized: sources, upcoming

events, story ideas

You got a beat, now what? Research Talk to predecessor and editors Meet your sources: bosses and

underlings Get organized: sources, upcoming

events, story ideas Hit the streets!

A few beat tips

Follow the money

A few beat tips

Follow the money Don’t get used

A few beat tips

Follow the money Don’t get used Write for the readers, not for the insiders

A few beat tips

Follow the money Don’t get used Write for the readers, not for the insiders Translate jargon into English

A few beat tips

Follow the money Don’t get used Write for the readers, not for the insiders Translate jargon into English Don’t give up too easily... be persistent

A few beat tips

Follow the money Don’t get used Write for the readers, not for the insiders Translate jargon into English Don’t give up too easily... be persistent Don’t shun good news

A few beats

Obituaries

At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats

Obituaries

At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats

Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit

Obituaries

At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats

Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit

People die, not “pass away”

Obituaries

At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats

Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit

People die, not “pass away” Generally don’t go into personal

problems or cause of death if something such as overdose or suicide

Obituaries At everywhere but NY Times, considered among

the worst beats Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb),

then it’s an obit People die, not “pass away” Generally don’t go into personal problems or

cause of death if something such as overdose or suicide

Funeral homes provide you with most details… age, date of death, address, relatives, military service, funeral arrangements

Accidents and disasters

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...”

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims,

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges, comments

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges, comments, acts of heroism

Accidents and disasters

“If it bleeds, it leads...” Standard inverted pyramid is usually

best For accidents, be sure you have:

victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times, circumstances, vehicles, arrests and charges, comments, acts of heroism, other facts

It’s a crime

Usually time for inverted pyramid

It’s a crime

Usually time for inverted pyramid Avoid jargon

It’s a crime

Usually time for inverted pyramid Avoid jargon Don’t convict people arrested: “arrested

and charged with robbery”... not a “robber” or “arrested for “robbery”

It’s a crime

Usually time for inverted pyramid Avoid jargon Don’t convict people arrested: “arrested

and charged with robbery”... not a “robber” or “arrested for “robbery”

Get victim’s names and info, extent of injuries/death, location, time, circumstances, description of suspect, name and ID of perp, unusual factors

Fires

Get to the scene if possible and get as close as possible

Fires

Get to the scene if possible and get as close as possible

Usually inverted pyramid but don’t forget the drama

Fires

Get to the scene if possible and get as close as possible

Usually inverted pyramid but don’t forget the drama

Seek out the captain on the scene at command post

Assignment 1/21

We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat

Assignment 1/21

We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat

Research Jim via internet

Jim Curtis

Search hints: use Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Tee time golf pass, Sunshine Skyway disaster, tee time marketing (note “core values”), Shippensburg (small town in Pennsylvania)

Assignment 1/21

We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat

Research Jim via internet searches Research the 1980 accident that

destroyed one of the original spans

Assignment 1/21

We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat

Research Jim via internet searches Research the 1980 accident that

destroyed one of the original spans Research book Skyway by Curtis

(available on amazon etc.)

Assignment 1/21

We will have Jim Curtis, author of Skyway, in the newsmaker seat

Research Jim via internet searches Research the 1980 accident that

destroyed one of the original spans Research book Skyway by Curtis

(available on amazon etc.) Develop questions to ask Jim in prep for

a writing assignment

Assignment 1/21

Read pages 100-109 of Inside Reporting

Assignment 1/21

Read pages 100-109 of Inside Reporting Do exercise #2 on page 110