Information Gathering

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Ask & You Shall Ask & You Shall ReceiveReceive

To get the right answers, you must ask the right questions. You must

carefully plan your attack! ~ideas shared by John CutsingerTina KleckaRick Brooks

Shannon WilliamsLaura Schaub

Jostens Creative Accounts Managers

Information Gathering

Get PersonalGet Personal

–Interview every individual in school

»Find out what they think, feel, say, do»Uncover clever ways to use stories

–Interview substantial numbers of individuals for each

story idea »Tell the whole story»Discover differing viewpoints

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Information Gathering

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Big Idea Sheet Explores Source Big Idea Sheet Explores Source OptionsOptions

Information Gathering

Get SpecificGet Specific

–5 Ws & H»Who, what, when, where, why, how

–Observation»Sights & sounds descriptions, journals

–Investigation»Research, polls/surveys, focus groups, one-on-one interviews[r

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Information Gathering

Background Background ResearchResearch

–Familiarize yourself with the topic

»Prepares you for polls/surveys, interviews

»Helps shape more meaningful questions»Provides facts & figures for storytelling

–Exhaust resources »School yearbook, newspaper & website»Community media»Professional publications

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Information Gathering

That’s A Good That’s A Good QuestionQuestion

–Use research to carefully shape meaningful, storytelling

questions»Last day of current school year»Number of summer break days»First day of next year»Hottest day of the summer & temperature»Favorite summertime activities»Most popular vacation spots

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Information Gathering

That’s A Good That’s A Good QuestionQuestion

–Plan objective (close-ended) questions to gain interesting facts & figures

»Which summer camp did you attend?»Where did you work?»With whom did you vacation?»How long was the camp?»How much did you earn per hour?»What was the cost of your vacation?

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Information Gathering

That’s A Good That’s A Good QuestionQuestion

–Plan subjective questions to capture personal stories, emotional feelings

»Why did you decide to go to summer camp?»How did you choose your vacation destination?»Tell me about the most valuable camp

experience & how it impacted your life.»Describe for me the most exciting &

memorable two hours of your vacation.

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Information Gathering

Polls & SurveysPolls & Surveys

–Poll»10% sampling of your readership»Reported in percentages

–Survey»10-person inquiry»Reported in “so many out of 10”

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Information Gathering

Polls & SurveysPolls & Surveys

–Establish an appropriate format–Determine the focus of questionnaire

»Define size & characteristics of group

–Carefully word questions & answers

»Include short answer & multiple choice objective & subjective questions»Encourage signed responses for follow- up

–Include administrative instructions

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Information Gathering

That’s A Good That’s A Good QuestionQuestion

–Short answer»With whom did you spend the most time

during summer break?

–Multiple choice»How late did you sleep in during

summer? before 9 a.m. | 9-11

| 11-1 | after 1 p.m.

–Subjective»What is your most memorable experience?

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Information Gathering

Polls & SurveysPolls & Surveys

–Set a timeline & place for collection of completed questionnaires–Compute data/statistics–Analyze material

»Decide the impact on book decisions»Determine how it contributes to the story & how to integrate into coverage

–Send thank you notes to resources

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Information Gathering

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

–Conduct specialty sessions with those directly involved & affected by story

»Keen insights into their wants & needs»Efficient, effective interviewing forum»Provides facts & figures for storytelling»Supplies feeling quotes for intimacy

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Information Gathering

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

–Before the meeting»Determine the focus of the meeting»Set a location & date for the meeting»Choose a diverse group of participants representing all walks of life»Send out invitations with predetermined questions to prepare participants for active discussion & involvement»Plan to provide snacks/break

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Information Gathering

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

–During the meeting»Welcome & introductions»Review agenda & focus»Encourage dialogue & allow participants to address predetermined questions»Ask follow-up questions keeping

your opinions to a minimum»Record all answers for review

& content decision-making

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Information Gathering

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

–After the meeting»Send thank you notes to all participants»Review information & insights related

to participants’ wants & needs»Brainstorm ways to integrate participants’ ideas»Develop implementation plans[r

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Information Gathering

One-on-One One-on-One InterviewsInterviews

–Face-to-face»Provides the most insightful responses

–On-line chats–Telephone–Last resort q/a written responses

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Information Gathering

One-on-One One-on-One InterviewsInterviews

–Before, during & after»Personalize questions for sources»Conduct interview at a quiet time & place»Clearly identify reason for interview»Start with easier questions»Ask logical follow-up questions»Listen carefully & take complete notes»Thank source for helping you»Ask for subsequent interview if needed

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Information Gathering

Background Background ResearchResearch

–In headlines»As key thought for primary headline or details to date coverage in secondary headline

–In news features»To add substance to lead, transitions & conclusion

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Information Gathering

Background Background ResearchResearch

–As quick reads»Fact box, how-to, q & a, quiz/test, schedule/timeline/calendar, chart,

map/diagram, infograph, definition/glossary, scoreboard/stats box

–In captions»Little-known details or outcome/

consequences not obvious in photo

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Information Gathering

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Inspiring IdeasInspiring Ideas»KapaunMt. Carmel HS, Wichita, KS

Information Gathering

Polls & SurveysPolls & Surveys

–In headlines»Add value to the importance of the story when numbers have reader appeal

–In news features»To add quantifiable substance to lead, transitions & conclusion

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Information Gathering

Polls & SurveysPolls & Surveys

–As quick reads»Fact box, pie chart, bar/line graph or table infograph, scoreboard/stats box

–In captions»To add little known figures relevant to photo content

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Information Gathering

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Inspiring IdeasInspiring Ideas»Boone SHS, Boone, IA

Information Gathering

Focus Focus Groups/InterviewsGroups/Interviews

–In headlines»To add human interest personality to the content package in either secondary or specialty headlines

–In news features»To personalize the story allowing those directly involved to tell the story

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Information Gathering

Focus Focus Groups/InterviewsGroups/Interviews

–As quick reads»Quickie quotes, featured quotes,

photo/quotes, anecdotes, advice, first-person narratives

–In captions»As a way to personalize content of the photo or simply as a quote caption

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Information Gathering

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Inspiring IdeasInspiring Ideas»McKinney HS North, McKinney, TX

Information Gathering

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You Never Know…You Never Know…»until you ask!