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Agenda Setting

12
May 2009

It doesn’t matter what is happening in your area, the newspaper is printed on time every time regardless of whether or not it is a “slow news” time. The ads have been sold and the number of pages have been determined long before any of the news has even occurred. All that remains is the decision of what is and what isn’t news. Agenda setting.

What stories are going to get covered? What stories aren’t? What is going on the front page and what will we bury on page 12? The decisions aren’t always made on whether or not the story is newsworthy. For many stories, it could be a matter of timing, other stories just might “fit the hole.” It doesn’t matter what process made one story end up on the printed page while another is quickly forgotten in Circlular File 13 (my trash can). What matters is you have just set the agenda. You just determined what is important in your community and the way it will be handled.

The job of reporters and journalists is to report what is happening without being a part of what is happening. It is a good theory, but no one can do that. As a regular part of my job, I attend council and board meetings. When I first began attending the meetings and no one knew who I was, I was able to report on the meeting without influencing it at all. As the members begin to recognize me, however, that changes.

It doesn’t take much for the council or board to recognize I’m a reporter. My scribbling in a notebook throughout the entire meeting usually tips them off that I am a reporter from somewhere. And the fact that there is a reporter attending the meeting DOES change how things are done. Sometimes people grand stand for their position, other times they use vague language to discuss items they don’t want publicized. Other times, they are more obvious and make comments to me directly like, “don’t print that,” or “maybe we can have a front page story about this?” I usually try to ignore these comments or make noncommital noises. I don’t want to be part of the meeting.

But I am whether I want to be or not. My presence and eventually my artice may change the outcome of an issue just because it was publicized. Council and board members have done complete reversals in their position once they fall under the scrutinty of the press.

When you attend community events to take photos, when you report on council meetings and school board meetings and when you interview the high school kid who won an award, you are sending a message about what is important in your community.

So, the next time you are faced with a “slow” news week, be sure your choices of what to cover and where to put it are made realizing you are setting the agenda for the community.

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Sometimes you feel like a nutgraf

12
May 2009

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t, but a nut graf is a good idea even if you aren’t hungry.

The nut graf offers readers a quick explanation of the article and helps explain the lede. Sometimes it might be background information on an ongoing topic. It’s where you say in as few words as possible, why this article is important. If your reader only reads the lede and nut graf of your article, they at least know the basics.

Of course, you want them to read more than just the lede and the nut graf, but you want to get as much information to them as possible while still writing well and making it interesting. That’s a tall order for anyone and, of course, I forgot to mention you will be working on a very tight deadline in order to get all of this accomplished.

So what is a nut graf? Well, graf is short for paragraph. So the nut graf, is the meat (or nut) paragraph in your article. It’s the paragraph that gives you the rundown quickly about the article. Why isn’t it called the meat graf? Who knows! By the way, some may spell it “nut graph.”

When you write the lede, you make a promise to your readers. With the nut graf you fulfill that promise. Did the lede say someone died? The nut graf will answer how he died and then you’ll give the details.

Here’s an example of an opening lede and nut graf:

FRANKENMUTH — On Saturday, Dianne Szostak clutched a shopping bag, pleased to have found a sculpture of a fairy for her herb garden. On Sunday, she clutched a .38-caliber revolver.
Welcome to Michigan Shop and Shoot, which was held over the weekend in this Bavarian-themed tourist town about 80 miles north of Detroit.

Do you see how the nut graf immediately answers the reader’s questions raised by the lede? By saving the “nuts and bolts” for the second paragraph, you are able to write an article that is more interesting to the reader.

Now there can be more than one “nut graf” that gives basic facts. For instance, the third paragraph of the article I use as an example, explains more about the event such as who sponsors it and how many attended.

Whenever you write an article, there is going to be information you have to convey that is straight facts. You want to be very careful with how you present the information. You don’t want to over do the cutesy ledes or use them inappropriately. (Don’t use cutesy ledes in articles where people die and/or seriously injured.)

You’ll often see the lede and nut graf combination in stories about crimes and arrests. The lede will mention the crime while the nut graf will name the suspect.

Here’s an example:

A Michigan man pulled over for drunk driving tried and tried again when he attempted to flee police not just once, but twice.
John Doe of Anywhere was arrested Sunday for drunk driving and two counts of fleeing and eluding police. Doe was arraigned in District Court Sunday and is currently lodged in Anywhere County jail.

Practice writing strong ledes and nut grafs. Read through your local newspapers and find examples of nut grafs that work and don’t work. Analyze the reasons. Did the nut graf fulfill the lede’s promise?

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Photo Tips

12
May 2009

Many newspapers will have a photographer on staff to accompany a reporter to an event, but that’s not always an option. In a pinch, (and at smaller newspapers) a reporter will be expected to take photos along with reporting the news. I am a reporter, not a photographer, but over the years, here are some tips I found that will help a reporter take better photos.

1. AVOID GRIP AND GRIN SHOTS — We’ve all seen them – a group of stiff-backed people gripping a check (or trophy or award), with fake grins plastered on their face. The grip and grin is an old standby for the journalist-turned-photographer. But there are alternatives to this boring photo. One reporter had the small group of people shake hands and hug and snapped a shot as they did so. Another idea is to get a picture of what the money will be used for rather than the check. Instead of that ribbon-cutting photo, get a picture of real people scoping out the newly opened business.

2. PAY ATTENTION TO THE BACKGROUND — Too often we see perfectly fine pictures of people, except they have weird objects growing out of their head. The three-dimensional world can look quite differently in a two-dimension photo, so be aware of what else may be in your photo besides your primary subject. While you don’t always want to shoot everything in front of a blank wall, you do want to keep the background in mind as you shoot the photos.

3. PHOTOGRAPH PEOPLE — Every newspaper should have photos of real people in it. That means the guy raking his leaves on a fall day or a child playing in the water. Try to avoid repeated mug shots of your local police chief or other figurehead. Make a point of taking photos of people, not just things. Use photos with articles, as well as stand alones.

4. GET CLOSER — When taking a photo, you need to remember you are taking photos of people doing things. Make sure you fill the shot with the people and not the things. Don’t be afraid to look at things at a different angle. Step closer. If it’s a child, kneel down to their level. Think of the final picture and what image you are going for when you take it.

5. TAKE NATURAL SHOTS — Avoid posed shots. Even if they aren’t gripping anything, posed shots come off badly. A good tip is to take photos of “unsuspecting subjects” and ask for names and details and permission after you’ve taken the photo. If they say no, it’s a wasted shot. If they say yes, the photo will probably be better than one where they were conscious of the camera. Ask your photo subjects to act as if you aren’t there. Take your time and let them get used to you.

A Note about the Digital Revolution — Many newsrooms are “going digital.” It works well for newsrooms. I recommend you use a digital camera. You’ll need a high-end digital camera capable of taking at least 5.1 mega pixels or higher. The preferable digital camera is a digital SLR.

You should have several memory cards of 256 mb or higher; it’s always nice to have a back up. Set your camera, so it takes the largest quality photos. Also, unless you have one of the top-of-the-line digital cameras (translation — you spent several thousand dollars for the camera and lenses), it won’t work well for taking action shots like sports photos. Football fields and the weird lighting of basketball courts play havoc on all but the best digital cameras.

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To Show or Not to Show

12
May 2009

You’ve done the interview and you’ve written the article. You’re sure you nailed it, but a little seed of doubt starts to grow. Is it accurate? Did you get that complicated matter about taxes right?

If you have any doubt, you need to check with your source before the article goes to print. That doesn’t mean, however, that your sources should be reading the article before publication. In fact, I suggest strongly that you DO NOT show sources an article before publication.

New reporters unfamiliar with interviewing and taking quotes may feel doubtful about their abilities. This often leads them to showing sources articles. If it is a complicated subject, check your facts and talk some more to your source.

As a reporter you should be very careful with other’s people words. You need to ensure they are accurate and complete. At the same time, you need to make sure your reader’s receive a fair and accurate story. People aren’t always going to want to have something publicized. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be publicized. New to interviews

Most people have never been interviewed before. As you sit down to talk to them, they will say things they didn’t realize they said. They will make comments they didn’t mean. Part of it is nervousness and part of it is human nature.

When you write the article, you need to write it with this in mind. Would you like your husband quoted in the daily paper saying, “My wife never wears pajamas.” It may be true, but does it have a bearing on the story? Will it just cause undue embarrassment?

Being in the newspaper is a big deal to a lot of people. Articles are clipped and lovingly placed in scrapbooks. Some are even framed and hung on walls of new businesses or in family rooms. You have to ask, does the quote have a bearing on the article? If the man was being quoted for a most embarrassing moment type of story, the answer may be yes. If it is just a feature article about a man and wife, the answer may be no.

Maintain their dignity

As you write the story and use quotes, you don’t want to make your source appear comical. Especially if you are dealing with this source over and over again, you need to make sure you treat their words with caution. You need them and they need you.

Part of my job as a reporter is to contact law enforcement personnel on a regular basis to get information. As I spoke to one officer, he made reference to the weather saying, “It’s ugly out there.” A nasty winter storm had caused a number of accidents and he had a few colorful descriptions of the weather.

He knew he was talking to me for an article and that I would quote him.

As the interview wound to a close, he asked that I not quote him saying anything stupid, like the weather is ugly. “You take care of me and I’ll take care of you,” he said.

I understood what he meant. We could joke on the phone, reporter and officer, but I needed to understand some comments weren’t for print. So how do I tell?

He is a police officer in the community and as such, is expected to put his life on the line. He doesn’t want the public to perceive him as a jokester. He had given me good quotes about the weather conditions and the accidents caused that were said professionally. He had also joked with me as we chatted.

The quote, “It’s ugly out there,” sounded good, but wasn’t as useful or informative as “The high number of accidents along the freeway prompted us to close it for several hours. There were so many accidents happening that we were short-handed.”

The first quote could have been made by anyone. The second quote, however, carries the authority of a police officer.

Make sure you make your sources look good and they will trust you. By trusting you they will give you all sorts of good information that will allow you to write even more stories. A reporter can be hated or disliked, but should always be trusted.

Why you shouldn’t show sources

Typically, a news article should have sources from all sides of an issue. By showing a source the finished article, you are inviting them to get a glimpse of the opposite side’s comments. This tends to make the source want to “tweak” their comments.

They tend to think that by granting them a sneak preview, you are also granting them editorial duties. They suggest word changes, sentence structure and even entire rewrites.

People tend to not like what they said because they believe they “sound stupid.” Or they don’t remember exactly what they said, so they try to change or elaborate on their comments. Often they may want to change a good, simple quote to some multi-word thing that has no purpose at all except protecting their rear.

What can you do?

You can offer to read back a source’s quotes to ensure accuracy. This should only be done after the source has made the request, and should only include the quotes from the source and not the entire article.

Volunteer to be a source for an article. The best way to learn about handling other’s is to have your words mangled. (I’m serious. It will give you a real appreciation of what your sources go through when they place their words in your trust.)

Read (or watch) other reporter’s accounts of events you have covered. You will know about it, and you may be surprised at the inaccuracies or perceptions of others.

Continue to learn how to improve. Just last week, I covered a meeting where people spoke out against a government body. One woman who spoke, however, didn’t speak out on the issue but had another concern. She made it very clear she didn’t agree with the rest of the protesters. That night on television, the local TV news showed her standing up speaking, but the vocal was a voice over of the reporter saying, “many people spoke to the commissioners objecting….”

This woman didn’t object. She shouldn’t have been shown speaking, especially when the reporter made those comments. It was bad editing of the tape, but it can happen in written articles as well. Make sure you don’t make it seem like someone said something they didn’t. It only makes everyone more distrustful of reporters.

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Notetaking Tips

12
May 2009

1. Be Prepared. Have a notebook with plenty of blank space and several pens. Where you are taking notes may have an impact on what you need. If you are in a place where you may be writing vertically, or where there is a lot of dust, a pencil may be a better choice over a pen.

2. Label and map your notes. Start your notes by recording all identification information. Are you at a meeting? If yes, note who is meeting, the type of meeting, and the date of the meeting. If it’s your first time there, a diagram of where people are sitting can be very helpful. Notes don’t have to be limited to just written comments.

3. Get the basics. Record the basic information about everyone you are interviewing. Print (don’t use cursive) their name, age, city where they reside, occupation and title. Have them spell out even the basic names, because you never know when Smith is really Smyth. Don’t forget to get contact information. If you know when you’ll be writing the story, find out where the source will be so you can find them if you have any questions. If you are interviewing more than one person at a time, make sure you have a system for distinguishing them. Initials and/or first names often work. Just make sure that you don’t have more than one person with the same name/initials. Clearly mark any transition in speakers in your notes.

4. More is more. The more notes you take, the better the final article will be. You will need lots and lots of notes, so keep people talking! Don’t worry about being neat but make sure you understand what you are writing. Make sure you are recording only facts. Don’t insert your personal opinion or emotion. If you have a great quote, mark it in a way that you will find it later. Put a big star on it, or circle it. Leave lots of room to add notes and questions later.

5. Include details. Do take notes about the atmosphere, the environment, and the context the story is happening. If you are interviewing someone about their athletic prowess in their home gym surrounded by lots of trophies, make a note of it.

6. Set off direct quotes. You will need to quote someone. Make sure you indicate in your notes that this is a direct quote and not a paraphrase. You do not need to include sounds like “um, and ahh.” Be aware that verbal communication is very different than written communication. People often fail to speak in full sentences. They may start a sentence, add inconsequential material, and then finish the sentence. Feel free to ask them to restate just the part you need. Make sure the comments you quote are quotable.

7. Review your notes. Before you finish the interview, take a moment to flip through your notes and look for any information you need to have clarified or expanded on. Do this while your interview candidate is still there. Make sure that you know who the person was referring to for any references to her, him, his, hers, etc. After the interview has ended and you are by yourself, you should also review your notes and add in any explanations you didn’t have time to jot down, but that you remember. Highlight key quotes, use colored pens or sticky notes to group subject matters. In other words, fill in the blanks. Do not add to direct quotes. Mark facts and information you need to verify. These are your notes. Make them as useful as you possibly can.

8. Smart use of audio recordings. Recording an interview can be great if you intend to use the audio on a web-version of the story, but it can be a source of problems if you are just writing a newspaper article under a deadline. If you use an audio recorder, be sure it has a counter and/or a way to bookmark places on the recording. Either one of these features will make it easier for you to locate exactly the quote you need later. It is very time consuming to fast forward and rewind the tape recorder in search of the perfect quote.

Even if you are recording the interview, do not rely solely on the recorder You should still take notes. A recorder can fail, and if you do not have the notes, you will not have a story. You can also incorporate the counter and/or bookmark number into your written notes for any quote you want to find later. This eliminates time consuming searches pressing fast forward and rewind in search of the perfect quote.

9. Leave a blank page. Near the front of your interview, leave a blank page to jot down notes on questions you have, documents you need to receive, etc. It’s one place for all the items you need to follow-up on, or request.

10. Develop your own short hand. No one has to read your notes except for you. Feel free to develop your own personal shorthand that will let you keep up with what the person you interview is saying.

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