BASIC REPORTING PROGRAM 4
Thinking up story ideas
It’s tough staring at a blank piece of paper trying to think up story ideas. But it doesn’t need to be. There are a number of ways to generate ideas. Let’s take a look.
First of all, try “brainstorming.” Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee. Take a pen and a blank piece of paper or a notebook and sit down somewhere comfortable. Now relax and think of anything that might make a UCA News report or feature. Write the ideas down however crazy some of them might at first appear. The key to brainstorming is to think of everything and anything – and not be judgmental. Just put it down. Leave it until later to be critical and drop items from the list.
Give yourself time. Have a break. Put your ideas list down and come back to it later. Think again.
Once you have done some brainstorming, check out the media, both Church media and secular media. What’s in the news? What are people writing about? Are there some ideas here that could be developed into UCA News stories? Are there events or issues that affect the Church or are of interest to the Church? Write them down. Get into the habit of reading newspapers, books, and checking out the Internet. See what ideas come out of all this material.
Talk to people. Check with Church people about what is going in your local area and in your country. What’s happening? What’s being debated? What’s the current burning issue that everybody is talking about? Talk to your friends or associates who might have ideas that you could make into a UCA News story. What is important to them? Might this make a story idea?
Check out meetings and press releases. While there may not be a story to write on the meeting itself, there may be something that could be written on the subject discussed and the outcome of the meeting. For example, a group of priests got together to discuss how to deal with the falling numbers of young people attending Mass on Sunday. The meeting itself may not be a story but their decision to hold video shows after Mass to draw in youth might make an interesting piece.
Think micro and macro. Zero in on a subject, focusing on a detail in order to tell the bigger story. For example, one man’s program to help street kids can help tell of the wider problem of street kids in society. Or expand your focus to think of a broader story. For example, your local parish church is falling down due to neglect and lack of funds. Maybe there is a bigger story telling of a nationwide problem of churches falling in disrepair.
Think “outside the box.” Open your mind up to ideas that are outside the normal confines of what is considered to be a “Church story.” For example, many issues are “of interest to the Church in Asia.” Take women’s rights, youth concerns, refugees, environmental degradation, or people trafficking. These are not strictly “Church stories” but are issues “of concern to the Church.”
Think “side box.” Maybe you did a major story on the inauguration of a cathedral. Maybe there is a smaller side story in a program to offer a free meal to poor people in the vicinity as part of the celebration. That might make a separate story on what the Church is doing to help the poor.
Think “update.” Maybe there is a story you did a while ago that needs updating because of new important developments. For example, six months ago you did a story on the appointment of a bishop. How has he been getting along? Might there be a story to write on the special programs he has been pursuing since he took up office?
Think about people profiles. People love to read about people.
Think about interviews. UCA News regularly runs Q&A interviews with important Church people, social workers, and others who have something to say about the reality of Church in their country. (But check with the Main Editorial Office first before going ahead with interviews.)
Think “boring.” Interestingly, a seemingly boring subject can prove an interesting subject for a story. Maybe there has been a change in the local tax system. Maybe it is unfairly hurting the poor. Maybe a new sub-clause of a law in unfairly hurting a minority group. Small, largely unnoticed developments can often hide important stories.
Think about your own life. What matters to you? Think of your own values. Be creative. For example, maybe you take a special interest in the need to improve women’s rights, in all the trees being ruthlessly cut down in your area, or how the magazine publishing business works. Use this personal interest, and ideally a “Church angle,” to pursue a story.
When you have exhausted all these possible avenues, you will probably find you have quite a long list, maybe almost enough to do one story a week for a year!
One small tip: always keep a pen and a notebook on you. You never know when you might come up with an idea. Keep them by your bedside. You might find yourself jumping up in the middle of the night inspired to write down that story gem!
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