BASIC REPORTING PROGRAM 9

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BASIC REPORTING PROGRAM 9

Reporting checklist

The following is a checklist of the main activities a reporter should pursue when reporting, before returning to write up the story. Many of these items may be obvious but it may be worth referring to this list regularly in order to make sure you have not forgotten anything.

1. WHAT’S THE STORY? Before you go out to report, write down for yourself a one-sentence declaration about what the story will be about, that will include your theme or the story “angle.” Always keep in mind “What’s the story,” even if you have to rework or change the main theme as you report.
2. WORK OUT A STRATEGY Before you go out to report or pick up the telephone, work out a strategy and try to set yourself a time limit for reporting the story. List the research you need to do, the people you need to interview, and the tasks you need to perform. Plan to report within a reasonable period of time.
3. COLLECT INFORMATION Reporting involves the collecting of information from a variety of sources – direct from the main players in the story, from secondary sources, from so-called experts, from the Internet and from various organizations concerned with the story, among other sources. Keep this material organized as you collect it.
4. RESEARCH CAREFULLY Be careful with your research, especially when using the Internet as you cannot be sure how reliable the information is. Try to be systematic and organized when you research.
5. GO TO THE SCENE One thing that will usually makes your story stand out is reporting from the scene of the event, action or meeting. Try to go to the scene and try to convey a picture of what is happening and what the key players are saying.
6. CONDUCT INTERVIEWS Try to talk directly with the key players in your story. Key players are first-hand sources, people directly involved in the event or action. Take care with making notes or recording the interview. You want to make sure you quote the people accurately. Make sure you find out exactly who these people are and who they represent. Get their names spelt correctly.
7. USE SECONDARY SOURCES Apart from interviewing first-hand sources, aim to interview secondary sources, people not directly involved in the action or event but who are in a position to comment. Again, take care with quoting these people.
8. GET THE FACTS, CITE THE SOURCES Try to be accurate, focusing on the facts, and make sure you note and cite the sources of the information.
9. BEWARE OF LOCAL DIFFICULTIES Don’t take unnecessary risks. Bear in mind the limitations to reporting events and issues in your country. In some countries, the press is relatively free. In others, it is not. Take care.
10. STAY ORGANIZED Try to keep your research material and notes organized, as well as your list of sources and your story strategy or plan. Spending 10 minutes getting organized every day can save you hours of time. A messy desk, for example, can indicate muddled thinking.