s Toolkit Getting ideas

Getting ideas for stories: 

Getting ideas for stories For Jo’s Toolkit (http://jostoolkit.ru.ac.za) By Rod Amner (adapted from the Poynter Institute)

The Poynter Institute: 6 steps in newswriting process: 

The Poynter Institute: 6 steps in newswriting process News thinking 1: Getting ideas Collect: Reporting the story News thinking 2: Thinking of stories Order: Mapping the story Draft: Writing the story Revise: Rewriting for audiences

News Thinking 1: Getting ideas: 

News Thinking 1: Getting ideas Who comes up with the story ideas? The news editors or the journalists? 90 percent of the story ideas must come from writers. Writers who sit around waiting for assignments are not doing their jobs.

Where do ideas come from? : 

Where do ideas come from? Media consumption: Publications, broadcasters, movies, books, posters, graffiti. Everyday life: Yourself, friends, classmates, co-workers, neighbours, children, immersion in public spaces. What is topical, trendy, hot on the grapevine?

Where do ideas come from?: 

Where do ideas come from? Brainstorming, mapping, journals/scrapbooks. Developing personal sources: How? What kinds of sources? Routine checks: Emergency services, police - who are we checking with? Localise national/ international news.

Where do ideas come from?: 

Where do ideas come from? Letters. Audience feedback. Follow-up your own story. Use “off campus” think tanks.

Where do ideas come from?: 

Where do ideas come from? Interaction between journalists: Newsrooms should be like universities, with ideas bouncing off walls, plenty of dissent and lots of flexibility. Top-down management at newspapers is as outdated as hot metal.

Where do ideas come from?: 

Where do ideas come from? Keeping an eye on the calendar: Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, Jewish New Year, St Valentine’s Day, Fathers’ Day, Mothers’ Day, World Poverty Day, International Women’s Day, Cancer Day, World Literacy Day, Budget day, elections. Public holidays. Commemorations of past events.

Brainstorming: 

Brainstorming Write down all ideas on topic. Don’t worry if the ideas seem lame – don’t cross out any idea. Once ideas have stopped, review and evaluate, discard and organise, clarify and expand. Look for the information that surprises or that connects with other information in an interesting, unexpected way.

Mind mapping: 

Mind mapping Brainstorming is linear – mapping is non-linear. Put the subject at the centre of the page. Draw ideas out from the centre. If that idea triggers a new one, draw a new line from that word or return to the centre and draw new lines for each new idea.

Journal or ideas book : 

Journal or ideas book Record observations, ideas, reading, memories, details, imaginings, overheard conversations – things that would evaporate if not recorded.

Developing sources : 

Developing sources How are you going to set up your own personal sources? Start your own directory: a source book, computer database. Keep in contact with everyone: Circulate, attend functions, meets and seminars, talk to people on the street including street vendors, bartenders, security guards, prison inmates etc. Identify and get to know interesting and important sources: leadership people but also those less visible.

How do you evaluate sources?: 

How do you evaluate sources? Don’t trust anyone! Not even your Mom! The motives of personal sources are not always clear… it’s your job to find out what they are. Tips from Francois Nel, Writing for the Media in SA: Always be sceptical. If someone says something in an interview you don’t understand or doesn’t ring true ask them about it. Use sources as starting points for stories, but make sure you double or triple check information. Discard information you cannot substantiate.

On and off the record: 

On and off the record Most news is given on the record. In an off the record briefing information is given but because of its sensitive nature should not be reported. If the off the record undertaking is broken trust is lost. The journalist can of course try to acquire the same information from another source who might be prepared to go on the record. Public meetings are on the record. Private conversations are on the record unless otherwise stated.

Anonymous sources: 

Anonymous sources Anonymity invites sources to distort information and take cheap shots at opponents. But, unattributed comments can be carried from people who are prepared to have their views recorded but not to have their names attached to them. Phrases like “a well placed government source” are used. Note, this is dangerous. Most editors would say that only in extreme cases – when a life or national security is endangered – should you quote someone anonymously.

More on sources: 

More on sources Leaks and the use of anonymous quotes by journalists may be manipulated to fly a kite. Use sources to check facts and accuracy – not to approve your story. Protect your sources: The SAUJ code of conduct states that “a journalist shall protect confidential sources of information”. If information is given to you in confidence, you are honour-bound to keep the deal.

Elitism and hierarchy: 

Elitism and hierarchy Journalists use a limited range of sources. Some sources are prominent. Others marginalised, eliminated or covered in a negative way.

Traditional sources : 

Traditional sources Primary: The government, parliament and portfolio committees, major political parties, local/metro councils, constituency representatives, courts, police, fire brigade, ambulance service, hospitals, local industries and their representative bodies (chambers of commerce), trade unions. Secondary: Schools and colleges, churches, local clubs and societies, army, naval and airforce bases, local branches of national NGOs or pressure groups or charities.

Non-traditional sources: 

Non-traditional sources Representatives of religions other than Christianity, ethnic minority groups, feminist lesbian and gay groups, environmental and animal rights campaigning bodies. Getting below the surface – into “third places” (where people – ordinary citizens – congregate and talk). Dining halls, Kaif, forums, etc. New and diverse voices that accurately capture community concerns.

Representation: 

Representation A source is significant when they represent not just their personal views but those of a larger group or institution.

Credibility and authority: 

Credibility and authority Linked to representation… Party politicians are prominent in the media because they are seen as having been democratically elected to represent certain widely-held views… credibility and authority flows from that. Similarly, when someone is described as an eyewitness to the road accident their authority is established (though it may be mistaken).

Bias and neutrality: 

Bias and neutrality By using sources reporters aim to distance themselves from the issues. (Reinforces notion of balance.) View A is balanced by opposing View B. (But, such a process eliminates a range of other views.) Many media theorists question notion of balance and even the existence of an objective reality. They cite: Highly selective and subjective process of news gathering; Financial political and legal pressures on the media; The absence of any neutral language.

Professional status: 

Professional status Journalists who have contact with people at the top of the sourcing hierarchy enjoy high status. (Reporter with contact with marginal groups enjoys no special journalistic status.) Best journalists thus end up reinforcing the status quo of hierarchy. Professionalism implies objectivity and neutrality towards sources. In reality this is very difficult to maintain (journalists get too close to their sources).

Professional status: 

Professional status Also, journalists part of the same social milieu as the political elite – similar social and educational backgrounds.

Experts: 

Experts Authority and independence are associated with their views. Journalists often use experts subtly to add extra weight to a view they (or the proprietors) wish to promote. Experts used by public relations industry.