Preparing for the Big Story

Rachele KanigelSan Francisco State University

CMA Summer Leadership Workshop

July 31, 2014

Types of Big Stories

Natural disasters -- hurricane, earthquake, fire, tornado, flood

Man-made disasters – terrorist act, major accident, serious crime

Major campus stories – a high-ranking official steps down, scandal, suicide, disease outbreak

Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech

The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech University

The Daily Collegian

Penn State University

Before the event

Assemble a staff contact list

Develop a disaster plan

Create a breaking news culture

Create cooperative arrangements with other campus media

Train for the big story

As the news breaks

Editors should: Assemble a team Staff the newsroom Assign a rewrite person Keep your readers in mind

Think visually

Report the news as it unfolds

Post alerts on Facebook, Twitter and your website as soon as you know something

Update website frequently Post photos on Instagram Stream video of events (press

conferences, vigils, memorial events)

Use social media as a reporting tool

Seek out sources on Facebook and Twitter

Connect with experts on LinkedIn Seek photos on Flickr Put social media posts into context;

confirm whenever possible

Plan a package

Think beyond a single story – break information into sidebars and infoboxes

If there’s a strong visual element, use multiple photos – in print, online or both

Use maps, timelines and other informational graphics to tell the story

Create a logo for the package Include an index to direct readers

The Exponent

Purdue University

The Daily Orange

Syracuse University

Use interactive maps

Show the effects of a storm, earthquake, fire or other natural disaster on a campus or community

Include photographs in the map Show the path of a gunman or other threat to

the community Plot emergency shelters, first-aid centers,

open stores and other services for victims

Use interactive features

Give the community discussion boards or other online vehicles to share information and to vent

Set up memorial sites for people who have died Create discussion topics on related issues --

Should gun laws be changed? Did the campus deal with the traumatic event responsibly?

Allow people to share their experiences -- where were you when the big one hit?

Mobile formats

Create news podcasts for people who don’t have consistent access to computers and/or electricity

Establish a mobile alert system

Think about how to link to users’ cell phones and iPods

Serving your communtiy

Think about the problems this trauma has created and how technology can help solve them.

What voids can your news organization fill? What useful information can you collect and share? How can you use new media to help people connect? Think about packaging your coverage so readers

have a one-stop shop for information.

Following up

Assess your coverage Brainstorm Editorialize Make space for letters Ask why Don’t drop the ball

Take care of your staff

Get help from campus counseling services Let students talk through their feelings of

covering a challenging stories Use the Dart Center for Journalism &

Trauma resources at http://www.dartcenter.org/

dartcenter.org