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JRNL 13Sept. 10, 2013Prof. Vaccaro

Today’s roadmap

Practice news quiz Assign beats you’ll have for the semester

Explain beat notes Lecture on why journalism matters Lecture on finding sources, starting your beat

Practice News Quiz

5 questions Computer screens off Cell phones away Hand in paper on professor’s desk in 5-10 min

Assigning Beats

What is a beat? A beat is a geographical area (Hempstead) and/or a topic

that you cover on a regular basis. You may cover everything that happens in Hempstead for example. Or your beat may be crime on Long Island. Or education issues in Mineola. Or just Mineola. You have a lot of freedom in this class to choose a news beat. Think of yourself as the expert on your topic or area, and the person most familiar with the institutions, organizations, people, trends and stories it includes. Be prepared to cover news in this area at any time.

Assignment Beats

Inside Beat Notes

What is a beat note? A beat note is a memo, or brief discussion, of the

reporting that you did during the week. Beat notes are often sent to editors to update them on story ideas and possible leads or news developments. Writing a memo to your editor on a regular basis gets reporters in the habit of looking for news regularly, and being productive each week. This will be expected of you on any reporting job, but at a much faster pace.

Inside Beat Notes

Beat notes explain in clear, journalistic prose things like what meetings and press conferences you attended, sources you talked to and their best quotes, reports you read, and your original ideas for news stories.

For this class beat notes will be 200-250 words in length. At the end of the beat note, include the full names, titles, and the affiliation of at least two sources. Be sure you have their phone numbers and email addresses as well, as I may ask to see these at any time.

On weeks when beat notes are due, these must be posted no later than Friday at 6:00 p.m. on your class blog page.

Single-space your beat note memo and follow the usual rules of grammar, spelling and style. Remember that these are a reflection of your professionalism and are important ways of gaining your editor’s confidence in your work. They should not be written casually like a text message to a friend.

Why journalism matters?

A journalist performs many important roles in society. Journalism matters to a free democracy. Journalism can unite a community during times of crises. Journalists deliver information unavailable from other sources. Journalism exposes wrongs and highlights rights. Journalism questions institutions. Journalism can change the way we live.

What is a journalist’s role?

Journalist’s first obligation is the truth. Its first loyalty is to citizens. Its essence is a discipline of verification. Its practitioners must maintain an independence

from those they cover. It must provide a forum for public criticism and

comment.

What is news?

Traditional elements of news Personality – is someone famous or noteworthy? Impact – whom does the story affect? Timeliness – how recently did it occur? Proximity – how near is it to your area? Quantity – how many does it affect? Human interest – does the story show human

condition?

What’s editors look for?

Have they learned a real story behind action or the event? Does the story defy conventional wisdom or surprise

readers? Is the story about people well known? Does the story show the norm has changed? Does the story have conflict, or controversy? Does the story appeal to the medium’s readers?

The art of storytelling

Journalists should … Know the story thoroughly; inside and out Have a core point, a lead, one sentence that clues

people in Look for telling details, look for actions that show

readers emotion and human qualities Find something interesting, facts, quotes,

commonalities, links Write with urgency, with direct movement and

action

Five Rules of Journalism

1. Remember the basics: Who, what, where, when, why and how?

2. Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy! Get it right and triple check your facts and figures.

3. Find your focus. What’s the story? What’s the point? 4. Think short. Short words, short sentences, keep it simple. 5. Strive to be objective. No opinions here. Keep yourself

and your thoughts out of everything.

Basics of journalism

Remember that your obligation is to the readers, your audience

Ask yourself what’s the story? What are the elements? Remember that you’re trying to inform people Don’t write anything you wouldn’t read Don’t print anything you don’t understand Never assume anything

Your beat work

Check websites Email key contacts; media relations, communications, etc. Familiarize yourself with key issues, rival news outlets,

press release lists, etc. Find sources early on who can be of help:

School district clerk Media Relations staff Communications/PR Directors (firms and individuals)

Next Class

First real news quiz Beat Notes No. 1 due Public affairs/event coverage Interviewing and quoting Reading: Lloyd, Ch. 5-7 / Kershner, Ch. 17-20