The medium is changing, reporting basics aren't

You should have been there.

A crowd of more than 100 reporters and bloggers showed up for Digital Journalism Camp in Portland on Aug. 1. Everyone was there to figure out how they fit into a media industry that’s shifting away from old revenue and distribution models to new ones that aren’t yet clearly defined.

While the publications are changing, the basic tools reporters use aren’t. Here are some favorite reporting tricks of the trade I shared with a group of journalists, bloggers, consultants, PR reps and others at session called Journalism 101. You can see a slightly different version of this on the conference wiki here.

Read other coverage of Digital Journalism Camp on Oregon Media Central and Burnin’. (Note: I’ll add a link to a video replay of the conference once I find it – if somebody has this info, please ping me.)

Journalism Basics – Research, Interviews and Crowdsourcing

1. RESEARCH

What to do when you get an assignment –

• Familiarize yourself with the subject – do background research , talk to people
• Read what else has been written about it.
• Step away from the computer – go, see, do – and take lots of notes.
• Find the best sources – have one source lead you to others.
• Use public records – Find these online but also courthouses, etc.

What to do when you’re researching story ideas –

• Go through the same processes you’d use to research an assignment.
• At interviews, ask extra questions that could lead to insights into new topics.
• Develop your news sense – tune into what’s happening around you.
• Read: 10 places to find story ideas.

2. INTERVIEWS

Do your homework

• Read up on subject first so you’re not wasting time asking about things you could have found out in your research.
• Always double check name, age, title, etc.
• Write down questions – Even Oprah and Barbara Walters do it.
• If you feel prepared you won’t be as nervous.

Don’t be afraid to look stupid

• Ask “Can you explain that to me?” – If you don’t get it, your readers won’t either

Don’t let your subject off the hook – If they’ve evasive:

• Call them on it – Say “That didn’t really answer the question” and ask again.
• Move onto something else and come back to it later.
• Don’t take no for an answer. Ask, “Why don’t you want to discuss that?”

Get more details than you think you need

• Your editor is bound to ask about the things you didn’t
• You never know what detail you’ll need when writing
• It could lead to another story

If you’re pressed for time, ask the most important stuff first

• Highlight any must-have info before you pick up the phone.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for more time – if they’re already on the phone, they might be more willing to keep talking.

Call or visit sources multiple times if you need to

• For longer pieces you might not be able to cover all the material in one shot
• To get the facts straight
• To get reactions to info you got from additional reporting

Read:

• Asking the hard questions: top 10 interview tips
• Prepping for the big one – A dozen ways to ace a VIP interview.
• Keeping sources on the subject
• Stalking the reluctant source – 10 secrets to get anybody to talk
• Prep work is key to conducting successful phone interviews

3. CROWDSOURCING

Sign up for Twitter and use it to find sources

• Follow people involved in things you write about, then DM them for an interview.
• Ask them questions directly, or tweet questions to your Followers.

If you report on business, use LinkedIn

• Use LinkedIn’s Answers section to find subject matter experts
• Post questions in the Answer section to find sources – always identify yourself as a reporter
• Use People and Companies sections to find sources

If you have a blog

• Post questions on blog posts as you would on LinkedIn.
• Create polls.

Read:

• A writer’s guide to getting the most out of Twitter
• How writers can use LinkedIn (Part 1)
• How writers can use LinkedIn (Part 2)
• The secret to my LinkedIn success
• New ways to used LinkedIn to find story sources

4. WRITING SHORT

• Leave in only the best stuff.
• Use lists, bullets (like these!) and other short cuts to tighten up copy.
• Write from the top down, cut from the bottom up.
• What can you cut? Read your story out loud to see.

Read:

• A few words about writing short
• 7 ways to cut a story that’s too long

Here are links to other posts on freelance writing basics:

• Freelance 101: Getting started as an independent writer
• 25 tips for better freelance writing
• What editors want from freelance writers
• Why freelance queries get rejected