Tips for getting the inside scoop:
• Get to know people in your community. If they know you,
they’ll be more comfortable talking to you.
• Listen to what people are talking about. Perk up your ears
at the check-out stand or in a restaurant—what’s the
“man on the street” talking about?
Tips for tracking down a story:
• Stay curious! Keep digging for the truth.
• “Real people” give more colorful interviews
than officials (who have learned to be very careful about what they
say).
• Get at least two sides to your story. Talk to people from
both sides of an issue; people who agree and people who disagree.
Tips
for finding facts and information:
• Let your fingers do the walking. The phone book is a treasure
trove of addresses, maps, and of course, helpful phone numbers.
• Become friends with your librarian. Libraries are amazing
sources of information and your librarian can help you find what
you need fast.
• True or false? It always pays to double check your facts.
Sometimes people will give you only half the story, or outright
lie! Confirm anything questionable with a second or third source.
Tips
for interviewing people:
• Listen carefully to what the person is saying.
• Clarify—make sure they’re saying what you
think they’re saying. Ask, “What do you mean by that?”
or, “Could you explain?” or, “Could you give
me an example?”
• Recap—summarize what they’ve said to make
sure you got it right.
• Take good notes and get the correct spelling of names
and places—a real pro always gets the spelling right!
Tips
for putting together your story:
• Include the five W’s: Who, What, When, Where, and
Why.
• Write active and strong, concise and clear. You must hook
your reader/viewer with action. Don’t drag the story along!
• Read your copy (the story you’ve written) aloud.
For television, make sure there are no awkward phrases or sounds.
For print (newspaper, magazines, etc.) make sure the words you
chose sound interesting/exciting.
• Rewrite and rewrite and rewrite until right! The more
you rewrite, the better your story will be.
Generally
Speaking . . .
• Keep your eyes and ears open. You never know when the
next story will come your way.
• Have your camera ready. Look for images to go with your
words.
• Readers make better writers, so read!
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