Being a reporterStacy Smith's 9th Grade English

Who we are:● Kristen Kaiser

● Kate Wutz

What is a reporter?A reporter is someone who investigates and writes

stories for a media outlet.

How is a reporter different?● Reporters hold themselves to different

standards○ We write stories that are as thorough, accurate and

fair as possible○ We write about both sides of all issues○ We write as accurately and as clearly as possible

● Other writers have more flexibility

What do reporters do?We write about things that are going on, people who are doing interesting things and important issues in our community.

For example...● Lost wolf pup● Crime● County and city meetings● Taxes● Business● People you probably know

Why is reporting important?Or, what is the point?

● Information

● Public Forum

● Objective news

Why is reporting important?

Mission according to our staff○ To inform the public○ To interpret what we learn for the community.○ To create topics of discussion.○ To entertain○ To mirror the community○ To be a watchdog of government and public agencies

– hold them accountable for their uses of public money.

Why should reporting be neutral?aka the Fox News effect

● Everyone has the right to make their own decisions

● Our job is not to make that decision-- it's to provide the information they need to form their own opinion

● Example: Dispatch

Why should reporting be neutral?

Fox News, MSNBC, blogs● Provide only one point of view

○ Not a complete picture● Not necessarily news -- expert opinions,

maybe, but they are opinions only● Can be entertaining and enjoyable!

○ But not reliable as complete news sources○ Good for more in-depth information on one side of

an issue

Hard things about journalism

or why not to do it

Reporters meet tight deadlines

What happens if you miss one?

Why?

Reporters talk to lots of people

Why this isn't that important...and why it is sometimes.

Reporters are not always liked

How would you feel if you were the subject of a story?

Reporters are subject to criticism

What happens if they aren't?

Reporters have to be right, every single time

People recognize you...and you're always representing the paper

Reporters are notorious

or, why we do it anyway

Good things about journalism

How else would people become informed?

Reporting makes a difference

What would happen if governments could do whatever they wanted?

Reporting holds people accountable

Where would you like to go? Is there a story there?

Reporters get to do fun things and go places

sometimes

Reporters get to meet cool people

We get paid to learn about things that matter

Reporters are students of the real world

Our papers are not just fish wrappers

Reporters have a record of their successes

The life cycle of a story

Could be an event, a meeting, an important issue being discussed -- could be a court case or a lawsuit

Reporters hear about something

Conflict, prominence, currency, timeliness, impact, proximity and the bizarre

Reporters decide if it's news

Editor helps decide if and when to print it, how much time and space the story needs

Reporters pitch the story

Attend the meeting, call people involved, brush up on issues, read files

Reporters do the legwork

Preferably accurately, clearly and concisely

Write, write, write

An editor called a copy editor reads and changes the story to make sure it's clear and correct

Story is copy edited

This is why stories should be concise--only so much room on a page--and written to length

Story is put on the page

This catches typos and inconsistencies

Story is read by editor, proofreader

This does not happen in our building, but in a big printing press in Burley

Story gets printed

Our paper has a circulation of about 13,500 on Wednesdays

Story is read by everyone!

Basic Guidelines

You need to be credible in order to be a good reporter

Be honest

And others will usually respect you back

Be respectful

Sources will take you more seriously if you conduct yourself like a serious person

Be professional

Your job is to help readers form their own opinions on the subjects you cover

Be objective

Make sure everything you write is clear and accurate

Be careful

Be preparedAlways be ready to report on what you are seeing.

Any questions?