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How to get start as an

How to get start as an. INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST. February 28, 2013 By: Karen Spring HSCI 825 Advocacy and Communication Simon Fraser University. Presentation Outline . ✜ Why be a journalist? ✜ Who can you write for? ✜ Six steps to writing a journalistic piece:

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How to get start as an

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  1. How to get start as an INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST February 28, 2013 By: Karen Spring HSCI 825 Advocacy and Communication Simon Fraser University

  2. Presentation Outline ✜ Why be a journalist? ✜ Who can you write for? ✜ Six steps to writing a journalistic piece: Step 1: Planning a story Step 2: Research Step 3: Making contact Step 4: The interview Step 5: Writing the story Step 6: Don’t get sued ** Tips along the way **

  3. Why would you start writing as a journalist? • ✜ Advocacy strategy • ✜ A way to get your work, experiences and viewpoints out there • ✜ A way to translate your research to the public • ✜ A great skill set

  4. For Who? Independent Media – “pitching” details on websites Journalism skills is useful for many things: Blogs Pamphlets Newsletters Agency websites Government Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

  5. Step 1: Planning a story ✜ Finding a story: • Is it timely? • Impactful? • Relevant? • Angle (community, local, national, etc) relevant to publisher? • What’s the major tension? ✜ Mapping the story

  6. Step 2: Research ✜ Internet ✜ Government & corporate websites ✜ Advocacy groups ✜ Health related organization - WHO, PHAC, CDC, etc. *** Make sure they are verifiable ***

  7. Step 3: Making Contact ✜ Finding a voice(s) • Community or individual perspective: talk to those most affected ✜ Do a call out using your networks, your friends, Facebook, Twitter, etc. ✜ Allow for different points of view – diverging perspectives or the pros and cons

  8. ✜ Google the person’s name with first 3 digits of area code or location - Government – Database of experts (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Media-Media/Expert-Expert_eng.asp) ✜ Don’t leave a message until you’ve called at least 3 times • Be persistent & firm • Mention if you have deadlines ✜ Just show up ✜ Try, if possible, & if needed to avoid the ‘media rep’ (especially for investigative pieces)

  9. Step 4: The Interview(s) ✜ Do your background research ✜ Questions: Easy, open-ended and one at a time ✜ How to end the interview – 5 major ending questions: • How do you spell your name? • Do you have a specific title? • Is there anything else you’d like to add? • Are quotes attributed to you or your organization? • Is there anyone else I should talk to about this topic?

  10. Step 5: Writing the story Start: ✜ The “Lede”, a sentence or two that introduces your article. Opening paragraph: ‘Who’, ‘what’, ‘where’ & ‘when’ Middle: ✜ The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ ✜ Context and quotes End: ✜ Don’t summarize

  11. Step 6: Don’t get sued! ✜ Libel – Printed defamation ✜ Truth ✜ Fair comment ✜ Responsible Journalism Doubtful? Consult a lawyer. Period.

  12. Questions? Thank you!

  13. References Paley, Dawn and Ling, Justin. (October 2011). So you want to write for the Media Coop? Vancouver Media Coop. Available at: http://www.mediacoop.ca/sites/mediacoop.ca/files2/mc/writers_guide.pdf The Dominion. (no date). Write for the Dominion. Available at: http://www.dominionpaper.ca/write

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