Beats

4. Beats

6. What is a beat?

7. What is a beat? • Journalism that involves in-depth reporting on a particular issue, sector, organization or institution over time

9. Typical journalist beats • Education: primary, school board, colleges

10. Typical journalist beats • Education: primary, school board, colleges • Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence

11. Typical journalist beats • Education: primary, school board, colleges • Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence • Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend

12. Typical journalist beats • Education: primary, school board, colleges • Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence • Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend • Politics: city, county, state, federal

15. Typical journalist beats • Education: primary, school board, colleges • Crime: courts, police, sheriff, gang violence • Sports: baseball, basketball, individual teams, high school, outdoors, football, weekend • Politics: city, county, state, federal • Business: real estate, manufacturing, unions, marketing, advertising, finance, banking, retail… even individual companies

16. Typical journalist beats • Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities

17. Typical journalist beats • Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities • Entertainment: restaurants, theater, movies, comedy, music (classical, rock, jazz, opera, hip hop)

18. Typical journalist beats • Lifestyles: fashion, family, celebrities • Entertainment: restaurants, theater, movies, comedy, music (classical, rock, jazz, opera, hip hop) • Among others are science, environment, obituaries, health care, food & nutrition, the web, religion, non-profits, community, home and garden, weddings... even crosswords and bridge

19. Why have beat reporters?

20. Why have beat reporters? • Beat reporters develop relationships with sources, leading to better stories

21. Why have beat reporters? • Beat reporters develop relationships with sources, leading to better stories • Beat reporters become experts in their coverage areas

22. Why have beat reporters? • Beat reporters develop relationships with sources, leading to better stories • Beat reporters become experts in their coverage areas • They can provide both facts and commentary to make their beat relevant to readers/viewers/listeners

23. You got a beat, now what?

24. You got a beat, now what? • Research

25. You got a beat, now what? • Research • Talk to predecessor and editors

26. You got a beat, now what? • Research • Talk to predecessor and editors • Meet your sources: bosses and underlings

27. You got a beat, now what? • Research • Talk to predecessor and editors • Meet your sources: bosses and underlings • Get organized: sources, upcoming events, story ideas

28. You got a beat, now what? • Research • Talk to predecessor and editors • Meet your sources: bosses and underlings • Get organized: sources, upcoming events, story ideas • Hit the streets!

29. A few beat tips • Follow the money

30. A few beat tips • Follow the money • Don’t get used

31. A few beat tips • Follow the money • Don’t get used • Write for the readers, not for the insiders

32. A few beat tips • Follow the money • Don’t get used • Write for the readers, not for the insiders • Translate jargon into English

33. A few beat tips • Follow the money • Don’t get used • Write for the readers, not for the insiders • Translate jargon into English • Don’t give up too easily... be persistent

34. A few beat tips • Follow the money • Don’t get used • Write for the readers, not for the insiders • Translate jargon into English • Don’t give up too easily... be persistent • Don’t shun good news

35. A few beats

37. Obituaries • At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats

38. Obituaries • At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats • Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit

39. Obituaries • At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats • Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit • People die, not “pass away”

40. Obituaries • At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats • Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit • People die, not “pass away” • Generally don’t go into personal problems or cause of death if something such as overdose or suicide

41. Obituaries • At everywhere but NY Times, considered among the worst beats • Death is news... if it occurs naturally (non-celeb), then it’s an obit • People die, not “pass away” • Generally don’t go into personal problems or cause of death if something such as overdose or suicide • Funeral homes provide you with most details… age, date of death, address, relatives, military service, funeral arrangements

43. Accidents and disasters

44. Accidents and disasters • “If it bleeds, it leads...”

45. Accidents and disasters • “If it bleeds, it leads...” • Standard inverted pyramid is usually best

46. Accidents and disasters • “If it bleeds, it leads...” • Standard inverted pyramid is usually best • For accidents, be sure you have: victims,

47. Accidents and disasters • “If it bleeds, it leads...” • Standard inverted pyramid is usually best • For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death

48. Accidents and disasters • “If it bleeds, it leads...” • Standard inverted pyramid is usually best • For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause

49. Accidents and disasters • “If it bleeds, it leads...” • Standard inverted pyramid is usually best • For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location

50. Accidents and disasters • “If it bleeds, it leads...” • Standard inverted pyramid is usually best • For accidents, be sure you have: victims, extent of injuries/death, cause, location, times