Journalists reacted to the bombings at the Boston Marathon and the aftermath the way they always do: they ran toward danger. In a crisis, whether it’s terrorism or a manhunt in Boston or a fertilizer plant explosion in Texas, the news media are first responders. In order to do their job well, however, journalists must [...]
Do you write more than you read? One way to become a better writer is to read more. Here’s how the Portuguese author Jose Saramago, who won the Nobel Prize for literature, once described his writing routine: “I write two pages. And then I read and read and read.” Writers read to see how others do [...]
It’s a long way from the “Boys on the Bus.” Political reporters today have more information at their fingertips than a whole newsroom could provide not that long ago. Here are a few you might want to download, if you haven’t already. Ad Hawk, free from the Sunlight Foundation, uses sound recognition technology to quickly [...]
News directors from around the country say Hearst Television deserves “the prize for best overall news” based solely on reputation. That’s according to a TVNewsCheck survey. The station group garnered 29.9%, or 23 of the 77 votes cast. A clear second was Belo at 16.9% with 13. Scripps, Cox and Raycom followed with seven, six and five [...]
Beginning a new year by looking backward is a time-honored tradition among procrastinators and (true confession here) I can procrastinate with the best of them when I’m not on deadline. So herewith, a look back at the posts that got the most traffic at NewsLab in 2011, in case you missed any or would like [...]
How far will you go to protect the identity of sources who give you information on the condition that you not reveal their names? If you haven’t thought about it, you should. Every reporter eventually runs into a story so important that it’s worth getting the information on a confidential basis. But you’d better understand [...]
Every writer knows the KISS rule: Keep It Simple, Stupid! But too many writers forget to apply it, loading their stories with so much information that the viewers’ eyes glaze over. KGO reporter Wayne Freedman compares the way writers over-stuff stories to the way travelers cram suitcases with so many clothes that everything comes out wrinkled. [...]
Let’s say you’ve been a journalist for a while but you feel a bit out of the loop when it comes to using social media and multimedia. OK, not just out of the loop–totally overwhelmed. And you’re worried some kid just out of college is going to steal your job one day because they have [...]
Do independent hyperlocal news sites face different ethical challenges than bigger news organizations? Yes, according to a new report, Rules of the Road, from American University’s J-Lab. Author Scott Rosenberg says hyperlocal sites have “fewer traditions and rules and more confusingly blurred boundaries.” So how are they handling these challenges? Like small newspapers–and, I would [...]
It’s obvious that much has changed in the ten years since 9/11. Ask Americans what they think is the most important problem facing the United States and terrorism doesn’t even make the list. The number of Americans willing to have the government violate their “basic civil liberties” in order to prevent additional acts of terrorism [...]
You already know that prospective employers are looking for journalists with social media skills. The Statesman-Journal in Salem, Oregon, certainly is. Executive Editor Bill Church recently advertised an opening for a “talented reporter with high digital IQ.” If you’re talented, aggressive, responsible, innovative, socially adept, digitally awesome and perpetually energized, you’ll fit in just fine [...]
Remember when the home office meant your company’s headquarters? Many journalists never set foot in the home office, working instead from a local station, broadcast center or news bureau. But today, “home office” has an entirely different meaning for legions of journalists who freelance, work for Web outlets or run their own news sites. Working [...]
When an earthquake hits, as happened on the East Coast this week, or when a major storm comes ashore as appears likely with Hurricane Irene this weekend, YouTube can be an invaluable source of video. Since just about everyone these days has a camera on hand at all times, YouTube and other video sharing services [...]
By Stan Heist When I was a news photographer I carried a lot of gear in the back of my car. Perhaps the most important thing – and most seldom used – was a small blue duffel bag that I called my “go-kit.” Inside the go-kit were the essentials for an unplanned overnight stay, just [...]
I often describe NewsLab as a resource for journalists. The tips, research and background on this site are free for anyone to use. I lead training programs for journalists for a reasonable fee, which goes toward keeping the site (and me) going. But another way of thinking about NewsLab is as a toolkit for journalists, [...]
The business beat wasn’t always a staple of local TV and radio coverage, but the recession and recovery have put business-related stories front and center. If you want to do more than just scratch the surface, you have to know where to look. Financials: Check for all publicly available records on each business you cover. [...]
When and where is it OK to shoot video without getting permission? Can generic file video get you in legal trouble? These kinds of questions come up in newsrooms all the time and often lead to heated debates. Next time, check the Photographers’ Guide to Privacy produced by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. [...]
Forgive me for tooting my own horn, but I’m pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of my book, Advancing the Story: Broadcast Journalism in a Multimedia World, co-authored with Deb Wenger. It’s available now from CQ Press or Amazon, and we hope you’ll check it out. What’s different this time around? The new [...]
I’m a sucker for lists, especially lists for journalists. So I had to read the 25 commandments for journalists posted by a former editor of the Guardian. Tim Radford’s “manifesto” is a useful reminder of what really matters in journalism, and it’s not today’s cool tools, as much fun as they are. Radford reminds us all [...]
TV photojournalist Anne Herbst does a lot more than shoot and edit. She writes a lot of stories, too, but unlike other solo journalists at KUSA in Denver, she doesn’t voice them. “My husband says I sound like Kermit the Frog,” Herbst told participants at the 2010 Northwest Video Workshop. So Herbst has found other [...]