GETTING ORGANIZED

Broadcast journalists are always racing against the clock. There never seems to be enough time to make a story better. Some days, just making air is a triumph. But taking just a little time to get organized before you write can make a huge difference in the quality of your work.

These tips were developed with the help of Don Gibb, a former reporter and editor at The London (Ontario) Free Press. He teaches reporting at Ryerson University’s School of Journalism in Toronto.

• Focus. Tell yourself what your story is about in a few words. This helps you develop and stick to a theme. (Check these NewsLab tips on finding a focus.)
  
  
• Outline. Jot down a brief outline before you start to write the story. It shouldn’t take you longer than a few minutes to decide where you want to start, the order of your sound bites, and where you will end. Use your outline as a writing map.
  
  
• Put notes away. Try writing without looking at your notes. The story, one writing coach says, is in your head. Only refer to your notes when you need to.
  
  
• Work in sections. Write – or at least think about – your story in sections or blocks. If you can finish the top section, your editor can start cutting while you continue to write.
  
  
• Stay on track. Bring interview subjects into your story to have their say … then say goodbye to them. (A reminder: This isn’t a “rule,” it’s a suggestion, especially in stories with a lot of different voices.)
  
  
• Avoid repeat bites. Don’t allow people to say the same thing as someone else in your story – unless there is a reason to add weight to a statement or fact. Such repetition is often needless and done for one reason – someone was kind enough to give you an hour of his or her time, so maybe you should give that person a few seconds in your story. Poor reason!
  
  
• Make transitions smooth. Help viewers or listeners follow where you're going. Be clear when your story is moving from one person to the next, one location to the next, or one time element to the next.
  
  
• Justify. Before using an element, ask yourself: Is this advancing the story? Why is this important? What happens to the story if I leave it out? As William Zinsser says (On Writing Well): Are you hanging on to something useless just because you think it’s beautiful?
  
  
• Plan the end. Know how you want to end your story before you start. Ask your interview subjects “story-ending questions” to give you some options. (Where do you go from here? What have you learned from your experience?) But remember, ending on a sound bite is rarely the strongest close.