Using available resources

While this may not be breaking news, America's journalism industry is changing---quickly. 

Long gone are the days of fat print newspapers, crowded newsrooms and bountiful profits.  This is increasingly the time of grassroots journalism, and some stars are emerging.  

Take, ProPublica, for example.  First of all, it is non-profit. It does a lot of journalism, and since its inception in 2007 has received its fair share of accolades--including a Pulitzer. It does journalism in a way that attempts, first and foremost to,  produce  "investigative journalism in the public interest," according to its mission.  

The organization takes its mission one step further and regularly offers free assistance for journalists seeking to learn how to do investigate journalism well.  Recently, the group offered "reporting recipe" of sorts to journalists. Read about it here. 

The idea is to get back to the basics.  And, on a more practical level, some say Pro-Publica's business model is indicative of what more and more successful news ventures will look like in the future.  

I am paying close attention.  There assistance is invaluable to a budding journalist. And, who knows, there operation is a type of workplace I may someday work for. 

getting good video

As a former print reporter, I was concerned with finding a story that was interesting, substantive and, perhaps most importantly, mattered to my readers.  

So, it may come as a surprise that the idea of doing all of that and getting interesting video to help illustrate the story has emerged as one of biggest challenges I have faced so far as a multi-media journalist. 

Here's an example: This past week I was assigned to cover a story about a spike in sexually-transmitted diseases among the 10 to 14 year olds who live in Mid-Missouri.  It was a newsworthy story, to say the least.  The problem? My video was limited to the inside of a STD prevention organization.  Frankly, it was boring.  

I understand that not every story lends itself to good video.  And, for that matter, some stories that don't have good video are still so newsworthy that they should air--despite mundane photography.   

The teen STD story aired.  Frankly, the video was less than exciting.  In hindsight, a couple of things could have strengthened the story. 

First, pre-plan, pre-plan, pre-plan.  While I was fortunate to score an interview with the executive director of Mid-Missouri's leading STD resource organization, more pre-planning could have provided interviews with public school sex education liaisons and, just maybe, someone who has been affected by STDS.   

Second, keep your eyes open when you're in the field. When I was at the STD prevention organization, I didn't begin searching for good video until my interviews were completed. That potentially could have allowed me to miss opportunities to capture exciting video.  

A precarious relationship: Palin and the media

A slew of recent media reports have targeted Sarah Palin's decision to not allow reporters into her speaking engagements--even when they are on public property. 

Ultimately, it's an issue of public accountability. And while Palin's denial of the media may be the most newsworthy at the moment, the issue is universal when it comes to journalism. 

Lee Wilkins, professor of radio-television journalism at MU, recently addressed the issue with Palin, along with the broader idea of public accountability, during "Views of the News," a weekly radio show on KBIA--Columbia's NPR station.  

One of the questions that surfaced during the show: How do reporters essentially sidestep those who are obstructing us from keeping people accountable? 

My suggestion:  Don't be lazy, and get out out of your comfort zone.  It's a sentiment also echoed by "Views of the News" panelist Charles Davis, MU professor of journalism studies and executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition.  During the segment he said that we need to keep public people accountable by essentially keeping them on their toes. 

I agree.  It may not be comfortable to call the mayor of Columbia at home; however, it is not about you. Its about keeping those who live in this city apprised of the many governmental events that surface on a daily basis. It may not be comfortable to show up unannounced at a public official's office seeking comment. Still, it is a duty of a journalist. And if we fail, so does democracy--albeit a little bit at a time. 

Regarding Sarah Palin, how can one report on an event that is closed to the media? Panelist Lynda Kraxberger, chairperson of MU's convergence journalism sequence, urged reporters to attend the event as a blogger or a guest.  

While I am not a fan of deception, being creative in an effort to obtain information that could impact peoples' lives is a job of a journalist. 

 Don't be lazy. It sounds simple (and it is). 

1 minute

It's the amount of time I, as a TV reporter, most likely will have to explain an issue that may be very complex.  Welcome to TV. 

I've heard from veterans in the industry that writing concisely can be one of the most challenging issues a new TV reporter will face.  During a recent reporting shift at KOMU, I found that piece of advice to be all to true.  I was assigned to cover a story that essentially localized a national study that found troubling trends when it came to foster children who age out of the system.  There were a lot of components to the story, and, to my surprise, several sources who were willing to talk about the issue. 

My trouble: deciphering the broad issue at hand, and understanding how to make KOMU's viewers care--in 1 minute. 

Based on the vast majority of readings for the broadcast class I am taking, I decided to "aim for the heart," a phrase coined by Al Tompkins.  I used the stories of Mid-Missourians who have aged out of the foster care system in an attempt to make the story relatable.  I had three remarkable people who were willing to talk; however, in hindsight, I think I would have emphasized only one.  After all, I am learning the old adage "its about quality not quantity," certainly pertains to this industry.  

Instead, I tried to explain the issue, pull off a descent stand-up, make a graphic  and tell three stories--in 1 minute.  

While the end result may have been acceptable, I am certain it could have been more relatable if I had developed a bonifide "central compelling character,"  further exposing one of my source's struggles with aging out of the system. 

Hopefully, I'll do that next time--in 1 minute. 

Enough is enough. Or is it?

Can there be too much coverage about a particular issue? 

Sure, most reporters would agree that time spent covering stories like the marital torment of Sandra Bullock and Jesse James is a bit excessive. But what about those issues that really do impact our society on a large-scale? Is it possible to "over report" on such issues? 

It's a question that has long been debated; however, I began seriously contemplating the issue as the year-old debate on the healthcare overhaul came to vote this past Sunday night. The media has been fairly consumed with the issue. And while such attention may very well be warranted, have we failed to bring light to other important issues? 

This ProPublica article underscores the issue.  At hand is whether or not bickering about healthcare on Capitol Hill has caused other issues, namely issues surrounding the training of Afghan police offers, to be neglected. The article addresses Sen. Claire McCaskill's frustration over the cancellation of a meeting that was set to address some serious problems with Afghan police officers.  While the article focuses on  Congress' recent obsession with healthcare, there are certainly parallels when it comes to the media.  

While the healthcare debate is no doubt worthy of coverage, have we as reporters ignored other issues because of our recent fixation with the emotionally-charged fighting that has been complementing the debate? I think so. 

While I will undoubtedly fall short, as a reporter my goal is to strive to search for important themes that are underreported in mainstream media. While the assignment desk may have the the ultimate say about what I  cover, pitching such stories, which are important to viewers and not readily reported, will hopefully contribute--albeit in a small way--to a society that is more balanced in terms of news consumption and public policy. 

Initiation not just communication

Producers. 

Their title pretty much sums up their role in the newsroom. In the simplest of terms, they put together the many pieces of the news-gathering process in an attempt to "produce" a seamless show. 

Their relationship with reporters is but a fraction of their overall job function.  And that's why, from this reporter's perspective, it is so necessary to continually initiate communication about your story's progress.  

Case in point: I recently was sent to cover a Jefferson City parks and recreation meeting because of a rather ambiguous agenda line item about a discussion of a sales tax. The mention of the tax spurred my news director's curiosity; however, from the onset, we had no idea whether or not anything discussed at the meeting would be newsworthy.  

Fast-forward two hours: I returned to the newsroom from the meeting to some visibly irritated producers because they did not have my cell phone number. To my defense, I had written my contact information in the appropriate place in the newsroom. And while for whatever reason they were unable to find it, the whole situation could have been avoided if I simply called the newsroom immediately following the meeting.  

Its about initiation, not just communication. If nothing else, I've taken away from my first few shifts at the station the need to start dialogue with your producers--even if they don't seem overly eager to hear about the latest developments of some relatively minor VOSOT. And while my approach admittedly borders on annoying, at least I know I am not screwing up a producer's show because of a lack of communication.  Frankly, I'd rather be viewed as annoying than incompetent.

In the long run, taking the initiative to call back to the station early and often will, perhaps most importantly, ensure you have a voice in the story's evolution. 

On a more practical level, it means you're more likely to have a healthy--and less frustrating--relationship with your station's producers, which I am learning is never a bad thing. 

Searching

Any reporter knows that the whole notion of developing story ideas can be either the bane of one's professional existence or a part of the story-telling process that can ensure your work's success. 

Strong leads can turn into great enterprising stories.  A lack thereof is sure to spell failure--particularly in a market that isn't readily ripe with hard news.  So, while I am waiting to get assigned my shifts at KOMU, I've decided to devote this entry to debatably the most important part of a reporter's job:  finding captivating stories. 

Through my work as a print journalist and the time I've spent cultivating TV news stories, I've come to realize that coming up with story ideas shouldn't be underestimated.  I've also found that it takes a sizable amount of elbow grease to develop good story ideas.  In other words, they don't just appear.  

Many times, I've found the best story ideas come from the people who may never be elected to a public office or, for that matter, darken the doors of a city hall. They're society's hard workers who often never get the accolade they deserve. Case in point: I work part-time at a local community college. There, I've gotten to know a number of its students.  Many are non-traditional in nature. They're smart, humble and have incredible stories. 

While talking with one woman in her 40's, she told me about how she was recently reunited with a son who she placed for adoption more than a quarter of a century ago. The now-28-year-old found his biological mother on Craigslist. 

It was a moving story.  And after a bit of convincing, that student's untold story turned into a package that hopefully did their story justice.  It happened by getting out in the community, building a rapport with your viewers and shutting up and listening. 

However agonizing, I believe building the gathering of story ideas into one's work schedule is paramount to success.