spellings. Don t pretend to know something that you don t. Summarize for the subject in your own words some of his main points. For example, you might say, Let' s see if I understand you. You mean 17. Tell the sub ject you will be calling back later to check facts (not quotes) and do so. Make the call when you are almost finished with the story. Use it as a second interview. Ask about areas you did not understand, or about areas that will be a part of the story but were not covered well during the original nterview 18. Tape record the conversation if time permits and the story demands. Is this a profile? Does your sub ject have a distinctive way of speaking? Is this a controversial topic? Will the presence of a recorder put a chill on the conversation? If you decide to use a recorder, ask permission of the subject. Place it off to the side, but where it can be seen. Make sure it is in good working order with good batteries. Use it as a backup to your regular note taking 19. assume that the conversation is on the record If the sub ject asks for parts of it to be off the record, try to convince him/her otherwise. If unsuccessful, make sure you and the sub ject understand the ground rules. Does off the record mean you can use the material, but not with her name attached to it? Can you go to someone else and get the information on the record? Or does off the record mean you cannot use the information, even without his name attached, and you cant go to someone else to get the information? 20. Direct quotes from your sub ject are essential for your story. They allow your reader to hear the person you are writing about. They also create the impression of objectivity, that you, the reporter, are simply telling the world about something that happened. But quotes must be 100 percent accurate. If you are not certain of every word of the quote remove the quote marks and paraphrase. However, it
spellings. Don't pretend to know something that you don't. Summarize for the subject in your own words some of his main points. For example, you might say, "Let's see if I understand you. You mean..." 17. Tell the subject you will be calling back later to check facts (not quotes) and do so. Make the call when you are almost finished with the story. Use it as a second interview. Ask about areas you did not understand, or about areas that will be a part of the story but were not covered well during the original interview. 18. Tape record the conversation if time permits and the story demands. Is this a profile? Does your subject have a distinctive way of speaking? Is this a controversial topic? Will the presence of a recorder put a chill on the conversation? If you decide to use a recorder, ask permission of the subject. Place it off to the side, but where it can be seen. Make sure it is in good working order with good batteries. Use it as a backup to your regular note taking. 19. Assume that the conversation is "on the record." If the subject asks for parts of it to be "off the record," try to convince him/her otherwise. If unsuccessful, make sure you and the subject understand the ground rules. Does "off the record" mean you can use the material, but not with her name attached to it? Can you go to someone else and get the information on the record? Or does "off the record" mean you cannot use the information, even without his name attached, and you can't go to someone else to get the information? 20. Direct quotes from your subject are essential for your story. They allow your reader to "hear" the person you are writing about. They also create the impression of objectivity, that you, the reporter, are simply telling the world about something that happened. But quotes must be 100 percent accurate. If you are not certain of every word of the quote, remove the quote marks and paraphrase. However, it
is permissible to clean up bad grammar within a quote 21. Make sure the quote is revealing of your subject. Avoid direct quotes if the material is boring, if the nformation is factual and indisputable or if the quote is unclear. Make sure the quote advances the story and does not repeat the material above it. 22. Often the advice given for interviewing make it sound like a game of wits with your sub ject. They ve got something you want, and they won t give it to you. You are advised to flatter them,"make them feel comfortable,lead up to the tough questions with easy ones,"dont take no for an answer. What's implicit here is that there are several realities that you can report. a good reporter reports at one level. a great reporter reports at another level, closer to what I call actual reality. Strive to discover during the interview the actual reality 23. Figure that there is material that your sub ject knows, will tell you and will let you report. That is the reportable reality. There is another reality that the subject knows, will tell you, but will not let you report. This is the private reality. There is a third reality that the sub ject knows but will not tell you, much less let you report Strive to discover through every legal and ethical means this" actual reality and report it. Remember journalism is what somebody doesnt want you to print. Everything else is publicity
is permissible to "clean up" bad grammar within a quote. 21. Make sure the quote is revealing of your subject. Avoid direct quotes if the material is boring, if the information is factual and indisputable or if the quote is unclear. Make sure the quote advances the story and does not repeat the material above it. 22. Often the advice given for interviewing makes it sound like a game of wits with your subject. They've got something you want, and they won't give it to you. You are advised to "flatter them," "make them feel comfortable," "lead up to the tough questions with easy ones," "don't take no for an answer." What's implicit here is that there are several realities that you can report. A good reporter reports at one level. A great reporter reports at another level, closer to what I call "actual reality." Strive to discover during the interview the "actual reality." 23. Figure that there is material that your subject knows, will tell you and will let you report. That is the "reportable reality." There is another reality that the subject knows, will tell you, but will not let you report. This is the "private reality." There is a third reality that the subject knows but will not tell you, much less let you report. Strive to discover through every legal and ethical means this "actual reality" and report it. Remember, journalism is what somebody doesn't want you to print. Everything else is publicity
To be a successful reporter The best reporters I know are bright, persistent, honest, personable, curious and courageous. If you asked them to explain their success, this is what they might say 1. A good reporter is a generalist, able to deal with a number of topics and talk with a variety of people. He or she can see the unusual, the ironic, in the everyday She can think through all the possibilities and organize a large amount of information to find the important parts 2. A good reporter is quick. Once he is assigned a story, he goes after it. He makes the calls and keeps trying if he doesn,'t make contact. He remembers the sign that once hung in the Los Angeles Times newsroom: GOYA/KOD. Get off your ass/knock on doors Successful reporters are Smart 3. A good reporter is curious. He or she takes pleasure in Quick the new, and in the old, in the history or precedent that got us where Pleasant we are. He enjoys read ing and appreciates the details Honest 4. a good reporter is pleasant. She adopts a friendly nature with those she meets. She is a grateful guest, with a belief in the basic goodness of people. She conveys to those she meets that she is tolerant of them and their ideas even though she does not like them or what they stand for. She subord inates her ego and is a good liste 5. A good reporter is honest. He seeks the truth and acts independently. He does what he says he's going to do, and doesn,'t do something he promised to avoid He returns his calls, and he's willing to say no. he's obsessed with accuracy and double checks his facts with call-backs. He sees both sides to every issue. He doesn't treat people as a means to an 6. The good reporter is courageous. She approaches strangers. She takes pleasure in being good, in being first She develops a skin to deflect the inevitable criticism. She is willing to make a mistake and willing to write something that may hurt someone. She has a capacity for tempered outrage
To be a successful reporter The best reporters I know are bright, persistent, honest, personable, curious and courageous. If you asked them to explain their success, this is what they might say: 1. A good reporter is a generalist, able to deal with a number of topics and talk with a variety of people. He or she can see the unusual, the ironic, in the everyday. She can think through all the possibilities and organize a large amount of information to find the important parts. 2. A good reporter is quick. Once he is assigned a story, he goes after it. He makes the calls and keeps trying if he doesn't make contact. He remembers the sign that once hung in the Los Angeles Times newsroom: GOYA/KOD. Get off your ass/knock on doors. 3. A good reporter is curious. He or she takes pleasure in the new, and in the old, in the history or precedent that got us where we are. He enjoys reading and appreciates the details. 4. A good reporter is pleasant. She adopts a friendly nature with those she meets. She is a grateful guest, with a belief in the basic goodness of people. She conveys to those she meets that she is tolerant of them and their ideas, even though she does not like them or what they stand for. She subordinates her ego and is a good listener. 5. A good reporter is honest. He seeks the truth and acts independently. He does what he says he's going to do, and doesn't do something he promised to avoid. He returns his calls, and he's willing to say no. He's obsessed with accuracy and double checks his facts with call-backs. He sees both sides to every issue. He doesn't treat people as a means to an end. 6. The good reporter is courageous. She approaches strangers. She takes pleasure in being good, in being first. She develops a skin to deflect the inevitable criticism. She is willing to make a mistake and willing to write something that may hurt someone. She has a capacity for tempered outrage. Successful reporters are: • Smart • Quick • Curious • Pleasant • Honest
7. As Jon Franklin, reporter, author and teacher, said: " Back when I first started, I thought intelligence was the most important attribute a reporter could have I have since changed my mind. You do have to be intelligent, but the big thing is courage. Courage to open your mind and let the whole damned confusing world in. Courage to always be the ignorant one, on somebody else's turf. Courage to stand corrected. Courage to take criticism. Courage to grow with your experiences. Courage to accept what you don't understand. Most of all. courage to see what is there and not what you want to think is there
7. As Jon Franklin, reporter, author and teacher, said: "Back when I first started, I thought intelligence was the most important attribute a reporter could have. I have since changed my mind. You do have to be intelligent, but the big thing is courage. Courage to open your mind and let the whole damned confusing world in. Courage to always be the ignorant one, on somebody else's turf. Courage to stand corrected. Courage to take criticism. Courage to grow with your experiences. Courage to accept what you don't understand. Most of all, courage to see what is there and not what you want to think is there
Prewriting The human touch A good reporter makes regular contact with his oris er sour ces She goes to the well when she' s thirsty, but she also goes to the well when she s not thirsty. There is no substitute for actually being there, for personal contact. See your sources, speak to them when you need some thing from them, but more importantly, when you don t need anything 1. One of the most important qualities that a reporter must have is an ease around strangers. Always be alert to the common ground that you share with the people you deal with. Mention these topics in your conversations with them. Familiarity doesn t In working with sources, a breed contempt. It lowers barriers reporter: 2. A reporter has to answer the question,"What's information if p? with possible than,Not much. Put sources on the receiving Translates their end of jargon information. The Fbi approach-We ask the Is polite but questions, mister -does not work for a reporter. A persistent reporter is an information broker Share information Maintains a when you can. certain distance 3. With this said, you a lso have to be careful. You must learn to walk a fine line between getting clos but not too close. As Walter Lippmann said,There has to be a certain distance between a reporter and the source, not a wall or a fence but an air space You serve the reader, not the source. 4. After months on a beat, working with the same sources, you will begin to think like them and talk like them. You will be sympathetic to their point of view. Be wary of this and of their efforts to use you It is likely and legitimate that they will try to persuade you of the merit of their views, to sell you on their programs. You will have little contact with your readers, but it is them you represent
Prewriting The human touch A good reporter makes regular contact with his or her sources. She goes to the well when she's thirsty, but she also goes to the well when she's not thirsty. There is no substitute for actually being there, for personal contact. See your sources, speak to them when you need something from them, but more importantly, when you don't need anything. 1. One of the most important qualities that a reporter must have is an ease around strangers. Always be alert to the common ground that you share with the people you deal with. Mention these topics in your conversations with them. Familiarity doesn't breed contempt. It lowers barriers. 2. A reporter has to answer the question, "What's up?" with more than, "Not much." Put sources on the receiving end of information. The FBI approach—"We ask the questions, mister"—does not work for a reporter. A reporter is an information broker. Share information when you can. 3. With this said, you also have to be careful. You must learn to walk a fine line between getting close but not too close. As Walter Lippmann said, "There has to be a certain distance between a reporter and the source, not a wall or a fence but an air space." You serve the reader, not the source. 4. After months on a beat, working with the same sources, you will begin to think like them and talk like them. You will be sympathetic to their point of view. Be wary of this and of their efforts to use you. It is likely and legitimate that they will try to persuade you of the merit of their views, to sell you on their programs. You will have little contact with your readers, but it is them you represent. In working with sources, a reporter: • Shares information, if possible • Translates their jargon • Is polite but persistent • Maintains a certain distance