2. Beats help reporters focus their reporting
Beats help sources know who to contact with
story ideas & concerns
Beats help keep reporters from stepping on
each other’s toes
Professional news organizations want to see
prospective reporters can cover a beat
3. 1 Identify your beat – what does it include?
2 Develop sources – people who are
knowledgeable about your beat
3 Identify resources – publications, websites,
data sources
4 Use social media tools to expand your
network
5 Hunt for story ideas
4. Ask yourself:
What does this beat encompass?
What do I need to learn about this beat?
Who are the major players on the beat –
faculty, administrators, students, staff, leader
s of organizations?
What are the major issues/problems/conflicts
on your beat?
5. Consider everyone – classmates, professors,
janitors, the baristas at the local coffeehouse
– a source
Compile a list of potential sources, including
titles, phone numbers, email addresses
Introduce yourself to sources – set up
appointments for coffee, drop in on
professors’ offices
Tell people what you’re looking for – story
ideas, problems, issues, frustrations
6. Look for publications, websites, blogs related
to your beat – follow them
Look for data sources – police
logs, reports, audits
Set up a Google news alert for topics related
to your beat
7.
8. Find and follow sources on Twitter
Follow discussions on Twitter, Facebook &
Google+
Don’t just lurk; ask questions, seek sources,
invite discussion
9. Read other news outlets
Look for changes – new businesses, new
employees, administrative changes, new
policies
Scan bulletin boards
Talk to people – ask what’s new, what bothers
them
10. For more information
Read The Student Newspaper
Survival Guide, Second Edition
Order a copy at
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCD
A/WileyTitle/productCd-
1444332384.html