According to a national survey, the vast majority of reporters and editors use social media when researching stories. As MediaPost reports on the study by Cision and Don Bates of George Washington University:

Among the journalists surveyed, 89% said they turn to blogs for story research, 65% to social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, and 52% to microblogging services such as Twitter. The survey also found that 61% use Wikipedia, the popular online encyclopedia.

But just because journalists consult these sources doesn’t mean they use what they find without checking further. In fact, 84% of those surveyed said social media sources were “slightly less” or “much less” reliable than traditional media.

Another finding that’s probably no surprise: Journalists working for online publications are considerably more likely to use social media sources than journalists working for traditional media like newspapers and magazines. The study apparently did not include broadcast journalists.

The truth can be painful, can’t it? In doing a search for the video, I also stumbled across a couple of more serious resources on this topic that I thought were worth sharing.

So have a laugh, but then take a minute to learn a little, too!

Meeks Mixed Media How-To

E-How How-To

One of the most common mistakes when it comes to dealing with numbers is failing to make sure those numbers add up. This can lead to stories about polls which sampled more than 100 percent of respondents, or budgets that are larger than the sum of their parts. All it takes is a minute with a calculator to avoid these kinds of errors–and the “you people are stupid” calls they often generate.

Another frequent mistake journalists make is relying on raw numbers instead of calculating the relationship between those numbers to help people understand what they really mean. Yes, that means you have to do the math to determine percentages, and percent change, and rates [comparing numbers while holding a key variable, like population, constant]. But the good news is there are dozens of terrific online calculators to help you get the results right. Calculator.com is another good starting point.

You can’t always be online, though, so learn how to use the calculator on your smart phone or PDA, or carry a separate calculator with you. You’ll also want to have other resources at your fingertips. Ask your local university for the name of a good statistician–someone you can call when faced with a confusing number stories. Consider using an online forum, like Ask Dr. Math at Drexel University, for questions that may be less time-sensitive.

Other resources are available to improve your skills and boost your confidence in dealing with numbers. In “News by the Numbers,” writing coach Jack Hart details a series of essential steps every journalist needs to take when dealing with number-heavy stories. The IRE’s Sarah Cohen offers cheat sheets and tips in a collection of handouts, “Danger! Numbers in the Newsroom!”

Journalist Robert Niles has posted statistics every writer should know. Included are valuable tips on how to determine if the data you are looking at adds up to a story worth reporting. Another tipsheet by Kathleen Woodruff Wickham of the University of Mississippi, can help you understand the basics of polling and includes an exercise to explain margin of error and confidence level.

You can test your basic math skills by taking this interactive quiz by Steve Doig (with credit to Phil Meyer). Or take the free Math for Journalists course at NewsU (registration required).

If you want to dig deeper, IRE’s Cohen has put together a book, Numbers in the Newsroom, that’s for sale through the IRE Web site. The late Victor Cohn’s classic guidebook, News and Numbers, has been updated by Lewis Cope. For skill drills and formulas, check the book Math Tools for Journalists by Kathleen Woodruff Wickham. For a comprehensive bibliography on numeracy, check the PowerReporting Web site.

Sourced from: NewsLab

We’ve learned a lot since then, most notably that the quality of the content definitely matters.  Still, the fact is, there’s more space for long-form video online than in most TV newscasts.

Michael Farrell is a photographer and producer for the Nebraska ETV Network.   Speaking to a group of Ole Miss journalism students about crafting documentaries, he offered advice that seems relevant to anyone who wants to tell compelling stories. 

When choosing the people to include in a story, Farrell says the tendency is to interview the first person who will talk to you.  Instead, he urges storytellers to find the right person.

“We have to cast them in the film; we have to determine how strong they are as characters,” Farrell said.

He says he often “auditions” his interview subjects by contacting them about his story and asking them who they would suggest he talk to about his topic.  In the process, he gets a a feel for how good they will be themselves without potentially hurting their feelings.

Farrell also offers this advice for getting the high quality content needed to support a longer story:

• Find an adviser or guide to help you in the research phase.  That person can lead you to the story idea and the themes you want to include.
• Sprinkle some of the hard, dry facts throughout the story – what someone called a “sawdust sandwich.”  You need to offer nuggets of important information and data, but try to sandwich them in between strong visuals and compelling sound.
• Be there long enough for people to feel comfortable.  To do long-form well, you can’t just parachute in and out;  you’ll get the best stuff by spending time with your subjects.
• Strong writing is the backbone – great visuals need to be hung on a frame.
• You have to outline.  The outline will change through the reporting and writing process, but without it you don’t know where the story came from or where it’s going.

Finally, Farrell told the group that they have to care.

“There’s nothing like having a passion for your story.”

It takes preparation and skill to do a good interview. It’s not just a matter of going out with a question and coming back with a sound bite. So NewsLab offers the following tips as a starter kit.

Choose the right person to interview

Talking to “the usual suspects” all the time can make stories predictable and flat. Look for different sources who might add a new perspective by asking these questions:

• Who is most directly involved in this story? Who is the central character?
• Who is most affected by what is happening in this story?
• Who is in conflict in this story?
• Who might have more information about this story?
• Who could help me find the right person to speak to for this story?

Evaluate your choice

• How does this source know what he or she knows? (Is this person in a position to know these things–either personally or professionally?) How can I confirm this information through other sources, through documents?
• How representative is my source’s point of view? Is this just one person who complains loudly about the landlord, because he or she has a personal problem? Or is this the most articulate voice speaking for an entire group that has serious, legitimate problems?
• Has this source been reliable and credible in the past? Am I only using this source because it’s the easy way to go? Because I know I’ll get a good sound bite?
• What is the source’s motive for providing information? Is this person trying to make himself look good, or to make his boss look bad? Why is he or she talking to me in the first place? Am I being manipulated or spun by this source?

Persuade reluctant sources

Arranging an interview is not always easy. People often don’t want to talk with a journalist, especially about controversial issues. When dealing with public officials, start from the premise that the public has a right to know what those officials are doing. Then anticipate their concerns:

• They don’t have time. Offer a more convenient time or place. Say you’ll drive to work with them in the morning and talk along the way. Be prepared to limit the amount of time you need, if this is an important source.
• They’re afraid. They think you will make them look bad. Be clear about why you want to talk to them and why the story needs their point of view. If they are just anxious about talking to a reporter, work hard at being a real person so they can relax. Don’t use the “interview” word. Just say you want to talk to them, but be clear that it will be on camera.
• They don’t know what to say. Maybe you have chosen the wrong source. Or maybe you have not been clear about what you are seeking. Focus on what the person does want to say, so you can draw him or her out. If you are dealing with children or victims of trauma, take special care.
• They are being protected. You have to get through a secretary or a public relations officer to the person you want. Write a letter directly to the source. Call during lunch or after business hours–you may find that person at his desk without a secretary to run interference. Some reporters have been known to just show up at the office or at a location where the person will be (the parking lot, a football game). Cultivate the person who is standing in your way. Sometimes they will even take your case if you are polite but persistent. Or use an intermediary–someone who knows that source and can put in a good word for you.
• They don’t see any reason to talk to you. Give them good reasons why they should. If they say no comment, ask what they thought the last time they read a story with a no comment in it. Did they think the person was hiding something? Wouldn’t they rather provide some information to set the record straight? Appeal to their sense of importance. Tell them you really need their point of view, that they can contribute something no one else can.

Finally, if officials simply refuse to talk, hold them accountable.

Sourced from: NewsLab

Not very well, says Craig Silverman, founder of Regret The Error.com. J-school students may lose points for errors like misspelled names but fear of mistakes doesn’t lead to accuracy, Silverman says. Instead, he suggests formal accuracy training based on real world examples, public consequences and checklists.

One school is doing this now, according to Silverman: the Tilburg School of Journalism in the Netherlands, which has a three week fact checking program for its fourth year students.

Each morning, the students gather in a room to review the day’s news and identify stories that seem questionable. Then they go to work, hitting the phones and other sources to pull suspicious stories apart and see if they hold up to scrutiny. As of today, roughly 80 per cent of the stories checked have contained some form of factual mistake, according to instructor and Dutch journalist Theo Dersjant. Their findings are published on a blog.

Here’s the best part. If the students goof up and falsely accuse a journalist of making a mistake, they have to apologize in person and hand deliver a pie!

Sounds like a great system to me. Any other schools want to try it? Any schools already doing something similar? Let us know in the comments.

Chuck Fadely of the Miami Herald definitely subscribes to the “pay attention” school of interviewing. Here are a few of his best interviewing tips from an online discussion group:

* pay attention! You need to know what you’ve got on tape and what you still need for the story
* pay attention! You need to know what the story is and stay on track
* pay attention! You’ll need to go shoot b-roll of what they’re talking about

Photojournalist and teacher Cyndy Green reinforces that last point.

My #1 rule is to always listen to what the interview subject is saying and make mental notes about visuals that will tie in what they talk about. So if you’re doing a story about drug houses and they mention how run-down the yards look or how there is always someone on the lookout for cops…those are visuals you can try to get to enhance the story.

Green’s second rule is all about paying attention, too. “Keep eye contact with the interview subject…let them know you are interested in what they have to say.

”

You’ll notice that both Green and Fadely expect you to interview first and shoot later. That’s generally good advice when you’re working alone, but only if you’re not covering breaking news. If you are, check these tips from WBFF’s Darren Durlach.

Simple templates can speed up the collection of basic information on the kinds of stories that pop up every day. And standard forms can cut the time it takes to file routine requests. Here are a few checklists, adapted from News in a New Century by Jerry Lanson and Barbara Fought, and some links to get you started:

CRIME STORY:

• Location and time of incident
• Nature of crime and how it occurred
• Deaths, injuries, property loss, damages
• Weapons or materials used in crime
• Status of investigation; name, phone, email of officer in charge
• Arrests, arraignment, bail information
• Description or name of suspect
• Relationship between criminal and victim
• Crime and safety factors (unlocked door, high crime neighborhood, alarm system, etc.)

ACCIDENT STORY:

• Location and time of accident
• Names, ages, addresses of dead or injured; nature of injuries; where taken
• Number and type of vehicles involved; damages to cars and property
• How accident occurred
• Contributing factors (alcohol, speeding, road hazards, seatbelts, equipment malfunction, etc.)
• Police/emergency responding and response time
• How long to clean up
• Lead investigator: name, rank, organization, phone number, email
• Arrests or citations issued
• Traffic affected: how and for how long

FIRE STORY:

• Location
• Time/source of first call; number of alarms
• Origin of fire, how spread, when controlled
• Names, ages, addresses of dead or injured; nature of injuries; where taken
• Type of structure; owner’s name
• Damage estimate; insurance information
• Fire units responding (# firefighters, equipment) and response time
• Contributing factors (code violation, smoke alarm, sprinkler, combustibles, wind, rain, etc.)
• Rescue stories/heroes; if criminal, any arrests/suspects (see Crime Story)
• Status of investigation; name, phone, email of officer in charge
• Traffic affected: how and for how long

FOIA REQUESTS: To file a request for state or local government records or documents, you need to know the open records law that applies in your state. The Student Press Law Center makes it easy by providing a “Fully Automated, Fill-in-the-Blanks State Open Records Law Request Letter Generator.” Just follow the directions, fill in the required information, and presto: your letter is ready to print and send.If you’re filing a request for federal records or documents, use this letter generator provided by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM: Most courts require a written request for permission to photograph, record or broadcast judicial proceedings. The form on this page is used by the Court of Appeals of the 9th Circuit of California, and may provide you with a template to work from if your own court system does not have a similar form.

Sourced from: NewsLab

Speaking to a group of 34 broadcast journalists at the SPJ Reporters Institute, Johnston said it’s more important than ever to come in early, stay late and go in on your own time – especially if you have a story you’re passionate about.

Johnston says some of that time should be invested in learning as much as you can about the communities you cover.

You have to know your market; what’s right Nashville is not what’s right in Las Vegas.

For example, Johnston says he’s created a folder filled with printouts of bios on Tennesee’s governor, Nashville’s mayor and key city council folks.  He wants to have that info at his fingertips in the case of breaking news.

Johnston has a list of suggestions for researching your own market.

• Talk to sales people to get a feel for business trends and local industries.
• Meet with a station meterologist to get a feel with the weather issues in your market.
• Know your congressional leaders and the committees they serve on.
• Learn  how the local judicial system works.

Johnston says collecting this kind of background will make you a better journalist and it may just offer a little job security, too.