Beat reporting

• http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/michelle-rhee-to-announce-resi.html?hpid=topnews

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101205658.html?sid=ST2010101205661

• http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/what-are-people-saying-about-r.html

How do I cover a beat?

Advice from Jane Mayer, The New Yorker:

“Interview the caterers who come in with the food, interview the photographers who take the pictures. Talk to relatives. Talk to officials who come in contact with the person you’re covering. Those things can lead to

wonderful stories, and generally people who are on the periphery are looser with the details than those working

directly for the person you’re covering.” 

How do I do it here?

* Remember you're in a small pond. Choose wisely.

* Write one story, then leverage those sources to write more. 

* Pay attention to what's going on, then use the news to generate ideas for your own original pieces. 

How do I do it here?

* Watch what's happening around you. If you notice it, it probably makes a good story.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/bjorn_challenges_the_snow_blockages/

How do I do it here?

* Talk to as many people as you can (for most of you, students). Your peers' experiences can make good stories. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/06/AR2010100607228.html

How do I do it here?

* If you see or hear sirens, follow that sound! Covering basic crime is a great way to get to know cops and firefighters, get good photos, and build other sources. 

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/shoplifter_arrested_at_celtica/

How do I do it here?

* Be persistent, and comprehensive. Readers DO care about incremental stories, if they're affected by them. 

http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/roof_concerns_lead_to_school_vacation_questions/

http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/no_classes_at_oxford_high_monday/

http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/oxford_high_school_to_open_thursday/

How do I do it here?

* Know enough to get invited inside the room where the interesting stuff is happening. 

http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/baltimore_dropouts/

How do I do it here?

Don't be afraid to write features. Not every story is a hard-hitting expose. 

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/st._andrews_family_turns_a_corner/

How do I do it here?

* Know your history. Add context and perspective to your stories. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/08/AR2010120806619.html

More examples

• http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/bell/

More examples

• http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/101013&sportCat=nfl

More examples

• http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/