The document provides tips for preparing for and covering speeches, news conferences, meetings, and other public events as a reporter. It advises reporters to research topics using their organization's archives and legitimate news databases. For speeches, reporters are encouraged to obtain advance transcripts if possible and pre-interview speakers. At news conferences, reporters should strategically save their best questions for private interviews. When covering meetings, reporters should focus on extracting newsworthy elements like conflict, decisions, or votes. The document also reviews writing structures for articles covering these events.

1. Speeches, News Conferences
and Meetings
Presented by
Brett Atwood

2. Preparation
• It is not uncommon to be assigned a speech or
meeting covering a topic that is unfamiliar to
you
• If this happens, you will need to prepare so
that you know what is “news” and what isn’t

3. Preparation
• Your employer/publication may have an
existing archive of news coverage on the
topic…use it!
• This media archive may be referred to as a
morgue

4. Preparation
• You may also use the Internet – but be careful as
misinformation is rampant
• Your publication/employer may also subscribe to a
legitimate news database, such as Lexis/Nexis

5. Speeches
• When you are assigned to cover a public
speech, there are some things you can do to
prepare
– Get advance transcript, if available
– Pre-interview the speaker, if possible
– Bring a tape/video recorder to document exact
words/events

6. Speeches
• Be aware that when you cover a public
speech, there is heightened scrutiny on what
you quote and report on

7. News Conferences
• Unlike a speech, a news conference will likely
contain a public question and answer forum
for reporters
• If you ask a question publicly, then other
reporters are subject to using the response
– Strategically you might save your best question for
a private interview

8. News Conferences
• Always held for a reason
– News announcement
– Public statement
• Attempt to get advance news of the
announcement from the public relations
representative
– If you can’t get it, try alternative sources that
might give you info on the announcement

9. Example
• My first public event:
– Richard Branson, CEO
Virgin Media

10. Covering Meetings
• Examples:
– City council meetings
– School board meetings
• These can be very long and boring
• Extracting news value can be difficult
• Conflict and public decision making or votes
are usually newsworthy

11. Tips for Public Forums
• Use a recorder or smartphone recording app –
but make sure that it works
• Even if you are recording, take written notes!

12. My First Assignment
• My first music article was a disaster due to a recorder
malfunction!

13. Writing the Story
• For stories that are covering a speech, your
lead will summarize the main theme
• This gives a good overview of the content of
the entire speech
• Most of the article will paraphrase the
speaker, but make sure to quote the strongest
statements
• The best quote is placed highest in the text

14. Writing the Story
• Use the inverted-pyramid format
• Use a summary lede
• Second paragraph usually contains the
strongest quote
– Make sure to identify where and when the speech
occurred
• Continue to develop the lead and introduce
key points of the speech

15. Writing the Story
• For a news conference, it is likely that each
reporter attending will have a different spin
on the subject
• You do not need to write your article based on
the chronological order of the conference –
lede with the most “newsworthy”
development

16. Writing the Story
• In covering public meetings, it is likely that a
large part of the story is the reaction from the
public or those impacted by the meeting (but
not part of the board or council)
• Make sure to interview key participants and
the public
• The “news” isn’t the meeting itself…it is what
happens as a result of it