A reporter investigates and writes stories for media outlets about events, people, issues, and meetings happening in the community. Reporting is important to inform the public, provide a public forum for discussion, and act as a watchdog over government. Reporters aim to be thorough, accurate, and fair while providing all sides of issues to allow readers to form their own opinions. Though the job has challenges like tight deadlines and potential criticism, reporting helps make a difference by keeping people informed and accountable.

1. Being a reporter
Stacy Smith's 9th Grade English

2. Who we are:
● Kristen Kaiser
● Kate Wutz

3. What is a reporter?
A reporter is someone who investigates and writes
stories for a media outlet.

4. How is a reporter different?
● Reporters hold themselves to different
standards
○ We write stories that are as thorough, accurate and
fair as possible
○ We write about both sides of all issues
○ We write as accurately and as clearly as possible
● Other writers have more flexibility

5. What do reporters do?
We write about things that are going on, people
who are doing interesting things and important
issues in our community.

6. For example...
● Lost wolf pup
● Crime
● County and city meetings
● Taxes
● Business
● People you probably know

7. Why is reporting important?
Or, what is the point?

8. Why is reporting important?
● Information
● Public Forum
● Objective news

9. Mission according to our staff
○ To inform the public
○ To interpret what we learn for the community.
○ To create topics of discussion.
○ To entertain
○ To mirror the community
○ To be a watchdog of government and public agencies
– hold them accountable for their uses of public
money.

10. Why should reporting be neutral?
aka the Fox News effect

11. Why should reporting be
neutral?
● Everyone has the right to make their own
decisions
● Our job is not to make that decision-- it's to
provide the information they need to form
their own opinion
● Example: Dispatch

12. Fox News, MSNBC, blogs
● Provide only one point of view
○ Not a complete picture
● Not necessarily news -- expert opinions,
maybe, but they are opinions only
● Can be entertaining and enjoyable!
○ But not reliable as complete news sources
○ Good for more in-depth information on one side of
an issue

13. Hard things about
journalism
or why not to do it

14. Reporters meet tight
deadlines
What happens if you miss one?

15. Reporters talk to lots of
people
Why?

16. Reporters are not always
liked
Why this isn't that important...and why it is sometimes.

17. Reporters are subject to
criticism
How would you feel if you were the subject of a story?

18. Reporters have to be right,
every single time
What happens if they aren't?

19. Reporters are notorious
People recognize you...and you're always representing
the paper

20. Good things about
journalism
or, why we do it anyway

21. Reporting makes a
difference
How else would people become informed?

22. Reporting holds people
accountable
What would happen if governments could do whatever
they wanted?

23. Reporters get to do fun
things and go places
Where would you like to go? Is there a story there?

24. Reporters get to meet cool
people
sometimes

25. Reporters are students of
the real world
We get paid to learn about things that matter

26. Reporters have a record of
their successes
Our papers are not just fish wrappers

27. The life cycle of a story

28. Reporters hear about
something
Could be an event, a meeting, an important issue being
discussed -- could be a court case or a lawsuit

29. Reporters decide if it's news
Conflict, prominence, currency, timeliness, impact,
proximity and the bizarre

30. Reporters pitch the story
Editor helps decide if and when to print it, how much
time and space the story needs

31. Reporters do the legwork
Attend the meeting, call people involved, brush up on
issues, read files

32. Write, write, write
Preferably accurately, clearly and concisely

33. Story is copy edited
An editor called a copy editor reads and changes the
story to make sure it's clear and correct

34. Story is put on the page
This is why stories should be concise--only so much
room on a page--and written to length

35. Story is read by editor,
proofreader
This catches typos and inconsistencies

36. Story gets printed
This does not happen in our building, but in a big
printing press in Burley

37. Story is read by everyone!
Our paper has a circulation of about 13,500 on
Wednesdays

38. Basic Guidelines

39. Be honest
You need to be credible in order to be a good reporter

40. Be respectful
And others will usually respect you back

41. Be professional
Sources will take you more seriously if you conduct
yourself like a serious person

42. Be objective
Your job is to help readers form their own opinions on
the subjects you cover

43. Be careful
Make sure everything you write is clear and accurate

44. Be prepared
Always be ready to report on what you are seeing.

45. Any questions?