7 steps towards simple reporting
News is fast passed world, it is very hard to stop and take a breath in this business. I find this way of doing things really helps me when I am on assignment. There is no need to complicate things. Here are some simple steps that could help a new reporter become more efficient when on the scene of an accident or a structure fire.
1) Preparation: The first thing you are going to want to do is get knowledge about the story. Things heard over the Police scanner are usually all you may have.
2) Get the best video or pictures possible: When on the scene there are many things going on so it is best to move around and try and get the best video and/or pictures. Make sure to get a wide variety of shots and choose the best shots later. It is also best to over shoot because then the worry of not having enough goes away.
3) Ask questions and be friendly: When arriving on scene it is good to make sure on be friendly to both police and pedestrians. Being friendly boosts the possibility of you getting an interview. Always ask questions in order to find out more about what is happening. If you ask bystanders questions, make sure to always confirm with the proper state official also.
4) Get an interview with anyone who is available: It is always smart to get any interview with anyone who is available, because we never know if it could be useful. When interviewing it is always smart to ask Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Although the first thing we should always ask is ask for their first and last named spelled out and position.
5) Get anything else that is needed or useful: before leaving any scene it is smart to make sure you have everything you need for the story, if not get what is needed or what may be of need. Whether that be more b-roll or another interview. It always good to be over prepared rather than under.
6) Take a Breather (if possible): Since we live in such a fast pace world and news is so fast, it is always smart to take a breather and analyze in your head what your story will look like and how it will be written.
7) Pat yourself on the back: Once it is all done make sure to give yourself some recognition, and never take anything for granted. The story we just reported on, will inform viewers or readers that could benefit greatly from it.
As a photojournalist I constantly follow this structure when I go out on a story, of course everyone is different and maybe we all have different steps we like to follow. This skeleton could be used when first starting out in the business. To follow me on my stories, keep up with all my social medium accounts like Twitter, Instagram, and Medium.
