BEAT REPORTS(updated 1/2008 mtr)

Being able to develop original, quality news items is an important skill. News directors want to hire reporters who come up with their own newsworthy story ideas without having to depend entirely on an assignment editor. To help develop this skill, each JOUR 458 student is assigned a beat to cover and required to provide beat reports every day he/she is scheduled to work. The beat reports are a significant part of your final grade. 

Beat reports generate original, newsworthy local stories that should be unique to Athens MidDay News. Specifically, your beat report should help the assignment editor in setting up specific VOSOTs and pkgs. 

NOTE: Beat reports are not to be copied from newspapers or other media--that will result in a lower grade.  Even if the original idea comes from another news source, your beat report should explain how to develop the story further or follow it up - what's next?

DEVELOPING A BEAT:

  • Create a phone list of sources related to your beat and USE it. Developing sources also means you must TALK to them. Make regular phone calls or face-to-face visits to gather information for your beat. Don't just rely on news releases or old news stories. The goal is to develop a good relationship with your sources so they will start calling YOU with news tips.
  • Become an "expert" on your beat; research and read about your beat. 
  • Meet and talk with potential sources for your beat. 
  • Make a list of some of the important issues or controversies related to your beat. 
  • Know the dates of regularly scheduled meetings. 
  • Check on news conferences. 
  • Get on the mailing list for news releases, faxes, meeting agendas, etc.  Ask sources to e-mail announcements to midday@ohio.edu or to fax them to 593-2592. E-mail is better.
  • Find local angles to a national or international story that is related to your beat. 
  • Check the future file and the beat file in the newsroom. 
  • Update any changes or additions in sources for your beat (e.g., a change in administration, new telephone number, etc.) in your ENPS beat list. 

UPDATING A BEAT REPORT:

  • Write a thorough update -include new developments, with contact names and phone numbers where a reporter can reach a source during the afternoon. 
  • Beat report updates are due by 9:00a.m. in the ENPS computer system every day you work  NOTE: Your RESEARCH for your beat report should be done BEFORE 8:30 a.m. because you won't have time once you get to class! 
  • Call in any additional late-breaking developments between 8:30 a.m. and noon. 

WHERE TO RESEARCH YOUR BEAT:

WRITING A BEAT REPORT:

  • You write your beat report under your beat topic in the ENPS Scripps News folder (use the green "rover" button to go to HOLD-BEATS.
  • Always date and write the newest information at the beginning (top)  of the document. This will make it easier for the producer, assignment editor, and instructor/TA  to skim through all of the updates as quickly as possible. 
  • All beat reports must include the date; basic who/what/when/where of the story idea, some story development including who might be interviewed and what b-roll could be shot, the source of the story idea, and at least one contact name and phone number.
  • Other people in the newsroom use the beat reports every day; the instructor and/or TA will grade them weekly. See the paper handout you got during orientation week.


MIDDAY E-MAIL:  midday@ohio.edu (if you're in the class, you can read it)
MIDDAY PHONE: line 1  593-2586
MIDDAY FAX  593-2592 (Scripps 106)