How to be a beat reporter today

The thing about beat reporting today is that your competition has changed. In some ways, there are fewer news resources. But in other ways, more people, data tools, and automated services are curating and distributing news than ever before.

I’m gathering tips in posts on this tag here.

Running a small, niche local news organization, I think a lot about introducing reporters to our approach to beat reporting—one where we are both part of and covering a community. It’s a tricky balance: You have to know information before you can share it, while balancing relationships and delivering value to readers.

Here’s my running list of tips for successful beat reporting:

  • Think in three stages: Reporting is about gathering news, creating stories, and distributing them effectively. Treat all three as equally important.
  • Focus on the people stories: If your reporting is boring, remember: Find the people.
  • Context is key: Information is plentiful, but context is rare. Get great at searching archives, collecting insights, and connecting dots in your community. You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to know how it all fits together.
  • Use the right tools: Social media, RSS feed readers, data dashboards, and email lists should feed you a steady stream of information to curate. Stay plugged in.
  • Leverage community events: Events are invaluable for finding stories, building relationships, and adding context. Make it a habit to attend them regularly.
  • Build insider access: What private group of power players can you meet with regularly? Gossip often leads to real reporting. Be in the know.
  • Ask the obvious question: What might seem obvious to insiders can look very different from an outsider’s perspective. Your fresh eyes can uncover new angles.
  • Keep relationships front of mind: Write, interview, and edit like you’ll have to talk to these people the next day. Because you likely will.

Beat reporting today requires balancing relationships, tools, and context to build trust and deliver value. These are the habits that can help reporters succeed in a noisy, ever-changing news environment.

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