Contacts: A Journalists personal contacts are as important as their ability to turn a good phrase and hacks jealously guard their best sources from being poached by others. It is a good practice to keep a duplicate or back up of his contacts book in safe place.
Local calls: All news organizations have a system of regular calls. These are made hourly or daily to some sources, weekly to others and are an essential source of information. The most regular calls are to the emergency services such as police, fire, ambulance and coastguard to see if they have been involved in any notable incidents. Other useful calls are to council officials, councilors, MPS, religious leaders, voluntary groups, undertakers and health authorities.
Tip – off and leaks: It’s given that news room has its lunatics and paranoids along with a steady supply of conspiracy theories and libelous accusations against the authorities. All other tip – offs and leaks should be checked out as some will prove very useful indeed.
Being observant: The journalist should get out of his office as much as he can, as seeing things first – hand is always preferable to hearing a second – hand account. He should try and notice things around him and be aware of the mannerisms and mood of the people he meets. He should not be a lazy journalist. His powers of observation and willingness to graft will yield additional detail in his stories.
Courts and tribunals: The courts are very productive sources of stories and court reporting an essential part of a journalist’s job. Journalist may be sent to check if there is anything going on at the magistrate’s court.
Local government: The press and public are entitled to attend council meetings. Young reporters complain at having to cover them, but a glance at any local paper shows the importance of decisions made there.
Politicians: They can be among the best contacts a reporter will have. If the journalist cultivates them carefully they will give him stories and put him in touch with people who can help him. Local or regional journalists should build a good working relationship with the MPS, party secretaries and officials in their area.
Experts: Everyday in universities and research institutes men and women carry out research that would make great stories if only the journalist knew about them. For example, sending sexually explicit text messages, or ‘text sex’ is as damaging to once relationship as having a real affair, according to research by the British Psychology Society.
Interest groups, self- help groups, and trades unions and charities: These exist to promote a particular cause and range from the welfare of the elderly to the protection of trees. They include group as diverse as those in favour of hunting to those trying to raise awareness of cot deaths. All these thousands of groups are producing reports carrying out research and are desperate for publicity. They are an excellent source of stories.
News conferences: Organization that wants to promote a message or a product will organize a news conference and invite journalists along to cover it. The government when introducing a new policy will hold one. One must remember these are staged events they are not news in themselves. For the media it is a quick and relatively cheap way of news gathering.
Participants