Tip Sheet

Covering an Event

1. Obtain any available advance information
1. read the press release, a copy of the speech sent out beforehand, etc.
2. Conduct Research on the subject/subject matter
1. google the person you will be listening to, see where they are coming from on their subject
3. Prepare Questions before the event and even during the event.
   
1. Be short, sweet and to the point when asking
2. Be clear what you are asking
3. Listen and take notes at the same time during speeches, may lead to needing/wanting to ask new questions in an interview
4. Check for details, check again, and then check again.
   
1. number of people in the room, names, titles an affiliations of the key players of the event, correct quotes, etc.

Finding the News

1. Go through your notes and interviews, finding something with a lot of news values. Speaking is never news, but what was said or how it was said.
1. find the 5Ws and H to see what is newsworthy

Lead comes next

1. Take your 5Ws and H and put into formula " who did what when, who said."
2. SVO structure
3. 30 words or less
4. Attention grabber

Story./Body

1. Inverted Pyramid style (most important things on top, least important on bottom).
1. No morals to the story or summary at the end though. Just end with the least important detail.
   
2. Brevity
3. CHECK FACTS!
4. CHECK FACTS AGAIN!
1. Quotes
1. Don't put words in the speaker's mouth
2. Are you 100% positive that is what they said?
   
3. Do not interpret what you think they meant. No one cares what the writer thinks, it is was the speaker thinks with the exact words they said.
4. Be careful with verbs of attribution. Did the speaker exclaim something? or did they simply say something?
5. Make sure it is always clear who is speaking
2. Names
1. Everything to be spelled correctly
2. titles where necessary
3. Accurate dates
4. Places
1. Accuracy of locations and spellings
5. Accurate Times
6. Use Accurate and Applicable graphics
5. CHECK ONE MORE TIME!