How does a story get to be a "newsworthy" event?

Government Offices:

County; State;
City Hall
Federal Buildings
[like courthouses]

Most reporters use their general sources for stories and information.

However, since newspaper reporters have to be sure their sources are reliable, they do a lot of research in these government offices to verify the stories they hear about.

They may also uncover stories they didn't know existed.

School:

Administrators; Teachers
Parents; Students

Administrators are excellent sources of information about upcoming and recent events within a school.

Teachers, parents and/or students may be interviewed and photographed for stories.

Community Events
These events are usually found through Press Releases, phone calls to/from the newspaper and reporter beat sources.
Sports
 These events may or may not be part of a school or other public venue. There are sports reporters whose job it is to know what sports and what events are happening.
Sources

Reporter's Beat

This is usually the main source of news gathering for a reporter.

They have a group of people that they can call on to tell them what the local "scoop" is on a given subject.

Most reporters have many sources on their beat.

In small towns that didn't have a newspaper this used to be the "local gossip."

Press Releases

Polls and Survey Results

Whenever a company wants the "world" to know about a change within their organization they will issue a press release. These are generally sent out to as many media sources as possible, in hopes that some of them will pick up on this item.Just because a Press Release is issued, however, is no guarantee it will appear in the newspaper.

When surveys and poll numbers are released, these are often a jumping off point of interest for a story line.

AP

Other Newspapers

Newsroom discussions

Have you ever noticed that if you listen to the radio, watch TV and then read the paper, you hear a lot of the same news?

This is because of information sharing.

Phone calls

The newspaper receives a lot of phone "tips" about events that have happened, are happening or will happen.

Once these have been verified, they can be used in the news!

 

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