|
|
|
Where Does the Media Get its Stories From?
 Police and Fire Services: reporters make regular
calls to the emergency services to check for incidents.
Courts and Inquests: some cases will be covered by a
reporter.
Council Meetings: the media are sent agendas and
papers in advance of the meeting. These are checked by
reporters.
Contacts: Contacts are very important. They make the
effort to meet a journalist in a pub, or ring them up with a
good story, or maybe just to pass on some information.
Journalists will call their "contacts" to ask if anything is
going on.
Press Release: A press release is the most common way
news is passed to the media. The biggest users are local
authorities and commercial companies (often using a public
relations company) trying to get free publicity. Voluntary
groups and campaigns can compete successfully because their
material is local.
Tip off: The public may write to a news editor or
call/text a radio programme with a story or a tip off.
Protecting a source is a key journalistic principle, and if
you wish to remain anonymous be prepared to be asked some
questions by the reporter so they can establish whether you
are a credible source. For more information on how the BBC
deals with anonymity
click here.
Other Media: all of the media monitor what the
opposition is doing because of the fear of missing a good
story.
Investigative Journalism: this is rare. Local media
don't tend to employ a "Roger Cook" type of reporter but if
you want a scam exposed it's still worth talking to the news
editor.
NEXT >>>
|
