Today I wanted to talk about some tips I have been learning for reporting on governments. I remember my first time reaching out to sources for my story I was very intimidated. I knew there were a lot of moving parts in government that I had never reported on and have never experienced firsthand. It was scary, but as much as I could prepare I had to just get my feet wet and roll with the punches. But today I want to talk about some tips I have learned from an article written by The Journalist’s Resource I have read.
This article by The Journalist’s Resource details 10 tips for reporting on government and I’ll be describing some of the most notable tips. One important tip is to know the structure of the government you are reporting on. It’s important to know about council members, board members, the structure of command, and more. Certain governments will have different departments that are allocated to run the city or town. Knowing the structure will help you navigate your sources and who you need to talk to for your story. The next important tip is to know key players. Who is the mayor, the fire chief, and other key roles in city government? Not only will this help you find your sources, but your sources might reference some of these key players, and it’s important to know who they are to keep the flow of your interview and ask critical questions. The next tip is to create a beat book. Gather as many contacts as you can from official and unofficial positions that you can keep for the future. Over a year ago I created a beat book that I reference from time to time when I quickly need the number of a specified person. And the last tip of importance is to cover the government from up, down, and across. Many issues in government intersect with the public and require the journalists to cross-reference any issues that can be brought up with sources.
Always remember that you as a journalist are reporting on the government for the public, not the government. It is important to serve the community in a way that isn’t regurgitating what government officials are saying. The public wants to know the clearest truth of a situation at hand with the most effective perspective storytelling. Keep these tips in mind if you find yourself reporting on government news.
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