2 Reporting and Story Development Free Online FlashCards

How does a story angle differ from a story idea?

An idea names a topic or possible event; an angle gives the story a specific direction, such as a question to answer or change to explain.

How should reporters treat an early explanation for a story?

Treat early explanations as questions to test, not conclusions to prove. Let the evidence shape the story.

What question helps assess a story’s community significance?

Ask who is affected and what is at stake. This helps establish the story’s relevance to the community.

How can a reporter make an overly broad story idea manageable?

Narrow the place, time period, population, or issue until the question can be answered with available reporting.

What should a brief reporting plan establish?

State the working question and its significance, summarize what is known and uncertain, define boundaries, and list needed evidence.

What practical details belong in a reporting plan?

Identify possible places and events to observe, likely documents, a timeline, and practical limits such as access and deadlines.

When should a reporter change a reporting plan?

Revise the plan when evidence challenges the initial idea; the plan should guide reporting, not lock in a conclusion.

What is one advantage of covering a beat regularly?

Regular beat coverage helps reporters notice incremental changes and build knowledge over time.

What should effective beat coverage connect?

Connect institutions and policies with their effects on people instead of treating official activity as the whole story.

What makes observation notes useful and clear?

Record the time, location, sequence, conditions, and relevant details, and distinguish direct observations from inferences or information learned elsewhere.

Why can one observation visit not establish a trend?

A single visit describes what happened at that moment; repeated observations or other evidence may be needed to establish a trend.

What kinds of records can help answer a reporting question?

Depending on the question, useful records may include meeting minutes, budgets, inspection reports, schedules, service alerts, or datasets.