(10 Interviewing Tips for Journalists.)

It’s not that we don’t like people, quite the contrary, observing and writing about humanity is our job. Once the ice is broken some of us magically transform into extroverts. But we may experience an initial blast of anxiety when yanked out of our comfort zone.

Despite having interviewed hundreds of people during my career I was extremely anxious at the prospect of conducting cold interviews (essentially vox pops, or person on the street interviews) for some recent assignments. This was surprising since I presented at a conference a few months ago and was not at all nervous. And I did vox pops all the time as a newspaper reporter, television journalist, and producer. So, what happened?

After some quick self-analysis, I realized I’m simply out of practice, and it’s circumstantial. I’m experiencing what many long-term remote workers go through—a sense of isolation. This not only affects confidence and self-esteem, it can also induce a touch of professional shyness.

Presenting at an event is also vastly different to interviewing random people as a roving reporter. Just as the dynamic between a journalist and an interviewee is different to simply chatting with strangers at the grocery store. And again, conducting a scheduled in-depth interview with one person, who you’ve already connected with, is much easier than approaching strangers and asking a question when they’re not expecting it.

If you’re with a camera person or videographer, vox pops are fun, but it can be daunting out in the field alone. This is almost as bad as cold calling someone about a controversial topic.

However, the stress quickly dissipated after the first few interviews, and I ‘found’ my old self again. I felt exhilarated and very much alive afterwards. While it should be par for the course for a journalist, this is how years of remote work has affected me. And I know I’m not alone.

If you haven’t conducted an in-person interview for a while and are thrown to the wolves with an assignment involving approaching random strangers for comments, these tips are for you!

‘Vox Pops’ or ‘Person on the Street’ Interviews

The phrase “vox pop” comes from the Latin vox populi and simply means “voice of the people.” So, you’re giving the public a platform to share their opinion on a subject—somewhere other than the comments section on social media posts. YouTube and TikTok are littered with video vox pops, and they’ve become hugely popular (and slanted) click bait.

But in ‘real’ journalism, (and yes there’s a difference), these types of interviews are very important and when done properly, with integrity and balance, they offer a glimpse into the genuine feelings of the public, at least in one area of the country. 

So here are 5 tips for conducting person on the street interviews aka vox pops.

5 Tips for Conducting Vox Pops

1. Take a deep breath and remind yourself of your role as a journalist and the purpose of the assignment.

This will help put things in perspective and give you inner strength and a much-needed confidence boost.

The main issue for most of us is the discomfort of asking complete strangers for their thoughts, coupled with the fear of rejection or receiving a rude response. And let’s face it, these are legitimate concerns. It’s human nature. But as a journalist you’re out in the field, boots on the ground, to gather the voice of the people. That’s an important purpose and a significant privilege.

Keep in mind also that while some may not want to talk, many people are more than happy to share their views and opinions. This is quite evident on social media where people are desperate to be heard. How much better is it to share these thoughts in real-life? Some people may never have been asked their opinion before, so giving them a voice could make their day.

2. Spend a few moments observing the scene wherever that may be, a city street, small town, a college campus, or at a protest.

If you’re attending a protest, always make sure the situation is safe for both you and the interviewee. Keep in mind that if you’re at a march you may have to walk and talk.

But let’s use an airport (one of my scenarios) as an example. The story here is disruption to air travel, so the first task is a general observation of the scene: ticket desks, schedule boards, and TSA lines. How many cancellations are there? Are there long lines? Do people look harried and hurried?

Instead of jumping right in, grab a seat at a coffee shop or in the waiting area, jot down notes describing the scene, and casually watch people, listen to conversations, and plan your approach. This will be different for each venue of course. A protest or a march is fast moving and so there will be less time to observe, so no coffee for you!

3. Use your ‘Spidey Senses.’

Who seems most approachable? Who looks stressed and is most likely to have experienced flight delays and/or cancellations? Is it that man slumped in his seat? The lady holding a sleepy baby? The young couple deep in conversation?

Next comes the hard part, approaching total strangers to ask for comments.

To break the ice, I strike up a conversation with a friendly looking older lady sitting nearby, just casually asking if she’s experienced any delays that day. We speak for several minutes chatting about her visit and where she’s from. She’s had no delays, and I mention what I’m doing, and she wishes me luck. So, this was my practice, my litmus test. I enjoyed the interaction with a lovely person who was more than happy to converse. So now I feel ready to speak with more people.

4. Be respectful.

Be aware that you’re approaching people without their permission, in a public place, and essentially entering their personal space. It’s quite natural for someone to be on the defensive. Imagine how you would react if a stranger approached you out of the blue while doing errands in town?

I always approach with a smile, and just to get a general sense of the situation, in this instance, I start with a simple question, as if I’m also a traveler, “Hey there, have you guys had any flight delays or cancellations today?” If they say no, I decide on the spot whether to pursue the conversation further.

But I spend most time trying to spot those who have experienced delays and by now my ‘spidey senses’ are working overtime. I overhear a lady asking someone, ‘did you get on another flight?’ So, naturally I approach them both for an interview, identifying who I am and who I’m reporting for, and the nature of the story.

When you do get an interview, ask for the following information: full name, ensuring it’s spelled correctly, age, occupation, their backstory, where they’re from, why they’re traveling, and any other details the story or publication requires. It’s also good to get contact information just in case you need verification later.

If you’re asking about a specific topic or an issue a good approach is, “Hi I’m Alison, and I’m with (state your publication) and I’m out today asking young people about the election, so what’s your view on what’s going on right now?” When you give the whole spiel and tag a direct question—what do you think about?—at the end, I’ve found people are more likely to respond automatically.

At the airport I wrote down quotes old school style, but in other situations recording the conversation might be easier. Always ask permission to record and be aware that this can put people off. Try and gauge someone’s possible reaction to such a request.

If a person is rude, and it happens often, just respond politely, saying, “okay, I understand, but thank you.” Then brush it off and carry on. They might be busy, shy, in a bad mood, don’t like speaking to strangers or simply dislike journalists. It could be anything. Don’t take it personally.

5. Seek out a variety of viewpoints.

For balance, try and gather a variety of different viewpoints, especially if it’s a political topic or a controversial issue. You also need to approach and include a diverse group of interviewees, in gender, race/ethnicity, and age. Remember when reporting, we want to represent all people in our society.

Good luck out there, believe in yourself, and remember, this is important work and you’re giving a voice to ordinary people.

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

The post 5 Tips for Conducting Vox Pops (or on the Street Interviews) When You Don’t Feel Like Talking (IRL) appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(5 Journalism-Related Movies Based on Real Events.)

So here are five powerful TED talks by media professionals in various fields. We kick off with a fascinating talk on the Panama Papers, the biggest data leak in history, followed by talks on international journalism and war reporting, two fields I haven’t yet tackled. And finally…we close with some positive news—an interesting dive into solutions journalism.

How the Panama Papers journalists broke the biggest leak in history. Gerard Ryle, TED Summit, (June 2016)

Gerard Ryle is the director of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in Washington, DC. In this TED talk he shares the story behind the biggest journalism collaboration in history, which offered an unprecedented look into the secretive world of offshore finance. Ryle led a worldwide team of journalists working on the Panama Papers, the 11.5 million documents leaked from the database of Mossack Fonseca, the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, based in Panama. The documents reveal how the rich and famous hide their money offshore and exploit tax havens. The 2016 release of the Panama Papers led to resignations of government leaders, several arrests, and regulatory reforms.

Full profile.

You can search and browse the Panama files: offshoreleaks.icij.org.

3 Ways to Fix a Broken News Industry, Lara Setrakian, TEDNYC, (January 2017)

Journalist Lara Setrakian, co-founder and CEO of News Deeply, shares three ways we can ‘fix the news industry’ to better inform the public about the biggest issues of our time and ensure important stories are never ‘left behind.’ She states the need for specialized and beat journalism, forming partnerships with local journalists in different countries, news industry accountability, resisting the temptation to use fear for ratings, and the embracing of complexity. She gently reminds us that the news is “adult education.” 

Before starting News Deeply, Setrakian, a self-described ‘industrious optimist,’ was Middle East correspondent for ABC News and Bloomberg Television. 

Full profile.

War Journalism should be rooted in empathy — not violence. Bel Trew, TEDx Berlin, (February 2024)

“Subconsciously we’d realized that the most impactful way to show the devastation of war, was in the image of a teenage boy, his hedgehog, and his heartbreak.”

These are the compelling words of Bel Trew, an international correspondent, photographer, and documentary filmmaker, who since 2011 has reported on uprisings, disasters, and wars from Ukraine to Gaza. Trew is calling for war reporting to be rooted in compassion and truth, moving beyond the constant focus on violence and including more stories highlighting the human toll of war.

“As a journalist, I’m among the few people who really can and should talk to all sides,” states Trew. “We live in a world where there are 1,001 ways to communicate and yet we’ve completely forgotten how to speak to each other.” 

Full profile.

Life on the frontlines of war reporting. Jane Ferguson, TEDWomen 2023, (October 2023)

Journalist Jane Ferguson has covered almost every major conflict in the 21^st century, and after two decades in the war reporting trenches, has observed the profession shifting from a male dominated space to majority female. The nature of war reporting today and therefore how wars are perceived by the public, has been changed by women taking the lead, according to Ferguson. She adds that the “types of stories that are covered, the angles that are taken, have been shaped by the fact more and more women are reporting them.”

Originally from Northern Ireland, Jane Ferguson is a war reporter and foreign correspondent for PBS and The New Yorker.

Full profile.

Is This the Time of Monsters — or Miracles? Angus Hervey, TED 2025, (April 2025)

The Good News You Might Have Missed. Angus Hervey, TED 2024, (April 2024)

Okay, it’s technically a total of 6 TED Talks, but I thought I’d include two talks by solutions journalist Angus Hervey. They’re both so compelling, I couldn’t choose. Plus, good news is refreshing, don’t you think?

Angus Hervey reveals the ‘hidden progress’ and the overlooked triumphs and accomplishments that persevere while it seems like the world is collapsing. If you watch the mainstream news, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s all over. But did you know that in 2023 almost one in five children got fed in school? Sea turtle populations are increasing worldwide. And in 2024 fewer people died of natural disasters than almost any year in history? These are just a few of the underreported global wins Hervey shares in these podcasts.

“If we want more people to devote themselves to the task of making progress, then maybe we should be telling more people that it’s possible to make progress,” says Hervey.

Angus Hervey is the founding editor of Fix The News, an independent media company that shares stories of human progress.

Full profile.

The post 5 Powerful TED Talks on Journalism by Journalists appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(What Are Listicles?)

In broadcast journalism these stories are called a ‘kicker’ and are designed to counterbalance (or soften) the inevitable negativity and harshness of hard news pieces that make up most newscasts. They can be about anything positive, from cute animals (baby pandas) to an unusual lottery winning story.

Many local news stations still use variations of this format, and national newsrooms often dedicate specific segments to uplifting stories. Regional and local newspapers are renowned for their ‘local kid does good’ features. Magazines, especially women’s and lifestyle publications, were built on these types of stories. And of course, in the digital age, we can now find soft news on countless websites.

‘Soft news’ refers to lighthearted human interest and inspirational stories, including lifestyle, entertainment, and fashion. Sports journalism and many features also fall into this category, as do listicles, service pieces, and how-to articles. It can also include less positive stories, such as celebrity scandals and general sensationalist ‘tabloid’ fodder. These stories appeal to our emotions, curiosity, and a desire to learn. In journalistic circles they’re often referred to as fluff pieces.

Hard news is urgent and immediate, with reporters informing the public about important and serious current and ongoing events. Soft news is evergreen, the tone is lighter, and stories can entertain and inform, (although some would argue hard news has also become a form of entertainment).

While hard news is obviously important and needed, the constant barrage of bad news is becoming problematic, especially since it can pop up uninvited on social media sites and during online searches, in addition to the existing 24/7 news cycle.

Social media algorithms amplify negative and emotive stories to ensure engagement and this overexposure is having a detrimental effect on mental health, according to the American Psychological Association, leading to “media saturation overload.” Being subjected to a constant stream of negative news stories can’t be good for anyone’s health, but it’s especially harmful to young people. It can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression.

Soft news items not only counterbalance hard news, but in my opinion, they enhance and add to the ‘hard’ reporting, offering value and relevance. For example, while covering Hurricane Helene I researched the extent of storm damage, the death toll, and how flooding decimated entire communities. But among all the bad news were stories on the good work being done by ordinary people. My favorite story was about the Mountain Mule Packers; a team of mules that helped deliver disaster relief to stranded flood victims in North Carolina’s remote mountain communities. This is a heartwarming story, offering hope and joy amidst heartache and pain. It was also informative and useful if you knew of people who needed help at the time. Read the story here.

Some journalists thrive on the excitement and challenge of covering hard news exclusively. Although I like tackling topical issues and enjoy the immediacy of occasionally covering news, I’ve always preferred feature writing and investigative journalism. The best parts of the journalistic process are in-depth research and engaging with people—hearing about incredible personal stories, exploring different angles, and digging deeper into the heart of an issue. I’m not just referring to formal interviews here but just talking to people on their home turf and listening to what they have to say.

There are many layers and angles to each story. Hard news skims the surface and the reporter’s job is getting out facts quickly and efficiently, the who, what, where, and when. Again, a very important job. Features take a little more time and a lot more patience, and they can also tackle some of the ‘whys’ of a story. ‘Fluff’ pieces like listicles can offer quick, useful information about all kinds of things, like the best places to eat pizza in Nashville or the safest car for teen drivers. This ‘soft’ information is just as important and, in some instances, more relevant to people’s everyday lives.

7 Reasons Why “Soft News” Is Important

Here are a few more reasons why soft news is important:

1. We could argue that soft news is a lot more fun, especially when covering lighter topics. You can write about anything—Bigfoot, haunted cities in America, Mid Century Modern furniture, architecture, art history, you name it.
2. While the content of women’s magazines is primarily seen as soft (or fluff pieces), they do tackle politics and social issues but approach it differently. They humanize the stories, taking a deeper dive into the personalities involved, rather than giving a general, but detached overview. They also provide important information and advice on health issues, finances, parenting, and relationships.
3. Stories focusing on ‘soft’ topics can offer valuable and practical information and advice. It could be a feature on an artist, therapeutic horse riding, how knitting can help anxiety, and how to beat the winter blues. The topics are endless.
4. Soft news is evergreen; these stories have a long shelf life and can be enjoyed for years. Hard news is immediate but quickly forgotten, becoming outdated or ‘yesterday’s news.’
5. Writers can tackle interesting stories and meet/interview fascinating people. Researching and writing soft stories is just as educational for the journalist as it is for the audience.
6. Feel-good and inspirational stories really do make us feel better, by boosting mood, reducing stress levels, and inspiring hope.
7. People are starting to seek more positive, solutions based and constructive journalism. They want to know that there’s a possible solution to all the problems being highlighted. What is being done? Who’s offering help? How are they implementing changes?

Well-written and thoughtful soft news stories are important, because we need to feel hopeful, inspired, and reassured that people still care about each other. We are social creatures and naturally curious. If we must be bombarded with divisive, bad news all day, every day, then we also need access to positive, feel-good stories as an antidote. Otherwise, the public might just switch off altogether and go fully off-grid in protest.

And finally, soft pieces are predominantly nonpartisan, attract a broader audience, and many of the topics are universally appealing and relevant, bridging social, racial, and political divides. They foster community spirit and wellbeing. What’s not to love.

So, go forth and write some fluff pieces for goodness’ sake!

The post What Is ‘Soft News’ in Journalism? Why Are These Stories Important? appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(Writing Small Stories With a Big Impact.)

Stories involving any kind of crime, violence, scandal, or disaster, always get the breaking coverage and become front-page news. You could argue that the online news space is just one big money-spinning tabloid at this point. And as consumers, we tend to be drawn into all this by our innate curiosity and yes, our penchant for the scandalous and macabre.

A few of these stories a week is palatable, but we’re now inundated with an enormous daily dose of negativity. From wildfires to mass shootings, the news seems to offer an endless diet of disaster. These events need to be covered of course, but there’s a better way to do so. And it’s not just the legacy and independent/citizen journalist news sources, worse still is all the trash online content, disguised as news, that thrives off clickbait.

What kind of effect does this perpetual bad news cycle have on our mental and physical health? And can we as journalists tip the balance by pursuing more positive, or at the very least, less negative stories? Or maybe tackle them in a different way, sans sensationalism? Would anyone read them if we did?

Let’s dig in.

The Power of Sensational Journalism

There is nothing new under the sun, and news outlets have always peddled sensationalist news. The tabloids have thrived on it. “Read all about it,” newsboys would shout, “Headless Body Found in Topless Bar.” Now click bait has taken over the reins and the effect of online fodder is arguably worse. And yes, go right ahead, click on the link there, it was an actual headline in 1983. We’ll wait…

At least back in pre-internet times, when newspapers were the norm, we’d read an article, shake our heads, flip to the comic strip, chuckle, maybe take a go at the crossword, check our horoscopes, then fold up the paper, and get on with our day. No comments section to scroll through, no rabbit holes to tumble down, and no Facebook bickering back then. You’d save that for the pub. The paper would eventually end up lining the parakeet cage anyway, or in 80s Britain, used to wrap your Friday night fish and chips. Yesterday’s news and all that.

And with television nightly news at least, we know the drill by now. It’s all bad news up front, often just one stretched out story if there’s a hurricane. If we’re lucky at the end they’ll throw in a feel good “and finally…” segment about something positive, like a panda giving birth at the zoo. It’s almost like a salve after being battered with distress.

With the digital landscape it’s a very different scenario. We’re constantly bombarded with clickbait headlines whenever we’re online, even when we’re casually checking our social media page bad news pops up uninvited. There’s a term for this; it’s called incidental exposure.

It takes a strong-willed person to resist the urge to click on a juicy, enticing headline. Did you check out that New York Post link yet? You will!

The Power of Negative Journalism

We read the negative story online, but we can’t seem to just leave it right there and go make a cup of tea. Oh no. Instead, there’s the added lure of the comments section. You’ll just take a quick peek, right? See if anyone else agrees with your take on the story. Since “bad news” is designed to trigger strong emotional reactions, the comments section is often a minefield of angry outbursts. Coupled with the impact of the negative news story, after reading the nasty comments, you’re left drained, exhausted, and stressed out. “Are people really like this?” you exclaim to an empty room, as you head for the fridge and grab a beer. You’ll need something stronger if you took the plunge and posted your own comment and were mercilessly attacked for your trouble.

The whole experience leaves a psychological scar, affecting your mood and in some cases even causing physical symptoms, through the activation of the body’s flight or fight response.

A barrage of distressing news can fuel distrust and a feeling of doom, and we misguidedly start thinking that things are worse than they really are. Twisted, slanted stories trigger anger, hate, and cause societal division. You’d think by watching the news that crime was at an all-time high, but statistics show otherwise. It’s just the perception. The same goes for plane crashes. A study even found that people showed an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety after only 14 minutes of news consumption. Such is the power of words and the impact of click bait tactics.

Click to continue.

No News Is Good News Then, Right? 

What I loved about my weekly newspaper reporter role was that we did include positive articles, at least by the bottom of page 4. We’d cover a local couple’s golden anniversary or schoolchildren saving wild birds, or a magician getting accepted into the Magic Circle. These stories also sold papers, as the people involved have families and friends who will buy the issue just to clip that one story.

Positive stories don’t have to be cutesy and fluffy. We can meet in the middle somewhere between hard and soft news. Amid all the clickbait headlines there are some well-written stories out there. Great longform narrative pieces that explore the human condition, stories that cover real issues, follow ordinary people overcoming extraordinary circumstances. We need stories that build us up not tear us apart. Stories that empower rather than ones that leave us nervous and scared.

We can do more. Journalism as an industry can do better. We can evolve and still tackle the big, the bad, and the negative, but with tact, dignity, compassion, and empathy, rather than exploiting disasters and the misery of others just for clicks.

I believe most people are tired of being cannon fodder for the negative Nancys. They’re fed up with click bait stories that offer no real value. Readers are wising up and long for more substance and coverage that really matters.

And reading good news is scientifically proven to be good for you. Good news triggers dopamine release, reduces cortisol levels, improves mood, and strengthens social bonds. Read more about the benefits of good news here.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the negativity that floods the content we consume daily, but once we become aware of the dangers to our health and wellbeing, and start being mindful about what and how much news we consume, we can counteract or even avoid any negative outcomes.

We’re here on this earth to live, experience, create, explore, and help others if we can, not to worry about things we cannot possibly control. So, turn off the news for a day, read some well-researched, thoughtful journalism, and carpe diem, y’all!

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

The post Does Good News Sell? Or Are We Forever Stuck With the Bad News Bearers? appeared first on Writer's Digest.

I’ve written hundreds of articles, filmed undercover, interviewed high ranking public officials, national politicians and celebrities; tackled controversial, hard-hitting issues, and worked as a journalist and producer on two continents. But the story that stole my heart was Boyo’s. It’s one of the few times I know unequivocally that something I wrote made a difference.

(The Art of Good Communication in Journalism.)

Local stories may seem inconsequential or “small” since national and international “big” stories and issues dominate the media. But they are equally important and more effective than we think. While the impact of a larger story is more widespread, a local story is just as powerful. As writers, we don’t often get much feedback after a piece is published. But on rare occasions we get to see the results of our writing firsthand. Those times are precious.

So, you want to hear about Boyo? 

It was the holidays and as a reporter I was rustling up story ideas in the slow news period. This was before social media when newspapers were prevalent, and people posted information in shop windows. I came across a voluntary organization that saved strays and the motto, a “dog is for life, not just for Christmas,” came to mind. Bingo, I had a nice, timely feature, easy to write, and a pleasure to report. 

“Abandoned at Christmas time,” stated the ensuing headline. I wrote about “Dog Helpline” a tiny organization established by a local lady, that had rescued 15 strays over Christmas, including Boyo, an 18-month-old Jack Russell who had been roaming the streets for weeks. Boyo had fallen ill, and a volunteer nursed him back to health. Nobody had claimed him, and he was up for adoption. We arranged a photo of the volunteer holding cute little Boyo. It was a nice piece, nothing major, but I knew our readers would enjoy it.

A few days later, a colleague called saying, “You need to do a follow-up on that dog story. He already found a home.” I immediately called the foster and indeed, a young couple had adopted Boyo. She said the response to the story was “tremendous” and that other stray dogs also had possible new homes.

That was a lovely moment that I will always cherish. My story helped a little stray dog. The little things in life often leave the biggest impression.

As freelancers we’re encouraged to pursue and pitch stories that “grab an editor’s attention,” find an exclusive interview with someone important, discuss a revolutionary new discovery, dazzle with a new angle, and so on. And we tend to go for these bigger, juicy stories to get the sought-after bylines.

But a piece doesn’t have to be about saving the world, or an “out of the box,” flashy, big story. We don’t need to constantly dig for the hard-hitting and sensational. In the words of an old editor, “I’m not looking for Watergate, just get out there and talk to people.”

And that’s local journalism in a nutshell, communicating with people in your hometown. I started my career as a weekly newspaper reporter in rural Wales, and so “small” stories were my bread and butter. I love leafing through my pile of clippings from that time. And yes, I saved most of them, including my original and follow-up pieces about Boyo.

Human interest, “local kid does good” type stories, and of course the “and finally…,” feel-good animal tales, are journalistic gems. If you explore the lives of “ordinary” people, you’re bound to find true, authentic, heart wrenching and inspiring stories, that we all love to read. And if you’re lucky, you might get some feedback and end up writing a follow-up piece.

Here are 5 tips on how to find and pitch small, local stories:

1. Read local newspapers (if they’re still in circulation in your area), and regional magazines. These publications can be dailies, weeklies, monthlies, or quarterlies, independents, and so on. Study them all and familiarize yourself with the types of stories covered. They can be print or online.
2. Scroll local Facebook pages. From planning issues to community theatre, the story potential is endless. Then scan the comments section. For example, during Hurricane Helene I was looking for story angles and people to interview, and social media was a goldmine. People really want to share on sites like Facebook and this is a great resource for interviewees and sources, as well as feature ideas.
3. Get involved with your community, volunteer, talk to your neighbors, connect with friends and local business owners. Stay in the loop. There’s always something going on. What concerns do people have? What makes them happy? Somebody you meet will always have a good story.
4. Start conversations with people you meet, at stores, coffee shops, and in your neighborhood. I seem to have a knack for “making” people talk. Even my dentist and his staff are chatty when I’m a captive audience in the dreaded chair…
5. Attend local events, from folk festivals to vintage car shows. I once wrote a fun reported essay after visiting a Bigfoot festival. When there, be sure to talk to people and get their contact information if you feel they’re a good source. I often conduct some quick, on-the-spot interviews with my phone at events.

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

*****

Where to pitch “small” ideas?

1. See if your local newspaper accepts freelance pitches. They probably have full-time reporters, but it’s worth asking.
2. Local magazines and independent newspapers are great places for freelancers to pitch. Read the publications, find out what stories they cover, and most importantly, get to know the editors. Most seem to love stories about local business and business owners, for instance.
3. There are also specialist publications and trade magazines that need stories, so find out if your ideas fit their needs. These can include anything from travel to architecture.
4. You can also pitch small, local stories to statewide publications and nationals. These can be stand-alone pieces or a story that encompasses a wider issue. Many publications seek out articles from different regions and want them just because they’re small, slice-of-life stories reflecting that area’s culture and environment.

Types of Stories

1. Features—Features, also referred to as soft journalism, are evergreen, they’re not time-sensitive like hard news, meaning they have staying power; you can pitch them at any time, and they’ll stay relevant. They will have more impact of course if there’s some kind of peg, like an upcoming event, holiday (such as dogs dumped at Christmas time), and so on. Features are fun to write and research, and ideas are everywhere when you really start looking.
2. Profile Feature—Profiles have been described as a “written portrait of a person,” which sums it up nicely. Find an interesting person (or even a group) in your area and write a piece about their background, career, accomplishments, goals, and so on.
3. Q&A—The Q&A (question and answer) article is an edited transcription of an interview with a short narrative introduction. It involves interviewing one source (someone interesting in the community, a person who’s accomplished something great, or an individual with an unusual job) and is a relatively simple and enjoyable piece to write.
4. Blogs—Blogs are short articles that cover practically anything. They can be published on your own personal or business website or on sites like Medium.
5. Listicles—The 7 Best Local Breweries, Top 5 Staycation Spots in (your city), you get the gist.

File Your Ideas and Contacts

Make a list of all your ideas, the topics you’ve researched, and stories you’ve heard. Keep the information in one document so it’s easy to access. Similarly, when you meet someone interesting, make a note of their name and the nature of your conversation for future reference.

They say charity begins at home but should not end there, and the same can be true of journalism. Start small and local and then branch out to cover the rest of the country and the world … if you want to. Otherwise, there’s no place like home. 

The post Writing Small Stories With a Big Impact: How Local Journalism Makes a Difference appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(5 Great Journalism Podcasts for Writers to Try.)

The fundamental purpose of journalism today remains the same. However, technological advances and digitization have drastically changed the way news is created, disseminated, and consumed. These changes, as well as other factors, have transformed the landscape and industry to such an extent, that it’s getting increasingly difficult to find trusted sources. It’s hard to determine any more if the public is receiving the information needed to become fully informed citizens, and there are many reasons for this. There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s dive in.

Journalism is referred to as the ‘fourth pillar of democracy’ and journalists are supposed to be society’s watchdogs. They’re hired on the public’s behalf, tasked with digging out the truth, asking tough questions, challenging the powerful, and holding those in government, business, and institutions accountable regardless of political affiliation. The journalist’s role is finding and presenting this vital information in an objective, neutral manner. 

In general, these basic journalistic standards are not being met. Mainstream outlets are supposedly regulated by media law and press ethics, yet the problems within the industry are now glaringly obvious even to the casual observer. The legacy media is losing public trust and respect at an alarming rate as a huge number of Americans now find the news unreliable and untrustworthy.

A 2023 Gallup poll shows that overall trust in journalism is at an all-time low. Gallup began tracking trust in American mass media back in 1972, when 68% claimed they had “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the media, and “none at all” was at a mere 6%. In 2023, only 32% of Americans reported they had “a great deal” of trust in the news media, and “none at all” hit a record high of 39%.

And as for political coverage, according to a May 2024 report from the American Press Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 53% of Americans say they are extremely or very concerned that news organizations will report inaccuracies or misinformation during the election season. Almost half (47%) worry that news outlets will report unverified information, and 48% are concerned that the media focuses too much on divisions or controversies.

They were once highly regarded as the bastions of reliable news but now people are switching off the mainstream media and seeking alternatives. And there’s plenty to choose from online, including social media sites like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), independent networks, and YouTube channels.

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

*****

The news industry itself shares some of the blame, due to the rise of infotainment, homogenous, sensationalist journalism, and the consolidation of news outlets. Digitalization is also a factor, and many traditional outlets just couldn’t compete, and in the past few decades TV news stations have faced massive layoffs and thousands of newspapers nationwide (especially local newspapers) have closed their doors for good.

Many fear that the remaining ‘watchdogs of democracy’ are fast becoming either the ‘mouthpieces of government’ or the lapdogs of corporations.

But what does the ‘alternative news’ media offer? Is it any better?

Amidst the deluge of online content, it’s often hard to distinguish between real news, propaganda, click bait, and AI-generated material. In addition, digitization has created a new wave of journalism and a new kind of journalist. Some independent and citizen journalists routinely and easily outperform their legacy media counterparts in terms of audience numbers and impact. Journalism is being redefined and the title ‘journalist’ is becoming more fluid.

But the internet is congested with content, much of it poorly written, badly researched, and lacking substance. Journalistic integrity has been shoved aside with speed and quantity taking priority. The goal is to churn out as much stuff as possible, in multimedia, easily digestible formats, so consumers can gorge at the endless information feedlot. There’s an abundance of activist journalists and commentators in both legacy and independent news media. They probably far outnumber ‘real’ journalists. On a national level, the partisan bias is not just seeping through but flooding out the pores of some journalists.

Not only are we constantly bombarded with information, but much of it is also irrelevant and designed to provoke an emotional reaction rather than inform us. When we react in such a manner, we’re not digesting information that will serve us, but instead becoming embroiled in a divisive war of words, ideals, and culture. We respond to headlines that often have little to do with the actual story, and we forget the things that matter in our everyday life and local communities. The purpose of some of this content is to provoke a reaction, cause conflict, divide, and create tension. 

The bottom line is that negative stories attract attention and make money. This is not a new concept, of course, we’re all familiar with the saying, ‘if it bleeds, it leads.’ Mistrust in the news media is also nothing new and the industry has always been in a state of flux. The big difference now is the sheer volume of content and information we face daily, from all types of sources and in various formats. It’s unprecedented.

For journalism in general to regain the public’s faith and trust, the industry must first avoid employing activist journalists. Reporting is quite simple. Shelve the thesaurus, tell us what’s happening in simple terms, cut out the metaphors, hold the snark, and cover both sides of a story. In addition, the media should not be sheltering candidates or lobbing tough questions at one side while treating the other with kid gloves. 

A journalist’s job is to report what’s going on, period. They’re not hired to lecture the public, be dismissive and patronizing towards half the population, or to abuse their privileged positions by churning out endless hit pieces.

People are not oblivious and truly crave substance and quality, the basic stuff that even the most mediocre journalists used to offer as a matter of course. While national journalism seems mired in these problems, the saving grace I do believe is local journalism.

The public continues to rely on certain services, such as local news resources, be it television, radio, or local news websites, for their state and community news, weather, traffic, and coverage of local political candidates. Several polls support this notion. A 2024 study by the PEW Research Center reveals that American still hold positive views of local news media. Most U.S. adults (85%) believe local news outlets are at least somewhat important to the well-being of their local community, and 44% of those questioned say they are extremely or very important.

There are efforts underway to continue the work of now defunct newspapers online and the results look very promising.

Again, the basic purpose of journalism is to provide the public with pertinent and accurate reports so that we can all make informed decisions on issues that directly affect us.

If we can wade through the heaps of online trash and sieve out the nonsense, it’s possible to find many journalistic gems. Who knows if the traditional media outlets will survive the digital revolution. But there are journalists both traditional and independent, that truly care about journalistic integrity and will continue to provide quality journalism in whatever format that works. After all, it’s not the delivery method or the platform that’s important, but the quality and accuracy of the content.

________________________

Resources:

• https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/05/07/views-of-local-news/
• https://apnorc.org/topics/media-insight-project/
• https://americanpressinstitute.org/journalism-essentials/what-is-journalism/purpose-journalism/
• https://news.gallup.com/poll/512861/media-confidence-matches-2016-record-low.aspx

The post What Is the Purpose of Journalism in This Age of Information Overload? appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(How to Find Freelance Success Pitching to Magazine Families.)

I’ve been in the magazine industry most of my working life, having started freelancing in my early-20s to help fund my education. At various points I have also been an English teacher in China, a factory worker, and a bar tender. Around a decade ago I landed my dream job writing for a men’s magazine (not THAT that kind of men’s magazine) in London when someone who worked there thought I was funny on Facebook. Yes, things like that really do happen occasionally. It was my first full-time journalism gig. The magazine was mostly about action movies, sport, and rappers. The only problem was, it was on a downward trajectory and cutbacks were inevitable. I was laid off after six months.

From there I worked for a couple of sports magazines, including a new launch which cost the publishing company £7m and folded within a year, before ending up on a very niche hunting and shooting title. I won’t go into detail, but let’s just say it takes a special kind of person to do that job, and I wasn’t that person. There was also a lot of worrying takeover talk. I’d been in that position before. I could read the signs, and started looking for a new job. One stood out; Senior Staff Writer at a company I’d never heard of. 

I’m not going to lie, the thing that initially attracted me was the money which was almost double what I was making at the hunting and shooting magazine. I did what any responsible person would do and Googled the new company. I soon learned that the magazine department was just one branch of the company, which was involved in the plastics industry. It also held conferences and exhibitions, performed data analysis, and published white papers. Is that what I would be doing? It sounded both complex and boring. Still, it would make a change from writing about dead animals. It was a newly created position, which meant the company was growing. That would make a welcome change from working for a company heading in the opposite direction which describes most publishing companies. 

In a perfect world, the new hire would be a journalist with a background in chemistry. But that was a pretty tall order. A more realistic alternative would be to either take someone with a chemistry or science background and teach them how to write, or someone with a journalism background and teach them about plastics. For someone who had spent almost his entire career in consumer magazines, these were uncharted waters. But as a fellow ex-consumer journalist once told me, it’s where we all end up. Evidently, he was right.

The trade magazine sector is far less glamorous and you get invited to fewer parties, but the work is more stable. When you reach a certain age you don’t want too many surprises. In consumer publishing, the rug gets pulled out from under you. A lot. One minute you’re on top of the world, winning awards, schmoozing with celebs, and going to red-carpeted film premiers, and the next you are being shut down. It happened to me so often that I thought I was a jinx. 

Now, with the benefit of hindsight, I can see it was mostly about timing. I just managed to catch the end of the golden age of UK magazines, when the industry was going through its death throes and titles were closing as quickly as the pubs, but the major publishing companies were still throwing money around trying to buck the trend. It was a strange time. It was all very panicky, and a lot of rash decisions were made. 

One of the first things I learned after I made the initial switch is that the trade press is very insular and self-contained. You won’t find many of these publications in the big newsagents. In fact, you wouldn’t find ours in any newsagents, not least because we are digital only. The companies we write about are the same ones spending their advertising budget with us, and our readers are their customers. The more subscribers we get and the more social media impressions our posts get, the more we can charge for advertising and the more money our company makes.

Transferable Skills

On an average day, my first job is to sort through my inbox for useful press releases and collate the most recent industry news from various trusted sources into an email I fire off to my editor-in-chief, who then selects the stories he wants to run in our news sections and on our social media channels. X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) is our main outlet. Our socials are the most front-facing part of the business, which draw people in and encourages them to interact with other departments. 

As a seasoned staff writer, news gathering is something I’m used to. The process is the same, you just use different media outlets. It can be a challenge identifying those outlets at first, but most journalists are trained in such occupational pursuits and it’s a valuable transferable skill.

The plastic industry, like every other, is extremely very fast-moving. There is always something happening. Not just one something, a hundred somethings. My job is to identify the developments of most value to our readers, who are invariably industry professionals, and report on them. It can be overwhelming at first, but after a while you get a handle on things and learn which companies are worth paying attention to. You can follow some stories for months. 

As a journalist, you are always thinking about how you can best utilize and package what you have at your disposal. If something as simple as filing away a press release can save you time later, you do it, and if you come across a particularly interesting story, you might consider contacting one of the companies involved to see if a spokesperson or representative will answer a few questions. They usually jump at the chance of some free publicity.

On previous magazines I was on the phone a lot, usually tangled up in wires as I struggled to record interviews on a Dictaphone which then had to be transcribed later. Everything was time sensitive and I always seemed to be in a hurry. In the trade press, there’s less urgency so most people prefer answering questions via email. This also serves as a written log of your communications. A lot of the data we deal with is very technical, and some of it quite sensitive, so a digital version of a paper trail is a good idea. Not only for legal reasons, but because you can always go back and check something if you need to. Plus, of course, it allows you to simply copy and paste the bits you need. 

Talking to these companies serves many purposes. You are showing an interest in what they are doing and (usually) saying nice things about them, which puts you in their good books. Plus, you might get a jump on your competitors (they exist in every industry and ours is no different) and maybe grab a few precious original quotes to add weight to news stories or features further down the line.

Meat and Potatoes

My main responsibility is writing features. This is nothing new to me. I have written about everything from Chinese UFO sightings to chili pepper farming. The features I write now are very detailed, tech-heavy, in-depth detailing very specific aspects of the plastics industry. They are comprised mainly of news stories and carefully curated press releases. There is a lot of making media requests, researching, chasing images, etc. 

Regarding content, the magazine has to not only be topical but remain objective. Every company toots their own horn in their press communications and makes outlandish claims like being ‘best-in-class’ or ‘world leaders.’ Our magazine tries to avoid using terminology like that and refrain from calling anybody ‘world leaders’ even if they are. This is because we can’t be perceived as giving anyone preferential treatment. It’s a matter of integrity. 

And from a more pragmatic viewpoint, we can’t risk upsetting current or potential advertisers. There are a couple of other writers on the team, mostly freelancers. We never see each other because we are based in different countries, but we maintain a good relationship and help each other out by sharing contacts and material. It makes everyone’s life easier.

When I write a feature, any feature, I follow a formula. It’s the same formula I used when writing the article you are reading right now. You narrow down a topic as much as possible, do some research, decide an over-arcing theme, gather some suitable material, and then stitch all the components together into a cohesive narrative. There are usually have a handful of items I want to include, or points I want to make, and I use them as signposts. Collectively, they form a sort of skeleton. 

Then I simply put meat on the bones, taking advantage of the natural segues which appear during the process. This formula is why I find writing features so much easier than fiction. You may have more freedom in fiction, but there is no blueprint and no structure. Sometimes, the lines get blurred. Writer’s block doesn’t exist in my world. If I am struggling on one project, I switch to another. Writing is writing to me, I just write different things. 

Infuriatingly, my best ideas always seem to come when I am working on something else. I used to jot them down somewhere, but they invariably got lost. To remedy that I started using different Word files for each idea and saved them in a folder on my desktop. Now I have a ton of word documents with just a few lines of text in and no context whatsoever. Some files don’t even have names.

Every magazine has a distinctive house style. At this stage in my career I find it relatively easy to mimic the style of whichever magazine I happen to be writing for that day, but it sometimes requires a period of adjustment. However niche your area of expertise becomes, you will meet people who know more about it than you do. They are completely immersed in it. They are your core readership and you have to keep them happy. You can’t dumb things down too much, but you also have to cater for the more casual reader who may not have such exhaustive knowledge. It’s a thin line. 

Plus, around a third of our readership come from countries where English is a second language so they naturally have a limited vocabulary. This means getting the tone right is vital. We have to be accessible but not too simplistic, and the language we use must invite readers in rather than alienate them.

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

*****

Networking

Another aspect of the job that crossed over from my years in consumer magazines is dealing with outside PR agencies. These are usually used by mid-sized companies, as smaller companies can’t afford the expense and larger companies tend to keep comms in-house. As a general rule, the bigger the company, the more resources they devote to public relations. You could debate all day whether they pay more attention to PR because they are more successful, or whether they are more successful because they pay more attention to PR. 

As a journalist you build up a symbiotic relationship with PR executives. You need them to produce content, and they need you to generate the publicity their client pays for. What you don’t need is them trying to push irrelevant content on you. Do any of our clients have any new thermally conductive polymer offerings? No, they don’t Mr Saunders. But one just released a new line of interior EV parts with 55% recycled plastics content (mass balance approach) boosted by a new stripping agent, would that do? It’s the equivalent of asking for a steak and being offered a Pop Tart instead. As far as annoying things PR execs do, that is right up there with sending you an email to ask whether you received their last email.

Pre-Covid, it was standard practice to meet PR execs in person every few weeks and let them treat you to a free lunch or dinner. They have to spend that expense budget somewhere. That kind of thing is probably illegal now. These days you just trade a few quick messages or perhaps have the odd 2-minute video call. Public relations is another fast-moving industry where people switch jobs all the time. You might work with one PR exec for a couple of years, then they’ll disappear only to pop up again months later at a different agency.

In my last couple of jobs I have worked ‘across titles,’ which is industry speak for having one person do three people’s work. Publications which had a bloated staff of 22 six or seven years ago now limp along with a skeleton crew of four, most of whom divide their time ‘across titles.’ The reduced staff also have to take on new, often unfamiliar responsibilities. There are digital versions, websites, newsletters, apps, and social networking channels to maintain. The result is that the quality of content drops. That costs you readers, so profits dip still further, and so it continues. It’s a vicious circle.

Job descriptions themselves have also become more fluid. Being a staff writer no longer means you are focused on writing copy. Now the role might also take in sub-editing, picture researching, designing, laying out, and any number of other duties, many of which you are not actually trained for. But even working across titles is easier on trade magazines because I can use the same resources and recycle the same material. It just appears in different places. 

Perhaps the biggest plus point of all is because the trade press doesn’t chase trends as flagrantly as the consumer sector does, things are much more organized. I know what I will be working on up to a year in advance, which leaves plenty of time to plan and prepare. This all helps the operation move more smoothly, and is just one of the reasons why I will probably stay on the dark side.

The post Making the Switch From Consumer Magazines to Trade Publications appeared first on Writer's Digest.

“Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.” —Austin Kleon.

Ideas are a writer’s most precious commodity. As the above quote rightly states, our main job is finding new stories and figuring out interesting ways to tackle well-worn topics and issues.

But ideas are no good to us if we don’t remember them and they’re never actualized. That’s why we need a system in place to record, store, and organize our ideas in one central, accessible file.

Unfortunately, good ideas have a nasty habit of popping up at the most inconvenient times; while driving, in the middle of a movie, at 3 a.m., or in the shower. We always mean to write them down when we get a chance, but life inevitably gets in the way, and we forget.

As a freelance writer/journalist working from home at the kitchen table, I often scribble down ideas on random scraps of paper, whatever happens to be nearby, the energy bill envelope or the grocery store receipt. Numerous long neglected (and sparse) ‘Story Ideas’ documents also clutter up my desktop. 

It’s like a treasure hunt trying to find my notes. That envelope might easily end up in the shredder or recycling bin, the receipt crumpled into a ball and tossed in the trash. The glorious, potential prize-winning stories lost forever. I’ve flipped through old notebooks and discovered long forgotten ideas scattered among to-do lists and New Year goals.

I wasn’t always so disorganized. As a full-time journalist and producer, I was meticulous about keeping an active and organized ideas file and contact book. Since I worked on a weekly newspaper and later weekly television shows, I needed a constant flow of ideas for potential stories, either to act upon immediately, to pitch at meetings, or keep for future reference. I didn’t have the time for scavenger hunts back then.

So, I’ve decided to devise a simple, but effective system, incorporating methods used in previous workplaces, modern technology, and new processes that fit my freelance lifestyle.

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

*****

Back in the day, before I had an iPhone and laptop, I stored materials in a manila folder, including physical notes, idea lists, and newspaper or magazine clippings. Now of course there are many more options for capturing and organizing ideas.

A good system should have one central file where all ideas and notes are stored, and this can be on your laptop, computer, or whatever device you use. Many may still prefer the tangible—a folder, index cards, or a large notebook. This should be clearly marked, well organized and easily accessible.

This way you can streamline the writing process and make the writing life much easier.

As well as a central home for your materials, you also need a method for immediately recording ideas when they arise. There are many ways to do this effectively. You can go old school and use a notebook, but make sure you use the same one, and that it’s small enough to carry around. The iPhone Notes app is my favorite along with Voice Memos to verbally record ideas. Since most of us are glued to our phones all day, maybe the apps are the easier options.

Here are a few more tips to keep you organized and disciplined.

General Ideas File

This is the place to transfer all the notes and ideas you’ve gathered in notebooks and on devices and categorize them. Having a central place, a home—whether it’s a physical manila folder or a file on your laptop—helps you avoid scrambling around looking for scraps of paper or trying to find notes on different phone apps, when it’s time to choose what stories to pitch.

If you’re home when the muse strikes, this is the best place to jot down ideas as they come to you. Many writers keep a notebook and pen by their beds, as ideas can strike in the middle of the night or just upon awakening.

List by Category

In addition to your general ideas file, you can create a separate document or spreadsheet, (however you prefer to list information), under different categories such as quotes, sayings, data, and so on. Most journalists and writers habitually take notes while reading articles, books, or maybe after an interesting conversation. 

This is where you can list these snippets you come across. They could be interesting facts, important data, fascinating people, a link to a scientific study, sayings, and maybe even your feelings about a place, an event, or person. These notes can be used either to reference in future articles, as a central theme, or a story peg.

List by Immediacy

If the idea coincides with a special date, month, or holiday, such as Christmas, Mother’s Day, Black History Month, and needs to be pitched well in advance, then file it accordingly. You can also have an urgent category for other time sensitive stories.

List by Article Types

Would this idea work best as a feature, news item, blog, profile, Q&A, or personal essay? This streamlines the process even further and can save a lot of time.

Include the Details

Jot down the date of your idea and where/how it came up. If it involved a conversation with someone, be sure to include their name and if possible, contact information. You may need to get in touch for a follow up or even interview them for your piece. 

If it’s a quote from an article, list the date, publication, and byline. If it’s a book, include the title and author. If you watched, listened to, or read something online that inspired you, just grab the link and include a few notes to remind yourself why you found it interesting. Many good ideas happen in the moment and if you don’t include your thoughts at the time, chances are you won’t remember them later.

Suggest Publications

Under each idea, jot down some suggestions of publications that are a possible good fit. This is important as you may have just read an article in a magazine that sparked your idea. If you don’t note this detail, you may easily forget in a few weeks.

Keep Clippings

If you do read print publications such as newspapers and magazines and there’s an interesting article, clip it, and save it. You can either keep it in a folder or scan it and include it in your central file.

List Your Articles

Keep a list of all your published articles with links or a scan if it’s print only. In the future, you may want to write a follow up piece, include links in a pitch to an editor, or reference something you’ve written.

As a journalist or writer, your life will become so much easier when all your ideas, facts, information, and article links are stored neatly in one place. 

The post How to Keep an Ideas File as a Journalist appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(Do AIs Dream of Electric Deeps?)

I’m no tech expert and do not use generative AI, but as an experienced journalist, I feel a great urgency to discuss its effect on our profession. I firmly believe in preserving the integrity of journalism by keeping humans in full control of each stage of news gathering, from ideation to fact checking. These may be lofty goals as most media company executives are probably chomping at the bit to start replacing people with bots. Others enjoy the fact that AI can perform all their monotonous tasks, freeing them up to enjoy the fun stuff. And I suppose, it does have its uses.

Whether you love it or hate it, we must closely monitor the use of AI in journalism, because it’s not going away, and is rapidly evolving and improving every day. But I also believe in the human spirit and our inherent love of storytelling. This alone could save the industry by ‘keeping it real.’

Since November 2022, we’ve experienced a huge leap in technology with the introduction of generative AI that can create new output, including text and images, which is often indistinguishable from human-generated content. Although most of us have been using AI in some form for many years, there’s a huge difference between spell checking a piece you wrote and prompting ChatGPT to draft a 1,200-word feature article from scratch that you can then claim as your own and monetize.

Maybe a better question would be, do you prefer consuming content created by artificial intelligence or by a human being? And will there be systems and rules in place to distinguish between them?

The business of journalism has been ‘under threat’ from technological advances for decades, with digitalization drastically changing how news is distributed and consumed. At the same time the digital era has democratized journalism, opening doors for independent and citizen journalists, which is, overall, a positive development.

But digitalization has also decimated local print journalism, which is a huge loss. Citizen journalists and local online ‘news’ channels fill in some of the gaping holes left by the declining newspaper publishing industry, which lost almost 60% of its workforce between 1990 and 2016 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. But they haven’t yet been able to replicate what newspaper reporters and magazine writers had the time, patience, and training to produce—thoughtful, thorough, boots-on-the-ground journalism, relying heavily on primary research and sources.

Since the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022 the actual creative process of journalism is potentially compromised. And that’s a whole different story.

By now most people are familiar with ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), which has many capabilities—from answering questions and explaining complex topics to creating output such as social media posts, poetry, essays, and complete articles. The responses generated by ChatGPT are based on the data it was trained on, so one of the biggest problems is the bias present during its learning. There are also concerns over false information it may produce and whether compensation should be awarded writers, artists, and musicians whose work was used (without permission) to train the AI models. 

In November 2023, OpenAI introduced an updated version, GPT- 4 Turbo. Other companies have since developed their own models, such as X’s (formerly Twitter) Grok AI. And platforms like Midjourney and Dall-E can generate images in a matter of seconds, including scenes that don’t exist.

AI tools have been around for years and have obvious benefits. For example, I’d be lost without my phone’s GPS. Many writers use Grammarly and transcribing services for interviews. The Associated Press have been using AI in their newsrooms since 2014 and have even made a deal with OpenAI to license their archive of news stories dating back to 1985. They’ve also created a list of guidelines for AI use in newsrooms, which you can read here.

But Chat GPT and its counterparts have pushed the use of AI to another level—creating content. This is where it gets problematic. As an experienced, dedicated researcher and writer, who’s spent years learning and perfecting your skills and craft, would you feel comfortable claiming authorship for a piece you didn’t actually write? And would you fully trust the output of a generative AI model? After all, it would be difficult to cite the source of this information.

What is the Purpose of Journalism?

Journalism is a valuable public service, often referred to as the ‘fourth pillar of democracy’ or the ‘fourth estate.’ According to the American Press Institute the central purpose of journalism is to “provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society.” https://americanpressassociation.com/principles-of-journalism/

From covering government policies to business dealings, journalism must be disciplined, with the facts presented in a clear, neutral manner, free of opinion and emotion. Being ‘the watchdogs of democracy’ and keeping governments, institutions, and businesses accountable, is a serious responsibility, one we can’t simply hand over to machines. The consequences, including potential conflicts of interest and the use of propaganda, could be quite severe.

AI can be safely used for repetitive tasks like data analysis, outlines, transcribing, and so on. But some people are using ChatGPT and other systems to create first drafts of articles, publishing them unedited, and calling their ‘efforts’ journalistic.

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

*****

The harsh reality is that anyone can legally claim the title journalist, and journalism incorporates many forms, including blogs and personal essays. We’re now inundated with such content, and we can assume that much of it is AI generated. Why spend time learning the craft and doing the hard work when a robot can do it all for you? 

Many articles and blogs are poorly researched and badly written but monetized regardless of quality. Content creators don’t care if they’re being disingenuous. Their goal is making money, and they will continue as long as it’s easy and profitable, ethics and morals be damned. But disinformation can also be easily created and distributed through AI systems, and the technology has made it simple to manipulate images and video footage. Soon it will be hard to distinguish real material from fakes, rendering photographic and video evidence untrustworthy, and therefore useless.

But people will soon tire of this bland content with its inevitable uniformity and start craving, even demanding original, authentic work. This should encourage those of us who refuse to use AI for creative purposes, to continue the hard work of producing real writing and journalism.

I believe the whole journalistic process—finding and researching stories, interviewing, writing the first draft, editing and fact checking—should be AI free. I would even advocate transcribing your own interviews as listening after the fact can spark ideas and often the piece will take shape in your mind. Those with decades of experience don’t need AI, we’ve managed quite well without it, and we’ve mastered the craft because we’ve had to learn all the steps. 

Using AI is basically cheating—cheating yourself out of an education through doing and experience and calling yourself a writer or journalist without doing the important grunt work. And if you decide to use AI to write a piece, even if it’s an outline or a first draft (which is where most of the magic of writing occurs by the way) then this should be declared.

I can’t say this enough: We must clearly label human-created journalism and AI-generated content.

AI is good at mimicking humans and can be prompted to write in anyone’s ‘style,’ but they have not and never will experience life firsthand. AI is incapable of original thought and ideas. It merely recreates and spits out content from the information it has ingested. Only a real person can write a compelling, empathetic, and genuine piece exploring and describing the human condition.

Talking to people in ‘real life’ is the best way to do journalism. AI can only work with digital data and information, it cannot go out into the field and interview victims and witnesses, perform on-scene reporting, connect with people, be embedded, nurture contacts, or provide the ‘human touch’ which is vital when covering sensitive subjects. It’s incapable of finding organic leads and gaining the trust of primary sources. And since, in my view, this is what constitutes real journalism—that is, reporting in the community, on the ground, in the field, with the people—then journalism is safe, and we have nothing to fear. At least not yet.

Sources:

• https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/13/23793810/openai-associated-press-ai-models
• https://gijn.org/stories/10-things-you-should-know-about-ai-in-journalism/
• https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/7/19/what-future-for-journalism-in-the-age-of-ai
• https://apnews.com/article/openai-chatgpt-associated-press-ap-f86f84c5bcc2f3b98074b38521f5f75a
• https://blog.ap.org/standards-around-generative-ai
• https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2023/2023-news-deserts-report-penny-abernathy-medill/
• https://localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/state-of-local-news/explore/#/localnewslandscape

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(What Is Literary Journalism?)

We may not be familiar with the term itself, but if you spend time online or read magazines and even newspapers, you’re seeing these stories daily. They pop up on news feeds and are peppered all over social media. These articles advise readers on practicalities like what to wear, where to dine, and how to do or achieve something. You’ll learn everything from how to build a bookshelf to why stay-at-home moms prefer yoga pants. Then there’s the much-loved listicle, with topics such as “7 Tips to Conquer Procrastination” or “5 Skills You Need to Be an Effective Journalist.”

These stories are evergreen, informative, and actionable with practical tips, instruction, and demonstrable examples of success, such as before-and-after photos of a room makeover or a beautifully decorated cake. They offer information on such diverse topics as DIY, pets, gardening, finance, health, IT, gadgets, hiking, and so much more.

You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a new trend, but service journalism has been around for decades. These articles have always been popular with readers and remain a staple of print and online magazines and used as “filler” for newspapers.

Service journalism has been referred to as “frivolous” and less important than other journalistic forms, and there’s a morsel of truth to this when you compare it to the societal impact of investigative journalism and hard news stories. Countless blogs and listicles now flood the online space, and we can safely assume that some are written by AI after the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. We’ll leave that issue for another article; but it does complicate matters as this is probably the easiest format to generate with new AI technology.

While it’s true that service journalism won’t have the same hard-hitting effects as news and investigative reports, it does have a distinct purpose and can transform lives. Millions of readers enjoy and appreciate this valuable and useful resource. I bet that most people reading this article have Googled a question in the last few days, such as “how to stop your newly adopted dog from nipping,” (guilty) or the top 10 spring getaways in the US. The content generated by this type of search is service journalism.

Jean LemMon, the first female editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, claimed service journalism came into being long before anybody put a label on it and offered a thorough description on C-Span back in the late 90s, which still holds true.

“Service journalism is a type of journalism that goes beyond the delivery of pure information,” she says. “It is journalism that requires action.” LemMon then goes on to explain that with “action journalism” we have an expectation that readers will be inspired to want to do something after they’ve read the piece, equipped with the information, advice, and instruction provided.

So, except for sponsored content and obvious clickbait, most service pieces fit neatly under the journalism umbrella, along with well-written blogs, columns, and personal essays. Service journalism has kept magazines in business for a very long time, and they are arguably the most widely read type of article. Major newspapers have editors assigned specifically to service journalism and entire websites are dedicated to the form.

*****

The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

Click to continue.

*****

The same rules and ethics apply to service journalism as to any other kind of reporting. And as a generalist, I treat each assignment with equal care and attention, whether it’s covering a presidential candidate’s political rally or writing a listicle about the 10 best winter coats.

You’ve probably written countless service journalism articles without being aware such a category existed. But having a label can be useful when pitching ideas to publications. How-to articles and listicles are relatively easy to research and fun to write, and this type of content can be a great source of income.

Just remember a service piece should offer helpful, practical advice, tips, and/or instruction, be informative, relevant, and result in some kind of action on the part of the reader. It can take the form of a listicle, how-to article, or even a Q&A style piece.

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Here are a few resources that may be helpful:

• https://mediablog.prnewswire.com/2018/03/15/11-service-journalism-news-sites/
• https://smartocto.com/blog/solutions-difference-constructive-service-journalism/
• https://www.c-span.org/video/?96579-1/service-journalism
• https://rjionline.org/news/whats-working-service-journalism-is-having-a-moment/

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