News conferences
When you turn on the television news this evening, you are
sure to see a news conference in action. It looks something like
this:
The main player can be a politician, the leader of an environmental
group or the lawyer for an accused murderer. He or she sits at
the front of the room, usually behind a table or podium, and
makes an announcement or issues a statement on a current issue
or some aspect of their work. Reporters from newspapers, news
services, television outlets and radio stations sit in the audience,
waiting for the chance to ask their own specific questions.
Reporters get advance warning of these events through a news
release or media advisory that tells them when and where the
news conference will held and what will be discussed.
Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of a news
conference:
- Make a list of questions that you need answered before the
news conference starts. What do you need to know in order to
write a story about this issue? Add to that list as the speaker
makes the announcement.
- Listen carefully and take notes as other reporters ask questions.
That will save you from asking the same questions later. And
you may glean important information and get answers to questions
that you hadn't even considered.
- Phrase your own questions clearly and briefly. You don't
get much time to ask questions in a news conference so keep it
short and to the point.
- Resist the urge to ask several questions at once (See the
notes on double-barrelled questions in the Interview
section.) The person giving the news conference is likely to
answer just one and it may not be the information you needed.
- Check with the public relations staff or the speaker after
the news conference to confirm names, titles and other details
that may not have come out during the event.
Scrums
Sometimes a new event isn't quite
as organized and orderly as a news conference. That's what you'll
find the first time you encounter a scrum! If you
know anything about the game of rugby, you may know the term.
In journalism, it has a similar meaning. Journalists flock to
a newsmaker in a public place (think of the Prime Minister leaving
the House of Commons or a sports star emerging from a big game)
and start asking questions one after another.
Getting information out of a
scrum can be a real challenge. But here are some tips:
- It can be difficult to take notes in a scrum because the
reporters and camera operators are jockeying for the best spot
and crowding around the person you're trying to interview. That's
when a tape recorder can come in handy. That way, you can be
sure to catch what the source is saying even you can't get very
close to the person.
- Keeping your questions short and simple is more important
in a scrum that it is in any other interviewing situation. You
need to get the attention of your source, express your question
quickly and clearly, and try to ask a follow-up question. State
your question in a loud, clear voice and keep eye contact with
the source while he or she answers. That makes it's easier to
keep their attention if you want to ask another question.
- Sometimes a reporter may throw out a question that seems
off-topic. Be sure to listen closely to the question and notice
how the source reacts and responds to the question. The question
may have nothing to do with your story but it could reveal information
that will help you with another story. Or it could create a whole
new story, depending on what your source has to say.
- If you get a chance, try to get a moment alone with the source
after the scrum is over and the other reporters are packing up
their gear. That way, you can ask some of your own questions
and perhaps get some additional information for your story.
Public
meetings
Most levels of government hold regular public meetings --
whether it's a community council that governs a village of 80
people or the city council in a major metropolis. That's where
reporters find out about the key issues and concerns in the local
community.
Meanwhile, community groups, special committees and neighbourhood
associations are also likely to hold public meetings to discuss
a current issue.
- Check out the agenda ahead of time and find out what will
be discussed at the meeting. Are you familiar with the topic?
Has it been in the news? Can you get the background on what's
been happening with this issue before the meeting? Who are the
key players?
- At the meeting, arrive a little early to find a good seat
with a clear view of the room. Make sure you have a few pens,
lots of notebook paper and if possible, a tape recorder.
- If you don't know who's who on the council or involved with
the community group, find out before the meeting starts and make
sure you record who says what during the meeting.
- Write down important details as fast as you can and record
the discussion if possible. Public meetings are on the
record, which means you can quote what people
say there. However, some people may get up to speak and tell
reporters that they don't want to be identified.
- If you have questions, be sure to talk to the right people
after the meeting and get extra details or clarifications.
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