Sources: ways to get information for your story.
The reporter must decide whether a source is
credible or not.
I. Physical Sources
A . Clippings: stories from past issues that
have already run
1.Morgues: reference libraries where
old copies of newspapers are located
B. Encyclopedias: reliable but rarely used
for other than background info
C. Telephone directories
1. Great way to find someone’s address
2. Their phone number
3. How to spell their name.
D. City directory: published by private
firms, often contain more info than phone
book
E. Libraries: good for background
information on detailed stories
F. AP Style book: contains facts and how to
use those facts in a story. A reporter’s bible.
G. Courthouses: many many records are
kept on file. Court cases, property
ownership, business liability, corporation
make ups, arrest records, search warrants.
All these are available to the public.
II. Human Sources
A. People involved directly in the event
which you are writing about.
B. Usually your main source of information
in a story.
C. Could be unreliable, however.
1.No witness ever sees the events as they
actually happened.
2.Sometimes humans have their own
agendas and lie to reporters.
3. May just be making up info to receive
attention
4.Never take information at face value
from a questionable source
D. Always check what the source has told
you with either physical sources, or other
human sources.
E. Are different types of people.
a. Elected officials – reliable usually
b. Administrative types in government –
almost always reliable because their
job depends on it (county
administrators, principals,
superintendents etc).
c. Law enforcement: - always
dependable what they say is usually
taken for fact in court.
d. Secretaries who like to talk – always
check this information out
e. Criminals – always check information
f. Random people who walk in and say
“I have some information.”
F. Anonymous Sources: people who don’t
want their names used in the story
a. As a student reporter you will NEVER
use an anonymous source
b.If you use one, you must trust this
person with your career.
c. They need to be very knowledgeable
with what they are talking about.
III. Attributing Sources
A. On-the-record: you can use
the person’s name and connect
it to the information.
B. Not for attribution: use the
info but don’t use the person’s
name.
C. Background: can’t use the
info in the story or the person’s
name, but you can follow up on
it.
IV. Online Sources: be very
careful. Use only for
background, unless it’s a
government website, and then
call to confirm the information.