Gathering news
Learning objective:
to understand how to gather
news and conduct good
interviews
What might be happening?
How would you find out more?
Newsreader Huw Edwards talk
talks about newsgathering
What are the FIVE Ws?
BBC video: How to gather the news
Key points of newsgathering?
The 5 Ws are:
What, Who, Where, When and Why – and don’t
forget How
• Check your facts
• Interview people affected by the story or who know
a lot about it
• Get background information before you do an
interview so you can ask the right questions
Key points of newsgathering?
• What’s the difference between a fact and an
opinion?
A fact is beyond dispute, an opinion is someone’s
view
• Why do you need to have a balance of different
opinions?
Because a good journalist is always impartial
Radio 1 reporter Natalie
Jamieson interviews JLS
What are her top tips? Note them
down
BBC video: Top tips on interviewing
And here are JLS’s top tips!
BBC video: JLS talk about interviews
Activity: ask your partner
these questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Do you like school?
Do you meet your friends during break?
Is homework set every day?
Do you eat school dinners?
What do you like about school?
What do you do during break-time?
How much homework do you get?
What do you think of school dinners?
Which questions get the most interesting, complete
answers? Why?
Questions
What is the difference
between a closed question
and an open question?
Closed questions prompt the short response
"Yes" or "No".
Open questions are used by journalists because
they encourage people to give more information.
Answers to Questions
Why do you think journalists sometimes ask
interviewees whole answers to questions?
Often when journalists put together a report, the
interviewer's questions are edited out - to save
time and to make the report seem more natural.
Imagine the difference between hearing: "They're
great, apart from we only have chips on Friday!"
and "I think school dinners are great, except that
we only have chips on Friday!"
Activity: Now ask your
partner 3 ‘open’ questions
• LISTEN to them, write down their answers
as WHOLE sentences and be ready to
report back to the class on what they said.
• Possible Topics: sport, school,
holidays, family, films, celebrities
News quiz
1. A closed question…
a. Prompts "Yes" or "No" answers.
b. Encourages people to give detailed
answers.
c. Works well in radio interviews.
News quiz
2. Encouraging interviewees to include the
question in their answer is useful because…
a. It gives you time to think of your next
question.
b. It makes it easier to leave out your questions
when you are compiling the report.
c. People like giving long answers.
News quiz
3. If you present stories fairly and without bias,
you could be described as being...
a. Impartial
b. Incredible
c. Inferior
News quiz
4. You've asked someone if you can interview
them on camera. They say yes - but only if you
give them a list of your questions first. What
should you do?
a. Send them the questions you are going to ask.
b. Refuse to tell them anything.
c. Tell them the topics you are going to be asking
about.
News quiz
5. You find a website that has some useful
information you want to use in your report.
What should you do?
a. Try to memorise the information.
b. Write down the information you want in your
notebook.
c. Take notes and bookmark the webpage for
later.
News quiz
6. A fact is...
a. A statement made by someone important.
b. A statement based on a belief.
c. A statement that is true and can be backed up
with evidence.
News quiz
last question!
7. What word best describes a news report that
only gives a one-sided view of a story?
a. Biased
b. Balanced
c. Boring
Answers
1. A closed question …
a. Prompts "Yes" or "No" answers.
2. Encouraging interviewees to include the
question in their answer is useful because…
b. It makes it easier to leave out your questions
when you are compiling the report.
Answers
3. If you present stories fairly and without bias,
you could be described as being...
a. Impartial
4. You've asked someone if you can interview
them on camera. They say yes - but only if you
give them a list of your questions first. What
should you do?
c. Tell them the topics you are going to be asking
about.
Answers
5. You find a website that has some useful information
you want to use in your report. What should you do?
c. Take notes and bookmark the webpage for later.
6. A fact is...
c. A statement that is true and can be backed up with
evidence.
And finally!
7. What word best describes a news
report that only gives a one-sided view of
a story?
a. Biased