Reporting for Journalists

Reporting for Journalists explains the key skills needed by the twenty-first century news reporter. From the process of finding a story and tracing sources, to interviewing contacts, gathering information and filing the finished report, it is an essential handbook for students of journalism and a useful guide for working professionals.

Reporting for Journalists explores the role of the reporter in the world of modern journalism and emphasises the importance of learning to report across all media – radio, television, online, newspapers and periodicals. Using case studies, and examples of print, online and broadcast news stories, the second edition of Reporting for Journalists includes:

• information on using wikis, blogs, social networks and online maps
• finding a story and how to develop ideas
• researching the story and building the contacts book including crowd sourcing and using chat rooms
• interactivity with readers and viewers and user generated content
• making best use of computer aided reporting (CAR), news groups and search engines
• covering courts, councils and press conferences
• reporting using video, audio and text
• preparing reports for broadcasting or publication
• consideration of ethical practice, and cultural expectations and problems
• an annotated guide to further reading, a glossary of key terms and a list of journalism websites and organisations.

Chris Frost is Head of Journalism at Liverpool John Moore's University, UK. A journalist and a teacher for almost forty years, he chairs the National Union of Journalist's ethics council and is a member of the NUJ Professional Training Committee. He is the author of Journalism Ethics and Regulation (2007), Media Ethics and Self Regulation (2000) and Designing for Newspapers and Magazines (2003).