INTERNET SEARCHES

Using the Internet as a source for background information can lead to solid local stories. As an example, let’s assume you need to find a local contact for a food safety story. By using a search engine such as Google or Yahoo!, you may type in “food safety” and receive an astronomical number of matches; this example yielded no fewer than 1,130,000,000.

To narrow the search, enter more specific terms. If the food is asparagus, search for “asparagus food safety”—your search is now down to a mere 179,000. But remember, you want to find a local expert on this subject. If your market is Sacramento, California, search for “asparagus food safety Sacramento.” The search results are still far too many to track down individually (8,520), yet better connections are being made. A quick scan of the results shows that a nearby university has some data, plus there is a county extension agent with information as well.

Additionally, there are several websites that connect journalists to experts, author ities, and spokespersons in a wide variety of topics. One excellent website is www.expertclick.com, which allows journalists to search for experts on sub jects ranging from abortion to zoos. Of course, you should always enter these interviews with the knowledge that the person may strenuously advocate one point of view; there is no harm in tracking down inter views through such portals.

FIGURE 4.2 You can search for experts for news stories through websites like expertclick.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA

In addition to standard websites, the number of social media websites has exploded in the past decade. Facebook dominates the social media realm, although other outlets such as LinkedIn and Twitter also have millions of subscribers.

One advantage of monitoring social media sites is the number of stories they can offer to broadcast journalists. Rallies, events, concerts, political gatherings, and protests readily offer their information in hopes of gaining a large turnout. By simply updating their social media pages, reporters have access to a number of groups that are eager to have news coverage. KYTV’s Ethan Forhetz in Springfield, Missouri, notes the power of social media:

In my newsroom, several of the newsroom personnel are “administrators” of the station’s Facebook and Twitter pages so we all keep an eye out for tips and story ideas that may turn in to something. It’s been more of a focus in recent months to make sure our social media pages are covered overnights and weekends. Of course, each of our anchors and reporters are responsible for monitoring our own pages and passing along important information.

FAST FACT: Facebook overtook MySpace as the most popular social media network in 2009.

Multimedia Journalist Noelani Mathews of WCTV in Tallahassee echoes the importance of social media for news reporting, saying:

As a multimedia journalist, social media is very important. It not only creates my presence in the community, but it’s a great way of communicating with my viewers. I have professional accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

When there is breaking news, I am constantly updating my feed to tell people what’s going on. The faster you post updates, the more traffic comes your way. I use social media as a tool to track my growth and to see which stories viewers care the most about.

I also use it to find untold sto ries and people ranting about a good or bad situation. I use Facebook a lot when I don’t have someone’s contact infor mation. These days, people are just as fast to text back as they are to message you back through Facebook.

As you can see, not only is monitoring social media (Face book, email, Twitter, and the like) important for news gathering, a key step remains; responsible journalists always check the facts from these sources before going on air.

FIGURE 4.3 chrisboy2004/iStockphoto.com

In Chapter 5, Beats, Spot News, and Reporting Assignments, we’ll more closely examine specific websites that can assist news reporters. For now, note how important it is to use the Internet as a starting point that must be double-checked with the same rigor of other news sources.

OPEN RECORDS

The phrase open records is associated most commonly with governmental documents, such as agendas for meetings or lists of official procurements. There are several notable exceptions to what may be accessed; the following section on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lists some of them, such as those pertaining to national security. For local reporters, the most commonly restricted records deal with personnel, as many of those are still off-limits. This may seem counterintuitive, as many government employees’ annual salaries are accessible online. Other forms (such as disciplinary actions or personnel reports) are generally closed to the press.

PUBLIC RECORDS AND “SUNSHINE LAWS”

One freedom people enjoy in a democracy is the openness of society. Very little goes on in public life that is not recorded one way or another. At times, those in public office attempt to cover up some of their activities. They can, and often do, complicate the reporter’s efforts to uncover information. Persistent journalists are often able to circumvent such attempts at secrecy by examining public records. Reporters also have another strong weapon—the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA.

Congress passed the FOIA in 1966, allowing public access to records held by federal agencies of the executive branch. Since then, all 50 states have passed similar laws that permit the public to examine most records maintained by state and local governments. Freedom of information laws have been dubbed sunshine laws because they are designed to shed light on the workings of government. That light hasn’t always shined brightly, however. Government agencies often refuse to disclose public records to private individuals or to journalists. The federal government, for example, has often claimed that revealing certain information would threaten national security. The issue was usually not the nation’s security but information that would prove embar rassing to the agency or bureaucrat involved.

FAST FACT: Presidents Ford, Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and Obama have each amended the FOIA.

With that in mind, Congress amended the FOIA in 1974 and 1976, requiring federal agencies to release documents to the public unless the agencies could show some valid reason for not doing so. Nine exemptions were added to the FOIA, but the ones used most pertain to national security and foreign policy, advice and recommendations made within a federal agency, unwarranted invasion of privacy, files dealing with criminal cases that are current or pending, and trade secrets.

Because state sunshine laws vary, reporters seeking information from a state or local government office must examine that state’s law before filing.

FILING AN FOIA REQUEST

The first thing a reporter must do when seeking government information is to determine which agency has the information being sought. Sometimes, a telephone call to the agency is enough to produce the information. If not, the reporter must then file an FOIA request in writing. The request should be written on the news organization’s letterhead and should include the following:

1. An opening sentence making it clear that the letter deals with a Freedom of Information Act request.

2. An offer to pay reasonable fees for reproduction of records. Some news organizations prefer to list an amount they are willing to pay, such as $50, rather than use the term “reasonable amount.”

3. A request that fees be waived because the information would benefit the public. An optional statement indicating how the information would be beneficial increases the likelihood of the waiver being granted.

4. A specific description of the documents being requested, including the actual titles of the documents, if they are known.

5. A reminder that, by law, the agency has 10 days to provide the information requested or to explain why it is denying the request.

6. Some reporters like to inquire whether any other government agencies have requested the same information. This “fishing expedition” sometimes provides some unexpected information that’s helpful.

It is a good idea to send the letter by certified mail and to request a return receipt. The envelope should indicate “FOIA Request” or “For the Attention of the FOIA Officer.” Although the FOIA states that the agency has ten days to respond to the request, it also allows the agency to take more time as long as it informs the reporter. Many agencies assign a number to the request, which should be used in any future contacts with the agency. A telephone call to the agency sometimes speeds up responses. If the agency does not reply within a reasonable time, such as two or three weeks, the reporter should send another letter, again reminding the agency of the time limits.

If an FOIA request is denied, the requester can file an appeal with the agency, which must be answered within 20 days. If that fails, the reporter can go to court to try to obtain the information, but this is a costly and often lengthy endeavor. However, the threat of a lawsuit sometimes can convince an agency to release the information.

FIGURE 4.4 For assistance in filing an FOIA request, visit the RCFP at http://www.rcfp.org.

Because filing an FOIA request is so much trouble, few journalists use it to find information; indeed, only a small percentage of broadcast journalists have filed FOIA requests. Actually, prisoners and businesses have used the FOIA more than any other group. Although some information obtained through FOIA requests can be found in other places, there are times when there is no way to do the story without the FOIA. To simplify the process, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) provides updated FOIA information and guidelines on its website.

THE PRIVACY ACT

Some members of Congress were concerned that the FOIA would impinge on one of Americans’ most treasured freedoms—privacy. In 1974, Congress passed the Privacy Act in an attempt to protect individuals from unwarranted invasion of their privacy. The act forbids the government from disclosing information in its files pertaining to individuals. Many journalists argue that the government uses the act to keep important information from the public.

FAST FACT: Exceptions to the Privacy Act include for the purposes of law enforcement, the census, and for congressional investigations.

COLLECTING GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATION

Governmental records are best divided into two categories: Records that contain informa tion about the government and infor mationthat is collected by the government about businesses and private citizens. We’ll address these topics separately, although some of the sources overlap and may be applicable to both.

FIGURE 4.5 The Government Accountability Office investigates government spending (www.gao.gov).

COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT

Ironically, while the government often fails to disclose certain information to the public, it publishes volumes of manuals and directo ries that are important sources of information for journalists. Sometimes, the information found in these government publi cations is as embarrassing as the material an agency does not disclose.

The government publications found at public and university libraries that are particularly useful to journalists are the reports issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which is a congressional agency. The GAO issues more than 1,000 reports annually and its recommendations to Congress often provide interesting and sometimes provocative story ideas for journalists. The now famous stories about the Pentagon paying 20 and 30 times what it should for hammers and other basic tools came from GAO reports.

Other government publications (and their respective websites) useful to reporters include the following:

■ The U.S. Government Printing Office (www.gpo.gov/fdsys) contains information on congressional hearings, bills, budgets, laws, and codes.

■ The U.S. Bureau of the Census (www.census.gov) provides statistical information on almost every aspect of life in America.

■ The Congressional Budget Office (www.cbo.gov) gives a nonpartisan analysis of the federal budget.

All these publications—and a great many more—are also housed in government depository libraries located throughout the United States and on many university campuses.

Name—Noelani Mathews

Job Title—Multimedia Journalist

Employer and Website—WCTV, Tallahassee, FL; wctv.tv

Social Media Outlets I Use—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Typical Daily Duties—As a multimedia journalist, the responsibilities are far more than those of the average reporter. You’re expected to dominate your story not only on air, but also through your web story and on social media platforms. In addition to those daily duties, I am the only MMJ to report out of the Valdosta, Georgia, bureau. That means I’m constantly communicating back and forth with my newsroom, so we are on the same page.

The first thing I do when I come into work is make calls to a list of city and county leaders. This could be anything from public information officers to local activists to make sure there isn’t anything I miss. Once I get into the bureau, I have 30 minutes to compile a list of story ideas to pitch to my newsroom. My coverage area for stories is anything within a 45–minute radius of Valdosta. After I call my list of contacts, I will check Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other local news competition. I also keep a work planner and write down every event that I receive via email.

Once I’m called into the pitch meeting, my newsroom ultimately decides which stories I will do for the 5, 5:30 and 6 o’clock newscasts. I’ll take those stories and start making calls to set up interviews. On a normal day, I’m expected to turn in at least one package and one VOSOT. On some days, I take on more.

After I grab my interviews, b–roll, and on–camera work, I return to write my stories no later than 3 o’clock. Every story has to be checked and approved by a newsroom staff member before you can begin tracking your sound for a package. After script approval, I track my voice and finish editing my story.

Once all of my stories are rendered to their proper format, I send them to the station through a FTP system called ‘FileZilla’. All stories are expected in 30 minutes before it airs. Since it’s using the Internet, each file can take up to five to seven minutes, so you have to start sending them in early or you will miss deadline.

The last thing I have to do before I leave is individually post all my stories to the web. This means you have to rewrite your story from news script to web script to make it flow easier. After I have all of my stories up on the site, I share them to my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter handles.

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION ON BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

Reporters have another useful method of locating information, particularly information about individuals’ government files. Governments at all levels maintain files on numerous activities that happen within their borders. When a baby is born, when someone dies, is married or divorced, registers a car, opens a liquor store, buys a piece of land, is arrested, sues somebody, or opens a restaurant, someone issues a document that is kept on permanent record. Anyone who wishes to do so may look at and copy such documents.

FIGURE 4.6 LilliDay/iStockphoto.com

Court Records

Information about the court cases most reporters deal with—criminal and civil cases—is available at a court clerk’s office. In a civil case, anyone can obtain information about the complaint or petition brought by the plaintiff. The complaint usually describes what the defendant has allegedly done and why the plaintiff wants the court to award damages.

In criminal cases, reporters also have access to the charges brought against an individual. The records list the name of the complainant, most often a police officer, and the name of the defendant. The records cite the charge and describe what allegedly occurred that led to the arrest and court action. Reporters soon learn that it’s a lot easier, and quicker, to find these records if they are on a first-name basis with the court clerks.

FIGURE 4.7 Noel Powell/Shutterstock.com

Law Enforcement Databases

One of the more visible outcomes of Internet research deals with locating crime statistics throughout a community. For this example, we examine the amount of data available on sex offenders who are either incarcerated or who have been released into traditional neighborhoods. Although the laws vary across the country, it is common for local law enforcement to compel sex offenders to register their home addresses when they are released from prison. Remem ber, just because a sex offender’s photograph, address, and name are online is not justification to put the infor mation on the air; there are privacy rights that must be acknowledged.

FIGURE 4.8 Reporters can find information on court cases at the court clerk’s office. TommL/iStockphoto.com

However, there is still statistical data that can be compiled from such databases. Because these records are generally searchable by either county or zip code, a reporter can easily compare two jurisdictions or identify trends.

Most of these databases are accessible to the public with little effort. To locate them, start with either the county sheriff’s office or the state bureau of investigation. As a brief example of the information that can be found, let’s conduct a quick search of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) website:

1. Enter the GBI homepage at http://gbi.georgia.gov.

2. In the search box, type “sex offender registry.”

3. Click on the “Georgia Sex Offender Registry” link.

4. Click on the “Sex Offender Search Page” link.

5. Click on the “I Agree” button.

6. Type in the random code presented on screen.

7. You’ll see a number of registered sex offenders appear with mugshots, names, addresses, descriptions, crimes, and other information.

8. Search two different cities in the drop-down menu. For example, Alpharetta and Marietta are both suburbs in the Atlanta metropolitan area, so those can each be searched.

By comparing two nearby cities, one can enterprise a story using readily available crime statistics. The GBI (as well as most other jurisdictions) also provides similar databases on murder, rape, larceny, family violence, and other felonies. Data within these reports may be limited to broad statistics, such as how many murders were committed in a given county in a certain month. Knowing how to quickly locate accurate numbers can be invaluable when conducting background research or developing a story.

In addition to city-by-city searches, additional digging can locate state wide crime statistics. These num bers allow comparisons between different years, criminal offenses, or the Statewide Crime Rate per 100,000 popu lation. Armed with these statistics, a reporter can create an engaging story about crime, safety, and prevention. As an example, the GBI Statewide Crime Rate reveals that the state’s murder rate has dropped roughly 60% across Georgia since its peak in 1981. Statistics like these can result in a lead package, a series of reports on crime, or even a promotable news item during a ratings week.

In addition to individual states maintaining such websites, the federal Department of Justice oversees the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website. It contains links to all 50 states’ public registry sites, as well as information for territories (like Guam and Puerto Rico) and more than 80 Native American tribes across the country.

FIGURE 4.9 Screenshot from gbi.georgia.gov homepage

ADDITIONAL REAL AND VIRTUAL DOCUMENTS

The number of paper-based data sources and online websites increases on a daily basis, making it impossible for reporters to maintain a comprehensive list. With so many government resources (and endless websites of individual companies, social networking pages, and the like), a handful of touchstones can make finding documents less daunting.

FAST FACT: In 2002, LexisNexis joined Toyota for a “Win a Lexus on Lexis!” promotion.

DATABASE SERVICES

We have made numerous references in this book already to the information explosion that has had a major impact on all types of communication. It already is a boon to journalists. The Internet, in particular, has invaluable tools for searching all types of subject.

Most libraries have computerized the catalogue of the information that’s housed in them, which makes locating the information much faster. Many libraries subscribe to database services such as LexisNexis, InfoTrac, and others that index hundreds of newspapers, magazines, academic and scientific journals, and trade publications.

Broadcast newsrooms usually have dedicated software platforms for word processing, creating assignment lists, and producing rundowns. Some of these programs also interface (via subscription) with database services, such as LexisNexis. Reporters routinely use LexisNexis for tasks such as researching stories, identifying contacts, and obtaining story ideas.

CITY DIRECTORIES, PHONE BOOKS, AND REVERSE DIRECTORIES

The city directory is often helpful if you want to find out where a particular individual lives. The directory lists a person’s name, address, spouse, children, employ ment, and several other useful pieces of information. The direc tories are particularly helpful when a reporter is trying to talk to rela tives of someone who is in the news.

FIGURE 4.10 Michal Mrozek/Shutterstock.com

WEB LINK: Whitepages.com lets reporters use a reverse phone directory to find people through their phone numbers.

Telephone books are also useful; they would be the first place to look when trying to locate someone if you know the town or city in which he or she lives. In some communities, the telephone company also prints telephone books that list people and companies by their addresses. They are extremely useful, for example, if a major fire breaks out on the 1500 block of Magnolia Street. There are listings for all of the phones on Magnolia Street that are not restricted, so all the reporter or assignment editor has to do is try to locate a phone near the 1500 block. A call to a phone listed at 1550 Magnolia Street, for example, might find someone who can see the fire from an apartment window. It’s then simple to put the person on the air while he or she describes the fire and answers the reporter’s questions.

The Internet has made tracking down people and addresses even faster. A number of websites now allow reporters to find people by their name or address, plus through their home phone numbers. Whitepages.com, for example, allows users to find individuals through just their names. Also, that website has a reverse phone directory search. This allows a reporter to input a phone number, then find the person and home address for that number.

The limitation of telephone books and online phone directories is the proliferation of cell phones. Cell phone numbers are not listed in traditional phone books, plus users can add or drop phones (and their respective numbers) frequently. Even Internet websites that promise success in providing phone numbers for people are stymied by the great strides made by cell phones. There are no accurate third-party sources with omniscient cell phone number lists, although it doesn’t hurt to run a quick search through sites like whitepages.com. However, the only accurate way is to simply ask someone for their number.

CREATING EXPERT DATABASES

There are two categories of expert database that are useful for reporters. The first type of database is for a specific beat, which we’ll cover in greater detail in Chapter 5, Beats, Spot News, and Reporting Assignments. Basically, a reporter who covers a specific beat will concentrate on his or her own field. A business reporter, for example, will list the local chamber of commerce (handy for business openings and broad business news), the city manager (who will know about businesses expanding or neighborhoods rezoning for business locations), and the spokespersons for the top businesses in the region. Health reporters will concentrate on local hospitals and clinics, whereas education reporters will need school principals and school board members on their list. General assignment reporters, who cover a number of different topics, cast a much wider net for news sources. They will compile a broader database that covers the important newsmakers and experts throughout the community. This is a geographic list, as it covers a variety of reputable news sources.

In addition to public information officers for the city, county, and police stations, a geographic database should contain:

■ local and state health departments, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

■ the local school district, nearby universities and technical schools, and the state department of education

■ the chamber of commerce, Better Business Bureau, and any leading unions;

■ county, circuit, and state courts

■ the state legislature and governor’s office, plus the contacts for the representatives and senators who represent the area in Washington

■ city departments, including parks and recreation, the visitors’ bureau, historical society, social services, public works, and the public library

■ nearby military bases

■ regional airports

■ local nonprofits, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity

■ federal departments that may be of interest, including the Census Bureau, the Treasury Department, or even the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

It is poor journalism to simply revisit the same sources newscast after newscast, so you should resist having the mayor or another local figure pop up repeatedly for various stories. While some interviewees are simply better on camera than others, you perform a disservice to your audience by merely relaying the same person’s viewpoints time and time again. By updating and expanding your database on an ongoing basis, you bring more experts to the channel that pass along more points of view.

SUMMARY

Unfortunately, most radio or TV news organizations do not give their reporters enough time to use the various information sources described in this chapter. Reporters spend most of their time working on breaking news stories. Investigative stories require a lot of research time and are expensive to produce. Most stations want at least one story a day from their reporters, which doesn’t allow much time for checking court records or filing FOIA requests.

If you do have an opportunity to work on stories that require in-depth research, the information in this chapter should be extremely helpful. The FOIA is an important asset if you want to examine the actions of government at any level— town, city, state, or federal. The library at your college or university has numerous documents that will reveal more about the federal government, how it works, and what mistakes it makes. The report of the GAO, a congressional watchdog, and the Congressional Directory are also useful.

You should also familiarize yourself with the various business publications, indexes, journals, and magazines in your library and learn about the ability of the Internet and databases such as LexisNexis, which have cut reporter research tremendously.

Finally, the undisputed best resource for investigative journalism in this country is the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), located at the University of Missouri’s Journalism School. In addition to publishing books, tip sheets, and resource guides, IRE sponsors boot camps, scholarships, fellowships, and other programs for those interested in investigative journalism. Its website is www.ire.org.