by Beth Johnson | Feb 22, 2015 | App Articles, Reporting, Source Building, Survival Kit
The best job security a reporter can have comes down to one word. Sources. Time and time again I hear about the “untouchable” reporter in a newsroom who can’t ad lib, can’t write, can’t dress, can’t get along with people, yet cannot be fired. The reason, sources. The...
by Beth Johnson | Jan 22, 2015 | App Articles, Know Your Newsroom, Reporting
Let’s be honest—if you’re a TV reporter, you probably end up assigned to more crime stories than you can count over the course of a year! A murder here, a robbery there, another missing person, oh and don’t forget the occasional 12-hour standoff. Reporters cover a lot...
by Beth Johnson | Apr 16, 2014 | App Articles, Source Building, Survival Kit
Recently I addressed the importance of defining your news philosophy to end up in a station where you can really flourish. When I ask journalists to define their philosophy the most common answer I get is “enterprising stories.” Let’s consider that for a minute....
by Beth Johnson | Mar 12, 2014 | App Articles, Honing Skills, Survival Kit
When journalists contact me, one of the first questions I ask is “What is your news philosophy?” Most cannot tell me clearly. I end up having to ask a series of questions, then define it for them. (This, by the way, includes many news managers who call me looking...
by Beth Johnson | Sep 5, 2013 | App Articles, Source Building, Survival Kit
This year and last, the Knight Foundation has brought up the idea of using the “teaching hospital” model in j-schools to properly prepare journalists. Last year, an“Open Letter to American University Presidents” called for a “teaching hospital” style curriculum. This...
