Preparing for the Big Story

Rachele KanigelSan Francisco State

UniversityJACC Northern California Conference

November 7, 2009

Types of Big Stories

Natural disasters -- hurricane, earthquake, fire, tornado, flood

Man-made disasters – terrorist act, major accident, serious crime

Major campus stories – a high-ranking official steps down, scandal, suicide, disease outbreak

The Ball State Daily News

Ball State University, Indiana

The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech University

The Daily Mississippian

University of Mississippi

Collegiate Times

Virginia TechQuickTimeª and a decompressor

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Before the event

Assemble a staff contact listDevelop a disaster planCreate a breaking news cultureCreate cooperative arrangements

with other campus media Train for the big story

As the news breaks

Editors should: Assemble a team Staff the newsroom Assign a rewrite person Keep your readers in mind

Think visually

The Daily Reveille

Louisianna State University

Plan a package

Think beyond a single story – break information into sidebars and infoboxes

If there’s a strong visual element, use multiple photos – in print, online or both

Use maps, timelines and other informational graphics to tell the story

Create a logo for the package Include an index to direct readers

The Exponent

Purdue University

The Daily Orange

Syracuse University

Make the most of your Web site

Post a news bulletin as soon as the story breaks

Continue to update the story as it unfolds

Shoot video for major events -- press conferences, candlelight vigils, protest rallies

Use interactive maps

Show the effects of a storm, earthquake, fire or other natural disaster on a campus or community

Include photographs in the map Show the path of a gunman or other threat to

the community Plot emergency shelters, first-aid centers,

open stores and other services for victims

Use interactive features

Give the community discussion boards or other online vehicles to share information and to vent

Set up memorial sites for people who have died

Create discussion topics on related issues -- Should gun laws be changed? Did the campus deal with the traumatic event responsibly?

Allow people to share their experiences -- where were you when the big one hit?

The Daily Mississippian

University of Mississipi

Golden Gate [X]press

San Francisco State University

Mobile formats

Create news podcasts for people who don’t have consistent access to computers and/or electricity

Establish a mobile alert systemThink about how to link to users’ cell

phones and iPods

Serving your communtiy

Think about the problems this trauma has created and how technology can help solve them.

What voids can your news organization fill? What useful information can you collect and

share? How can you use new media to help people

connect? Think about packaging your coverage so readers

have a one-stop shop for information.

Following up

Assess your coverage Brainstorm Editorialize Make space for letters Ask why Don’t drop the ball

Take care of your staff

Get help from campus counseling services

Let students talk through their feelings of covering a challenging stories

Use the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma resources at http://www.dartcenter.org/