Good stories start with keen first-hand observation, smart interviewing, and answer the five W’s and one H: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Good reporting leads to good stories which lets your readers experience what you have experienced through your lively, informative copy.

Do Your Background Research

Prior to leaving for an event, reporters should always prepare themselves for their assignment. Understand the event you’re covering, define the purpose of your interview, conduct some preliminary research on your interview subjects. Interview people closely associated with the event or activity who may have different viewpoints on the event or activity. Reporters must listen to their source carefully and react to their responses thoughtfully to develop rapport, and an easy, back-and-forth conversational style. The more preparation, the more your coverage will be meaningful and filled with purpose.

Ask Open Ended Questions

Limit the number of yes/no questions. These kinds of questions do not allow your subject to elaborate or provide you with insight. Make sure you create a concrete list of open-ended questions that will allow your subject to provide you with all the details you need to provide a detailed picture of the event and experiences.

Know Your Goal

Good interviewers have clear goals for what they want and need out of the interview. What obstacle does, or will the individual face, that may be difficult to overcome? What achievement, talent, practice, or experience did the individual draw on to overcome the obstacle head-on?

The Details Make The Difference

Each story is unique and different from other stories because of the details. That is why interviewers want to meet the person at the place that is the context for the story, whether it is the locker room, the drama room, or the physics lab. That way they can do reporting before, during and after an interview. Such places are rich in descriptive detail, which they observe and write down in their reporter’s notebook.

Take Good Notes

Write down everything you can about the conversation (do not hesitate to record the interview if the interviewee is ok with it). They need to pay attention to record concrete details – numbers, dates, statistics, key words, distinctive phrases, and direct quotations. Once the interview is over, make sure to get their contact information where they can be reached if you need additional information or clarification. It is very important to be accurate. The smallest error can cause embarrassment.

Work In Pairs

Working in pairs as a journalist—especially when combining the skills of a writer and a photographer—offers several advantages. Firstly, it ensures a comprehensive coverage of the story. While the writer focuses on capturing details, context, and interviews, the photographer can visually document the scene, emotions, and visual elements. This collaboration results in a more holistic and engaging narrative. Secondly, having two perspectives enhances creativity and problem-solving. Writers and photographers can bounce ideas off each other, leading to innovative approaches and unique angles. Lastly, the workload is distributed, allowing each team member to specialize and excel in their respective areas. Overall, the synergy between a writer and photographer duo contributes significantly to impactful journalism.