not teaching,
still THINKING …
Coronavirus coverage is an extreme example of how story ideas are generated. Not only are the basics being reported, but also the fallout in every locality, every state, every country, every continent.
If you are looking to cover a new angle that has not been reported, consider the following:
- Change. It is everywhere. Decisions affecting our daily lives are coming rapidly, and we are deluged with ways we must adapt.
- The unusual. This element always generates new ways to treat a story. The coronavirus, by its nature and by its severity, is unusual. We must pay attention to all the ways that this crisis is different from any we have experienced in the past.
- Next steps. Looking ahead is a must. Every day, we are eager to know what is about to happen — whether that means actions being put upon us or actions we must take ourselves.
- People. Traditionally, when we think about how people are affected, we have the makings of any number of stories to tell. In these unusual times, people are still at the top of that list because everyone is affected in some way.
- The five W’s. The who, what, when, where and why of any story creates a foundation for our understanding. With the coronavirus, a smart paragraph of the five W’s — inserted into every story — gives us a snapshot that puts every story into context.
- The how. This final element gives us direction moving forward. How will any decision be implemented? How will any decision affect us? How will we cope?
Not a journalist? As news consumers, watch for these ways that journalists are striving to keep you informed. There is no shortage of stories that need to be told.
(These two profs are no longer teaching at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, but we are still thinking.)