CONTENTS PREFACE Vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix THE INTRO What's in the book, and who it's for 1 1 WHAT YOU NEED Character, Attitude, Knowledge, Skills, Equipment 3 2 WHAT'S NEWS? What news stories have in common - and why some get printed 13 3 FINDING OUT News and information sources 23 4 A DAY IN THE LIFE What it's like being a reporter 33 5 FIRST TASKS Handouts, Calls, Weddings, Anniversaries, Retirements, Deaths 47 6 OUT AND ABOUT Public events, Speeches, Meetings, Press conferences, Pictures 59 7 TALKING TO PEOPLE Vox pops, Ring-rounds, Surveys, Interviews, Death knocks 75 8 THE UNEXPECTED Major incidents, Weather stories, Human interest 93 9 SHAPING THE STORY Story length, Structure, Angles, Intros 101 10WRITING THE WORDS News stories, Writing for pictures, Presentation 119 11ENGLISH MATTERS Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, Style 133 12WORKING ONLINE Reporting, Writing, Designing, Interacting 147 13AUDIO & VIDEO Multi-media, Audio & Radio, Video & TV 155 14 COURT REPORTING Courts, Inquests, Tribunals, Inquiries 173 15LOCAL POLITICS Contacts, Councils, Town halls, Political parties, MPs, Elections 193 16SPECIALIST AREAS Sport, Crime, Education, Environment, Health, Industry, District reporting 207 17 FEATURES News backgrounders, Entertainment features, Reviews 229 18TRAINING A guide to the NCTJ 241 APPENDICES Reference books & websites, Glossary, Further reading 247 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 261 INDEX262