Our (Tweenz) email interview with BBC Journalist, Josie Verghese
1. How do you know what stories to choose for a bulletin?
For most programmes deciding the stories to feature and the order they should run is a collaborative decision made by the team involved in producing that bulletin/programme on the day. Programmes tend to have editorial meetings and this is a discussion about the potential stories and angles they might want to pursue.
Ultimately the decision will be down to the programme editor and don’t forget that when there is breaking news things can change and quite often the plan that was agreed at the beginning of the day will have completely changed by the time things go on-air!
In terms of making decisions on what stories we pursue and support schools with for BBC News School Report we always try and look for original and unique ideas and which specifically relate to young people.
2. How do you protect your sources?
Sources and contacts are really important to any journalist and so building relationships with them is really important. For sources to feel comfortable and willing to share their stories they need to feel like they can trust you and you will treat them appropriately so being honest and letting them know your plans is important so they understand how their story is being reported and featured.
Sometimes if stories are sensitive then interviewees and sources will remain anonymous.
3. Where do you go to find new stories?
People – they are the best sources for stories, talking to people is key! Also using social media.
Charities, research bodies, government departments and politicians, universities – build contacts with these.
And follow the news and think about different angles and ideas on how this story might be developed further.
4. What top tips would you give someone who is aspiring to be a Journalist?
Follow the news – read newspapers and websites, watch and listen to different news programmes.
Find out more about the different sorts of journalism and news production (look at websites like BBC Academy) and try and get some hands on experience – if your school has a newsletter or journalism club then get involved. Maybe write your own blog or record your own video and/or audio reports. Get involved in hospital radio.
Apply for work experience with news organisations like the BBC to see if you can have a taster.
5. How do you protect yourself out in the field?
Before reporting in the field all BBC journalists have to complete a risk assessment which means we have thought about potential problems or risks in advance, for example if you are filming near water or by a busy road. There are always practical things to think about like the weather being unpredictable or if you’re working with children and young people making sure you have their parental permission to be involved.
One of the most important things about being a journalist and working ‘in the field’ is being prepared – or at least as much as you can be. When possible and time allows it is always good to recce a location so you know more about it before you start working – this happens for most TV productions but is often hard for news programmes as you often can’t plan ahead or predict the location so having a checklist of things to consider for any location is something we do. Being able to adapt to different and changing circumstances is often necessary – best laid plans don’t always work out!
In some circumstances, like when reporting from a conflict or war zone, only journalists and crew who have had specific additional training can work there.
This is beneficial for is because it shows us that working as a team is the best way to produce an excellent radio news cast. We need a team which produce create ideas as well as work along side well together. We also need to be really friendly, not only to each other but to people we are interviewing, working with etc. The public play an important role in the news therefore we have to make sure their views are heard as well as find stories which they are attracted to. Another important part of news is to follow it. We should always be on top of news as a news reporter, and we should have outer knowledge as well as learning new knowledge as we go along.
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