VOICE RECORDERS: Do I need one?
• No, not necessarily. Although, as a journalist, you may want to invest in one for your career. If you buy one- make sure it comes with a cable to connect to your computer. Or if it takes a memory card, make sure you have one.
• You CAN use- iPhones, iPod Touches, iPad, etc. Use the Voice Memos app, or any other app you like that records long sound files. Make sure you can get these files onto the computer.
• Do NOT use anything else- meaning your slide, flip, glide, wide or 90s brick phone. The sound quality only goes down. Just don't go there. If you don't have an iSomething or Android, and you don't have a voice recorder, go to the Journalism school and rent a recorder (for free). Or go to Hornbake Library and sign one out (also for free). If those options don't work for you, borrow one from a friend or find another way to successfully report and record. I cannot help you if you choose something other than the options I have provided.
YOUR STORY: The Dos and Don’ts of interviewing, sounds and details
What makes a good story?
• Find a topic that interests you. If you pick a story because you think it’s the “right” story to pitch, try again. If you’re not interested in your own story, it will show in your reporting and final product.
• Look everywhere! Look at UMD press releases, bulletin boards, Diamondback articles. Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT pitch me a word-for-word story from the Diamondback, Eclipse, Unwind or any other news outlet on campus. "That's not only unethical, Reginald, it's illegal".. kind of. (Ritchie Rich quote anyone?) Listen to what your friends are talking about. This is a great way to find a story. Look on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
• First look for a story that is related to the campus, literally. If you can't find one- which is never an excuse- or you find something more interesting that the whole world is talking about, pitch it to me and find a way to relate it back to campus- why should students care?
• No opinion pieces- ever. If you pitch me “I want to know students’ opinion on X, Y, and Z” I won’t accept it. That is not a news story. What is it about X, Y, and Z that you were drawn to? What is the angle? Opinions do not equal news and news does not equal opinions. Be specific and be narrow.
Interviews
• You must have 3 different sources. You must have different 3 sources. By sources I mean interviews, people you talk to. And by 3 I mean, but not always, one professional, one student and one other human source. Always try to have one professional source, whether it’s a professor, school official, police official, etc.
• Make this a good experience for you and easy on me. I don't want to cut your story from the show because you didn't have 3 sources. Just get 3 sources and include them in your story- whether you quote them using a sound clip or paraphrase them with your narration.
• Never give up. If you have a controversial story, people may not want to talk. Don’t harass, but be persistent in your attempts for an interview. Don’t take no for an answer- take a restraining order for an answer... just kidding... or am I? If your requet finterview is declined, always return for a second, third or maybe even a fourth request.
• More often than not, you will be asked to wait before your interview because your source got caught in traffic, meeting or class. WAIT! Do not walk away upset. WAIT for them and they will reward you with openness and a willingness to share information. I promise.. or hope.
• Dress nicely for your interview- if you take yourself seriously, they’ll take you seriously. I don’t mean a suit or dress, I just don’t mean those sweat pants you spilled Chick-fil-a sauce on and the giant T-shirt you snagged at the basketball game.
Sound
• You want to include natural sound in your story- the underlying sound track beneath your narration/interviews. Listen to stories from last semester and you'll hear what I mean. This is not to over power your narration or interviews- use to help tell the story. If you are reporting about early seasonal allergies- capture sound of people coughing, sneezing, wheezing, sniffling, etc in the health center, classroom, dorm room, etc. If you’re covering an event, walk through the crowd and press record. Capture people clapping for the guest, laughing at the comedian, or crying with the inspirational speaker. Be creative!
• Sometimes there won’t be any sound to add. Your story is basically a news spot or update. Good example: http://wmucnews.blogspot.com/2012/04/liz-lane-one-classes-special-visitor.html
Narration
• This is your voice. If you don’t know what I mean by narration listen to a past story. End of story, do not ask me to explain this.
• This is a good starting point:http://www.ehow.com/how_7843639_write-radio-news-story.html THINK: CONVERSATIONAL! Please don't use big words and jargon, but still keep it "professional."
• I can make copies of pages from my textbooks to give you guys with your story assignment if you are still confused- Let me know.
• REMEMBER: Lead, quote, blurb, quote.
You do not, by any means, HAVE to follow this outline. This is just a starting point to get the ball rolling. But you SHOULD have a LEAD in the beginning: answer the basics of the Who, What, Where, When, Why. However, they may not all be able to be answered in that first sentence or two. Once you start going you'll get the idea. What are the main details your listener should know first?
You do not, by any means, HAVE to follow this outline. This is just a starting point to get the ball rolling. But you SHOULD have a LEAD in the beginning: answer the basics of the Who, What, Where, When, Why. However, they may not all be able to be answered in that first sentence or two. Once you start going you'll get the idea. What are the main details your listener should know first?
• Deciding what information you should voice in your narration in contrast to the information you should let your interviews reveal is one thing, I can help you with that. Not understanding what a narration is, is another thing, just listen to past stories.
• NEVER use first person. Once you put your reporter cap on, leave your opinion at the door. Unless otherwise approved, you are reporting in the third person.
• ALL quote attributions are in paresent tense: John Doe says (NOT John Doe said)
• LISTEN TO PAST STORIES AND FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS! If you’re having trouble forming your story, ask for help. I am here for that and I will do anything I can to help. If you’re not following directions and not asking for help, I won’t help you. If your format is consistently wrong, I will stop airing your stories.
Length
• FINAL STORY is to be no longer than 2 minutes and no shorter than 1minute. REMEMBER: 10 seconds in radio is a long time. Make every second of your story count. Don't go over two minutes, unless otherwise approved, or I may have to do some serious editing that you don't like. It’s YOUR story, not mine. Be ready to defend anything over 2 minutes, or better yet, just keep it under 2 minutes.