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This article explores innovative methods of sourcing in journalism by connecting reporters with grassroots voices and diverse perspectives. It highlights the importance of engaging people "on the ground" through crowdsourcing, social media, and collaboration with community experts. By tapping into local knowledge and experiences, news organizations can produce richer, more accurate stories. The piece also examines successful examples, such as The Boston Globe's World Cup coverage, emphasizing the value of transparency and reader involvement in shaping news narratives.
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Better, deeper Sourcing FROM THE GRASSROOTS, to the galaxy TO THE group
Finding people • Our Previous reporting (C-) • Asking people ‘on the ground’ (“who else?”) • Other publications
Considering a fresh perspective will draw you to new voices (diversity in sourcing= better journalism) • Trade publishing • Noticing ‘gatekeepers’ • Cultivating officialdom
Social media (like twitter & facebook) 29% 2009-2008 • COMMENTS ON NEWS STORIES • Places where people chat on line • Blogs!!
Other experts • Brookings institute • Heritage foundation • lexis-nexis
Vetting sources & Stats • SourceWatch.org (liberal, but…) • politifact • Try googling; weigh the evidence • Understand the numbers • Know qs to ask about polls • Cultivate healthy skepticism
Crowdsourcing • The White Paper Version: Crowdsourcing is the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent (usually an employee) and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call.
The Soundbyte Version: The application of Open Source principles to fields outside of software. — Jeff Howe, contributing editor Wired magazine
Examples of crowdsourcing • Asking readers to submit their photos from a news scene (from a house fire, to a festival) • Asking readers to share their knowledge of a situation and/or experience (Pro Publica) • Bringing readers into newsrooms to work as experts on watchdog projects
How The Boston Globe Crowdsourced Its World Cup Coverage • Created an online questionnaire for boston-area readers going to the cup in south africa • Set up a special email address for receiving submissions • Made contact with the best • Explained what kind of material was desired….
Team watchdog: ft myers “The News-Press Watchdog team is supported by our civic journalism project, which calls upon an extensive resource in our community — retired professionals with a cache of expertise. A group of volunteer citizens living in Southwest Florida serve as consultants, research data, work side-by-side with the professional reporting saff and interact with readers.”
How they did it • Decided on retirees with no conflicts • Ran house ads & promos on web site and in the paper • Reporters did background checks; eds did interviews
Did some ‘bonding’ • Held a reception for the 20 people chosen & their partners • Held a workshop to train them in gannett’s ethical standards • Got them together with reporters to brainstorm topics
Sample of accomplishments • A few weeks later, ft myers published its first Team Watchdog story – an A1 lead-centerpiece about the decreasing capabilities of the Florida National Guard. The idea was one that bubbled up in the initial workshop.
A team watchdog member worked with our child welfare reporter on building a database of day-care inspection reports. • Another requested, received and analyzed government documents which led to an exclusive story about how a street-lighting district had so much taxpayer cash on hand it could get by without charging any new taxes. • A watchdog member with experience in school administration consulted on an education-beat story about teachers’ use of “time-out rooms” to discipline disabled students. • A former FBI agent has helped a columnist Tell Mel track down sources and investigate consumer fraud.
Mobile location-based:allow ‘the crowd’ to contribute to a story instantly