Gregg McLachlan’s “50 places to shop for story ideas” provides an extensive and varied list of potential places to find story ideas. Although the list is, as the title of the article suggests, limited to 50 spots for story-idea-seeking, McLachlan’s point is that there is potential for a story everywhere, if you’re looking with a discerning and critical eye.
After going through the list, I took a look in the mirror with regards to my own motivation (or as is often the case, lack thereof) to come up with creative ideas. I am living proof of the author’s claim that it requires “a little effort” to get in the habit of constantly searching for stories; I admit that I have never even seen the bulletin board at Publix, and although I admit to being curious about the lives of people interred at the cemetery, I’ve never thought to pursue a story about any of them. McLachlan is right that in order to become a story hunter, you have to actively hunt for stories, which through practice can become an almost subconscious activity. Anything can be interesting if you find the right angle.
McLachlan’s assertion that story hunters are not only better reporters than assignment receivers but are also happier with their jobs is probably true. Why wouldn’t a person be happier when he is in control of what and who he is writing about? Being a story hunter provides independence and the option to think creatively, and ultimately, to write about things that interest you as an individual, an interest which will better ensure an informative and thorough story that appeals to readers.
In the same vein as the story idea article, “Revamping the Story Flow for Journalists” is another article in which the author emphasizes the importance of including the community in reporting. In this article, the author delineates the differences among reporting as it was, as it currently is, and as it will be in the future. The Internet, according to Glaser, will continue to play an increasing role in reporting. In the future, Glaser predicts an increased amount of research done online, as well as the increased influence of personal blogs and reporter blogs requesting story ideas from community members, who can also respond to stories via their personal blogs. I like the idea that readers will play bigger parts in helping actively shape stories.
Glaser’s predictions for the future of journalism are exciting; with new blogs about every topic imaginable popping up every day, reporting is bound to evolve into even more of a Web-based venture. People who may never meet face-to-face are becoming increasingly connected to each other via blogging, and the possibilities are endless regarding Glaser’s predictions about reporter-reader relations and connections through blogs. Not only can blogs be used as sources of factual information, but they are also great venues for sharing opinions and giving others feedback on their own posts (or in the case of reporters, articles).
Glaser also suggests that there will be an increase in supplemental video, transcript and audio material to accompany stories online, as well as the potential for expert sources to link information in reporters’ stories to their own Web pages. As reporting becomes increasingly Web-based, stories will inevitably become more interesting and informative with the availability of the endless resources that Internet has to offer as people become increasingly connected with each other.
