While a writer should choose diverse topics, cultivating a news or entertainment “beat” is a different story; straying in too many different directions could do more harm than good.
Over time, a disciplined journalist becomes more like a machinist, focused on one thing only, going back to that task over and over. This sounds like hard work, but if that task involves something you enjoy, it could be incredibly rewarding.
The first step to maintaining a beat is to figure out what type of stories you want to put together. Find something you’re interested in. It’s also important to make sure there’s a “market” for your stories, videos, blogs or podcasts. All that means is, can you find readers? Is the market not too saturated? Are readers (or viewers) even interested in this topic? If the answer is yes, then you’re well on the way to figuring out your beat.
Be seen: Make yourself visible in the community. Attend meetings and social events, and talk to other residents. Pass out a business card or some other means for them to contact you, and introduce yourself as a correspondent for your beat. If you make a positive impression and establish yourself as a knowledgeable resource of information, people will contact you with story tips and potential interview opportunities.
Research: If you want to compel readers (or Web viewers) to go back to your work, do as much research as possible in your topic of interest. Read other articles and books, watch educational documentaries, and talk to people in the field. Find experts and conduct informational interviews to shore up on your own background knowledge on this topic. Talk to readers and ask them what type of stories they’re looking for. You need to learn more about your preferred beat than the average person. If you only learn what other people know already, what reason would they have for turning to you?
Find the mover and shakers: Look for the people of influence in your field, and build a rapport. Between news-based interviews, call or meet with them or send e-mails to “check in.” Make small talk; get to know them on the personal level. Building a level of trust with potential sources will help them feel comfortable talking to you, and likely place you at the top of their list of priorities when they have a newsworthy tip or idea. Attend events that relate to your beat. If you want to cover a police beat, get to know uniformed officers in your area. If you want to cover a business beat, set up meetings with influential people within local companies, but don’t forget about secretaries and support staff: they’re movers and shakers too, and sometimes the source for valuable information.
Know your audience: This tip applies for every story you create. Ask yourself: Does my reader care about this? Put yourself in their shoes. If you’re writing (or assembling other media) based on your interests alone, it’s best to save that work for the personal journal or diary. Journalism is a service to your audience, and your role is to inform and entertain. And remember that different audiences have separate needs. If your audience prefers sports, they’ll look for stats and numbers, along with detailed player information. If your audience favors music reviews, you need to avail yourself of musicians and musical styles (and learning some music theory can’t hurt either). After you’ve worked on a beat for an extended amount of time, it might be tempting to write stories that your sources prefer. Don’t be overly influenced by your sources; write for the audience.
These are but a few tips. There are a myriad of resources online to help you develop a news or entertainment beat. Keep your eyes and ears open, trust your ability to tell a good story, and best of all, have fun!
[...] your subject – This recommendation aligns itself next to knowing your audience. If you’re interviewing a politician or a local celebrity, they’ll deliver a sound bite with [...]