How to Develop Sources for the TV News

Sources are the fuel that drive the story generation engine of TV news journalists. Without sources, reporters are left to pick up story scraps that are handed out and are often limited to interviewing a hand picked spokesperson. Developing sources is a long term project. It involves forming relationships with hundreds of people over years.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Business Cards
• Rolodex

1. Hand out business cards to everyone. Every person you interview and every person you meet on the street is a potential news source. Keep an ample supply of business cards on you at all times. Encourage everyone to call you first if they have a news tip or story idea. Send them to your work voice mail so you can sift through calls and prioritize. Reserve your cellular phone number for only the most reliable sources.

2. Follow up with sources. You will get plenty of news tips that aren't very good. Treat each person who calls with respect. The fact that they took the time to call you shows their willingness to confide in you. Return all calls within a day regardless of who made them. You never know when the source who gives you years of irrelevant tips suddenly comes through with a winner.

3. Keep a meticulous Rolodex. Every time you get a business card or contact phone number, put it in your files. Every time you do a story with a source make a note of it. This will provide a record of your dealings with the source. As time goes by you can use this information to weigh the reliability of your source.

4. Build relationships and trust with your sources. Understand that they have an agenda just like you. There will be times when they want you to do a story that you aren't particularly excited about. If there is some news value in it you may want to do the story as a "favor." This way they will owe you a favor someday. Likewise, if they do you a favor first be sure to return it someday.

5. Go to your sources when a story fits their expertise. If you categorize your Rolodex by subject then you can easily find a source that fits any story. Call for help on the appropriate stories and offer them an opportunity to contribute. Whenever possible make it seem like you are doing them a favor even when they are helping you. It is always better to have sources owe you. Only cash in favors if a story is important and it is the only way to get inside information or access.

6. Burn a source only as a last resort. It takes a long time to develop a good news source. If you expose them or use their information to harm them, you will be seen as the bad guy. Not only will they never trust you again, other sources may see what you did and avoid you as well. If you are going to burn a source it better be worth the price you will pay with your reputation.