Exponent Story Requirements
Before leaving an interview, a reporter should make sure they:
- Recorded the interview
- Asked the source whether they are okay with their quotes being published
- Asked for the sources (1) full name (2) major/position (3) year in school, if applicable
- Got the sources contact info in case they need to ask follow-up questions
- Politely declined if a source requests to view the story/their quotes before it is published
- (you can tell them Exponent policy does not allow this)
Before turning in a first draft to an editor (3 days before final deadline!), a reporter should make sure their story:
- Is a minimum of 300 words
- Has direct quotes from at least two preferably more sources
- Sources are people who the reporter has met with in person, talked with over the phone or communicated with via email
- Sources cannot be a person the reporter is friends with/related to/roommates with/basically knows at all
- If a friend is involved in something you are reporting on, do ask them if they know someone else you can talk to
- Do not call someone whose number is already in your contacts list, even if its last-minute
- Research, literature and prior reporting from The Exponent or other news outlets can (and should!) help supplement a story, but do not count toward the two-source requirement
- All sources mentioned are attributed with their (1) full name (2) major/official position (3) year in school, if applicable
- Includes what/where/when/how/why of story/event
- Starts with an eye-catching lede that doesnt include the location, date or time of event
- Attributes all claims, knowledge and ideas to a source/research
- Informs reader of how the news/event might affect them
- Adheres to AP Style
- Does not contain biased language or opinion
- Ex. Adjectives like good, beautiful and unfortunate can only be used if paraphrased from a sources quote and attributed to the source
- Does not contain sweeping generalizations that are impossible to verify
- Ex. Many students have trouble knowing where to go for computer help. Is this true? Possibly. Can we verify it? Only if we talk to over 60% of students on campus. Can we do that? No.
link that can help you: http://cubreporters.org/sample_profiles
