Freedman "Reporting" Tips

“A large part of reporting, particularly for a profile, is observing. When you watch a person doing whatever he does, you inevitably capture him revealing himself.” P. 53

“But you must understand that technology is a tool, not a value, and a double-edged tool at that.” P. 63

“Great journalism comes from the curmudgeons, the iconoclasts, the dissidents, the lonely individualists, who insist on pursuing what fascinates or outrages them and tracking it to the ground.” P. 65

“Reporting requires context, a knowledge of how a momentary event fits into the larger flow of politics or culture or history.” P. 58

“I want you to use them (anonymous sources) with wisdom, discernment, and discretion.” P. 81

I fully agree with what Freedman says about technology. Take the web, for instance. While it certainly makes research more convenient for journalists, you have to be careful about the source of information found online. I’ve worked for two years as a web programmer, and I know how simple it can be to put a web page up containing whatever information one pleases. Wikipedia, as Freedman mentions, is a great example. I personally feel that that the site is a great jumping-off point, but since anyone can edit any page, it should never be used as an actual source. Often times there are links to more reputable sources at the bottom of every entry page.

If you understand the risks of using the web as a research tool, you can fully harness its benefits. I plan to look up graduation statistics from reports published by non-profit education organizations as well as demographic data from local universities. I feel that as long I stick to academic institutions and other trusted sources, the information will serve my story well as context and statistical evidence of my points. Used responsibly, technology can be a valuable tool.