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Below is a collection of tip sheets and handouts broken down into four categories collected from participants and presenters at previous BPJ workshops.
general political coverage : ad watches : debates : partnerships
GENERAL POLITICAL COVERAGE
covering photo ops
Randy Shandobil of KTVU in San Francisco/Oakland, CA provides suggestions on how to get beyond the staged photo op and tell a story that’s newsworthy.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 37 k]
covering politics on television
Randy Shandobil of KTVU in San Francisco/Oakland, CA gives some basic tips for journalists covering the political beat.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 37 k]
Making issues matter
Issues stories can be dreadfully dry. Jay DeDapper from WNBC in New York offers ideas for connecting the dots between issues and what voters care about.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 64 k]
Political storytelling: What's fair?
A few useful things to consider before delving into a candidate’s past or present.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 77 k]
questions and techniques for candidate interviews
This compilation of tips contributed from previous BPJ workshop attendees will help you get the most out of your interviews with candidates.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 61 k]
steve talbot's top ten list for interviewing politicians, public figures and their associates
Steve Talbot of Frontline World offers suggestions on how to land an interview and getting the most out of it.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 52 k]
when you become part of the story
What do you do when the behind-the-scenes work of your station becomes news? Jay Warren from WSLS in Roanoke, VA speaks from experience after covering how proposed FCC rules changes would affect his station.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 48 k]
Politics and TV Can Mix
Polling research that has dominated TV consulting about covering politics is faulty. New survey questions offer a guide for TV journalists about how to make stories about public life more relevant and more popular. An LA Times commentary by Tom Rosenstiel and Dave Iverson.
» click to view
Local TV News Project 2002
by the Project for Excellence in Journalism
www.journalism.org
In a year when the nation was changed by the war on terrorism, a recession and financial scandals, the Project for Excellence in Journalisms fifth annual study found that local television news remained largely unchanged. In this 16-page report, the Project offers news directors perspective on their industry (Pessimism Rules in TV Newsrooms); evidence of the impact of quality (How Strong Is the Case for Quality?); a breakdown of what practices demonstrably attract viewers (Five Ways to Build Viewership); a sobering look at how local news did not change after September 11th (After 9/11, Has Anything Changed?); a detailed content study of the growing Spanish-language news market (Separate but Equal); and a hard look at watchdog journalism in local TV (Investigative Journalism Despite the Odds).
published in the November/December issue of the Columbia Journalism Review and online at www.journalism.org
» [Acrobat PDF: 16 pp., 765 k]
Politics and TV Can Mix
Polling research that has dominated TV consulting about covering politics is faulty. New survey questions offer a guide for TV journalists about how to make stories about public life more relevant and more popular. An LA Times commentary by Tom Rosenstiel and Dave Iverson.
» click to view
Eight Key Questions to Ask About Polls
Deb Halpern Wenger helps you determine what numbers are important, and why.
» click to view
Web Research Resources
Six important political information sites to bookmark.
» click to view
Planning Ahead for Politics: Ten Tips
Frank Wolff of KCRA in Sacramento shares his favorite ideas to help you prepare for campaign season.
» click to view
Planning Your 2002 Campaign Coverage
Michael Isip (KQED) and Andy Still (WYFF) prepared these helpful guides for our January workshop in Orlando. Take a look at their suggestions for getting a jump start on the election year.
» [Acrobat PDF: 2 pp., 20 k]
» [Acrobat PDF: 1 p., 7 k]
AD WATCHES
Promises, Promises
Brad Willis of WYFF, Greenville, South Carolina, applies the Truth Check method for following-up on political promises.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1p., 48 k]
Ad Watches: All Systems Go!
One thing all successful ad watch producers have in common is they create systems to make the production of these segments as easy as possible. Deb Halpern Wenger pulled together some tips from the experts, plus ideas for getting outside help for checking the facts.
» click to view
Ad Watch Labels
Working on ad watches but not sure how to label the claims? Here are some criteria that can help you understand the difference between False and Misleading. Contributed by Mike Cate & Robert Mak (KING), Brooks Jackson (CNN), and Michael Geeser (KLAS).
» click to view
DEBATES
In Search of the Elusive Citizen-Subject
Bill Hanley of Twin Cities Public Television introduces us to the care and feeding of a citizen audience.
» click to view
Location Questions: The Production Departments Point of View
If youre considering taking a debate or program out of the studio and on location, theres a checklist of considerations worth looking over. Time for lunch breaks? Enough coat racks? Security? Steve Doebel of Wisconsin Public Television runs down the list.
» click to view
Debating Debates
Twin Cities Public Television has some of the most free-form debates around. Yet even in their the only rule is there is no rule environment, they do have some guidelines to follow. Bill Hanley shares his standard practices, written guidelines, and random hunches.
» click to view
Dialing for Candidates
These quick tips might help you negotiate with candidates, produce a positive debate, and keep your sanity. From Andy Moore, Wisconsin Public Television.
» click to view
Ten Legal Questions
How well do you know your stations legal responsibilities when organizing debates, free airtime appearances, and other political programs? Take the quiz contributed by Brady Williamson, lawyer and former Presidential Debates negotiator.
» click to view
Debate Planning Documents
Want to see what other stations have used to plan their political debates? Take a look at debate participation policies from Wisconsin Public Television and WXXI in Rochester, New York. There are also two letters from WPT: an initial invitation letter to the candidates and a more detailed letter spelling out the format for that same debate.
» WPT Participation Policy
» WPT Letter of Invitation
» WPT Letter with Format Info
» WXXI Participation Policy
PARTNERSHIPS
Partnerships: twelve temptations, treasures & traps
Take note of Bill Hanley's dozen caveats before embarking on partnerships.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1p., 50 k]
Working with other stations
Rob Cartwright and Nann Coplerud guide stations through getting started, choosing topics, challenges and the positive aspects of partnerships.
» [Acrobat PDF: 1p., 69 k]
A Partnership Prenuptial Contract
Just like personal relationships, production partnerships can be filled with satisfaction, strategy, and struggle. Mary Anne Alhadeff takes a matrimonial view of the questions you should ask before taking the plunge.
» click to view
Top Ten Lessons Learned Through Partnerships
Partnerships with fellow stations, newspapers, and other organizations can add impact to your coverage...often with added complications. The material gathered here is a glimpse into the process of forming these collaborations.
» click to view
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