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Topic: how much time (and effort) to budget for research?
| Author | Message |
| meldrc | Posted – 7/2/2007 5:16:05 PM | show profile | email poster I'm working on my first couple of articles this summer and am using the internet as my primary source of information. First of all - is this pretty much the way it's done nowadays? It seems that between the world of information online and the confirmation of facts you would get during an interview, you would have enough 'facts' to write any story... Or is there some other major source of information that all the freelance journalists are using? Also... how much research time goes into your average, let's say 1000 world article? Do you calculate about 20% more - or a whole day more - if it's a topic you know nothing about? Any best-practice feedback would be appreciated! Thanks all, Melanie |
| candylilacs | Posted – 7/2/2007 10:41:04 PM | show profile While the Internet is a good resource, make sure your sources are legitimate. They don't come from blogs or even Wikipedia. All your facts must be checked with two sources confirming them as correct -- three if you can get it. One source saying one thing means just that, if you get two...it lends legitimacy. Three? Even better. All your stories should have at least three different people you are interviewing, preferable at least an expert and two people on either side of the issue. More interviews make a better story. Anyway, that's the standard journalism answer. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
