October 20, 2009 Special Issue

To be tech-free

The fundamentals of reporting before technology-assisted journalism

by Laura Beeston

Without the power to text, tweet, type, take a photo or file copy within minutes, what other skills would journalists use in order to get the goods and make clean copy?

The quest for answers led to Mark Bourrie, contributing editor of Ottawa Magazine, long-time member of the parliamentary press gallery and former Concordia University journalism lecturer who knows very well how this practice has evolved with the technological times.

“All I heard in journalism school was crap about convergence,” said Bourrie, referring to the practice of media in different formats merging and consolidating their operations into conglomerates. “But the basic skills are pivotal whether or not you have all the bells and whistles. If you can’t research and write, it really doesn’t matter.”

One of Bourrie’s observations: the system of conglomerates is on its way out.

Real research

In the past, journalists had to physically search through encyclopedias, government paperwork and archives to find out hard facts and figures.

Thorough journalists continue to keep up the habit of actually going to a library or archival building to conduct their research, making contemporary office-dwelling or trolling the Internet for answers lazy and unacceptable.

Though we now have the gear to connect to a plethora of information at our fingertips, the modern journalist shouldn’t allow themselves to become complacent with computer-assisted reporting. The problem with the Internet is that it keeps journalists glued to a screen when they could be out talking to sources and getting information from the ground floor.

“Technology is great and everything, but reporters need to get out more instead of hiding out in the office,” said Bourrie. “I also don’t think people have really gotten a grip on this stuff, since it sends a lot of people to the same wells for so-called ‘research.’ [...] Everyone and their dog go to Wikipedia.”

Aaron Derfel, reporter for The Gazette and lecturer in Concordia’s journalism department, agreed that better researching methods will lead to better reporting.

“You don’t want to be trapped by technology,” he said. “Technology should serve the content rather than the other way around.”

Good researching skills require legwork, development, extensive reading, good note taking, as well as knowing your way around documents and legalese—fundamental concepts regardless of Internet access.

Processing not just for PCs

As equally important as thorough research and good sources of information, recognizing a story worth pitching and the ability to develop progressive story ideas and create colourful copy is crucial for media makers.

Even without the ability to text message your editor a possible assignment, identifying the types of stories worth communicating is half the battle of a working journalist.

Similarly, making the cold calls, recognizing what makes good quotes and knowing how to ask intriguing and relevant questions are also right up there with the basic journalism school skills that remain fundamental throughout time and technological advances.

“You have to be quick on your feet,” Bourrie said. “Develop the ability to really talk to people you don’t know about the world around them. If you get out there […] you are in contact with ideas that can become stories and can be taken further.”

Regardless of the rapid-fire pace of technology that assails the modern journalist, it is also paramount to take the time to think deeply about the work we are producing and publishing.
“You want technology to improve your message, but you don’t want to be too focused on technology at the expense of the actual reporting,” said Derfel. “Journalists need to pause a little bit and not just spit out information, but absorb it, select your facts, formulate your ideas.”

Putting the pieces together

In tandem with adequate research and asking the right questions, making good copy is the last thing that will make or break your story, whether or not you use technology.

If you really want to publish, the cardinal rules of grammar, clarity, organization and tone will always apply and are ultimately the distinguishing traits that will make
your copy memorable or simply mediocre.

“You’ve got to get to the point where you start thinking in ‘journalese,’ in a type of active writing,” said Bourrie. “There is no point doing a lot of work to make boring journalism.”

Whether or not you get verbatim quotes from your fancy recorder, troll Wiki for background information or write your 700-word copy at home in your underwear doesn’t really matter in the end. What makes your copy worth the read is compelling, informative writing that shows off true journalistic skill.

“If we had the same skills and resources like we had 25 years ago married to the technology we have now, there would be great newspapers,” said Bourrie.