Story Visioning
CONTENT QUESTIONS
Why is this story something we should cover?
This is the key question. It gets at why people will care about this story. The fact that a reporter or an editor is interested in the topic isn't a sufficient answer. The story should be either significant from a news perspective (i.e. a controversial piece of legislation) or compelling from a human interest perspective (i.e. a profile of a quirky craftsman who's trying to keep his trade alive). There should be something unique about this story.
What is the focus statement?
A focus statement is one sentence: "Somebody (fill in the blank) is doing something (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank)." It's no surprise that reporters who routinely craft focus statements for their stories produce more focused stories! Encourage your reporter to keep referring back to the focus statement during the research, reporting, and writing process. It will help them identify and eliminate when they've gone off on an interesting, but not germane tangent in their story.
Who are the players in this story?
Most importantly, who stands to win/lose in this story and how can we frame the story from their perspective? Many of the most compelling public radio stories are built around tension (XYZ policy will cause someone to lose something). The reporter needs to interview that person who stands to win/lose, also the people to effect/shape the policy, and (if appropriate) an expert with outside perspective.
How can we add depth, substance, and new perspective?
This is especially important if the story idea was prompted by an article in the local newspaper. What is the reporter going to do to advance the story?
