BEAT

SYSTEM

ADAL 101
 INTRODUCTION

Story ideas flow from many places. Some

walk through the door on their own, but
they’re not always there when you want them.
What you need is a regular stream of story
ideas. The “beat” system can provide them.
 What is a Beat?

is the topic they have been

assigned for reporting.
What is a Beat Reporting?

also known as specialized reporting,

is a genre of journalism focused on a
particular issue, sector, organisation, or
institution over time.
 Popular News Beats:
•Politics
• Arts and entertainment
•Business
• Computers
•Food
•Guns
•Health
 Popular News Beats:
•History
•International
•Military
•Politics and policy
•Religion
• Sports
•Terrorism
 Scope: Politics Beat
◈ Developments affecting National
◈ State politics
◈ Formation of Alliance Extension
◈ Withdrawal of Support General
◈ Elections Midterm Poll
 Sources: Politics Beat
◈ Statements
◈ Press Conferences
◈ Informal Chats
◈ Visits of Prominent Leaders
◈ Public Meetings Press Releases
 Scope: Education Beat

◈ Growth in Education Field

◈ Problem of Funding
◈ Campus Safety
◈ Religious Integration
 Sources: Education Beat
◈ Press Conferences
◈ Academic Discussions
◈ Statements of Educationalists
◈ Press Releases
◈ Examination
◈ Distance Education Program
Scope: Film and entertainment Beat
◈ Films
◈ TV Channels
◈ Radio Channels
◈ Film / Television Production Units
◈ Film Studios
◈ Government Agencies
Sources: Film and entertainment Beat
◈ Persons involved in Production
◈ Anchors
◈ Programmes
◈ Bureaucrats
◈ Managers
◈ Interviews
 Scope: Legal Beat
◈ Coverage of Judiciary
◈ Major Crimes and Proceedings
◈ Criminal Courts
◈ High Court
◈ Supreme Court
◈ Amendment in Laws
 Sources: Legal Beat
◈ Charges Framed
◈ Hearing
◈ Statement of Witness
◈ Pleading by Advocates
◈ Judgments
◈ Statements of Accused
 Scope: Religion and Festival Beat
• Important Festivals
•Religious Fairs
• Religious Institutions
•Worship Places
•Religious Organizations
•Religious Conferences
Sources: Religion and Festival Beat
•Religious Gurus
•People Managing Religious Houses
• Organizers of Religious Meets
• Govt. Agencies / Administration
•Participant of Religious Gatherings
 Scope: Environment Beat
•Environmental Issues
• Deforestation
• Pollution
•Environmental Sensitive Areas
• Global Warming
 Sources: Environment Beat
•NGOs (Environmental Issues)
• Environmental Department
• Environmental Activists
 Scope: Sports Beat
•Matches
• Tournaments
•Leagues
• Clubs
•Boards
 Sources: Sports Beat
•Players
•Managers
•Officials
•Spectators
•Referees
• Matches
 How to cover a BEAT:
•Be Prepared
Research background & talk to sources
•Be Alert
Know who will benefit from coverage
Note who is for & against it
•Be Persistent
Insist on clear answers
Follow-up slow developments
 How to cover a BEAT:
•Be There
No substitute for personal contact
•Be Accurate
Reflective listen and clarify
•Be Wary
You are a reporter not participant
Write for readers not sources
Sources
are the people who
make the decisions or
have the knowledge on
your beat, from individual
campus policemen to
 To be a good reporter,
you have to spend time
developing sources.
 Five tips by Poynter.org: Beth Winegarner
shares the following tips for cultivating sources.
1. Embrace the small talk
2. Don't be a stranger
3. What happens "off the record" stays "off the record"
4. Ask your sources to recommend more sources
5. Avoid getting too friendly with sources
 1. Embrace the small talk
Many reporters aren't into schmoozing, but a few friendly words can set you
apart from reporters who treat sources like information vending machines
instead of human beings. Think of small talk as the mayo in the tuna salad
sandwich of your reporting.
 2. Don't be a stranger
If you find someone you think will be a goldmine of information, check in with
them regularly, even if you don't need to interview them. This is another good time
for small talk, and to ask if there have been any developments on a topic you've
discussed before. Look through your contacts and see if there's someone you
haven't heard from in a while. Give them a call; they might just have a scoop for
you
 3. What happens "off the record"
stays "off the record"
We all know reporters who say there's no such thing as "off the record," or who
promise to keep a source's information in confidence, and then quote them in
the next day's news. Don't be that reporter.
 4. Ask your sources to recommend
more sources
At the end of interviews, ask your source
whether there's anyone else you should
talk to about the topic at hand. It's likely
they'll have someone in mind.
 5. Avoid getting too friendly with
sources
Getting too close can jeopardize your
objectivity. If you become friends, you
may find yourself telling that source's
side of the story -- to the detriment of the
other sides.
"I hear and I forget. I see and I
remember. I do and I
understand."

- Confucius
 Reference:

Cherie Mercado is now a CNN Philippines

anchor. (n.d.). cnn.
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/20
18/2/15/Cherie-Mercado-CNN-
Philippines.html

News beats journalism PPT final. (2015,