The Beat & Beat Reporting

Lecture by
Moinul Islam
Head, Journalism & Mass Communication
Northern University of Business & Technology
Khulna (NUBTK)
Beats
 What is Beat?
: NOUN news reporting on a particular subject area
e. g. computing newsbeat, senior newsbeat, international newsbeat-Collins English
Dictionary

• A ‘beat’ is a specific area of life. Editors often like to find journalists who are
knowledgeable and experienced in specific activities based on their education and
writing background-John Joss, nonfiction and novel writer, journalist
• a beat is an area, topic, issue or sector of media coverage by a reporter. –hintng
• Specific topic or area-ThoughtCo
• A beat is a particular topic or subject area that a reporter covers-Tony Rogers
 WHO IS A BEAT REPORTER?
• A reporter who covers special area or topic is
known as a beat reporter
• Might be a Special Reporter
• Facing Less danger than a non-beat journalist
• Deep relations with source
• Very Credible on Specific area
• Able to report within a Short period
 Beats & Beats: Types of Beats
• Lite Beats
• Heavy Beats
• The Big Three (Easy
Media.in)-crime, civic affairs
and courts
LB includes Daily Events
Court, Environment,
Accident, Obituary, Sports
etc
HB-Politics, Business,
Crime, etc
 Various Beats
• Politics
• Sports
• Education
• Law & Criminality
• Government/Presidency
• Science and Technology
• War
• Religion
• Business & Economy
National Institute of Mass Communication & Journalism, Ahmedabad
( Affiliated by Gujarat University )
 And That’s It…

Thank You
Any Question?
Feel free to Ask…
 Strategy for Beat Reporting
Remember to… Try to be..
• Learn Everything You Can • Unbiased
• Get to Know the Players • Independent
• Build Trust, Cultivate • Maintaining Relationship
Contacts • Non-Attribuation
• Remember Your Readers • Respect Off the Record
• Expertise on a Topic • Relationship with other
• Thorough and In-Depth reporters
Reporting Advantage • Make Unique report
(Tony Rogers, ThoughtCo) • Exercise Diversion