Six essential steps to trend reporting

A major goal of news reporting is to keep readers abridged of things, so it makes sense that uncovering and understanding trends should be...
Jim Stasiowski, writing coach

Staying a step ahead of your editors

Jim Stasiowski Writing Writing coach Jim Stasiowski welcomes your questions or comments. Call him at (775) 354-2872 or write to: 2499 Ivory Ann Drive Sparks, Nev. 89436.A recent enjoyable email...

Are you telling your own stories?

I circulated a column celebrating community newspapers earlier this year in recognition of Sunshine Week. Its publication prompted a few comments. One reader, who hailed...

How a reporter can avoid being laid off

Bart Pfankuch Better Writing with Bart Bart Pfankuch, an investigative reporter for South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit public-service news agency online at sdnewswatch.org, will offer...

Stories come to life when reporters find ‘real people’

Police, government officials and experts have a lot of knowledge and are easy go-to sources for reporters working in understaffed newsrooms with...

Look in a mirror to find your best editor

In an era of constant cutbacks, it can be difficult for newspaper reporters to get good editing. Many experienced editors have fled or been forced...
Jim Stasiowski, writing coach

Dig deep, with diligence

Jim Stasiowski, writing Writing coach Jim Stasiowski welcomes your questions or comments. Call him at (775) 354-2872 or write to: 2499 Ivory Ann Drive Sparks, NV 89436.My wife, Sharon,...

Make it a mantra: ‘Get one more source’

Bart Pfankuch is an investigative reporter for South Dakota News Watch, online at sdnewswatch.org. Email him at bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org

Enterprise reporting goes beyond the obvious

When it comes to interviewing reporter candidates, many editors want to see examples of so-called enterprise reporting. I just finished serving as a judge for...

Be responsible in exercising rights to public information

A divorce is finalized, but it is not recorded in the newspaper until four months later. Someone appears in court for a domestic assault, but...