Exponent Story Requirements
Before leaving an interview, a reporter should make sure they:
Recorded the interview
Asked the source whether they are okay with their quotes being published
Asked for the source’s (1) full name (2) major/position (3) year in school, if applicable
Got the source’s contact info in case they need to ask follow-up questions
Politely declined if a source requests to view the story/their quotes before it is published
(you can tell them Exponent policy does not allow this)
Before turning in a first draft to an editor (3 days before final deadline!), a reporter should make sure their story:
Is a minimum of 300 words
Has direct quotes from at least two – preferably more – sources
Sources are people who the reporter has met with in person, talked with over the phone or communicated with via email
Sources cannot be a person the reporter is friends with/related to/roommates with/basically knows at all
If a friend is involved in something you are reporting on, do ask them if they know someone else you can talk to
Do not call someone whose number is already in your contacts list, even if it’s last-minute
Research, literature and prior reporting from The Exponent or other news outlets can (and should!) help supplement a story, but do not count toward the two-source requirement
All sources mentioned are attributed with their (1) full name (2) major/official position (3) year in school, if applicable
Includes what/where/when/how/why of story/event
Starts with an eye-catching lede that doesn’t include the location, date or time of event
Attributes all claims, knowledge and ideas to a source/research
Informs reader of how the news/event might affect them
Adheres to AP Style
Does not contain biased language or opinion
Ex. Adjectives like “good,” “beautiful” and “unfortunate” can only be used if paraphrased from a source’s quote and attributed to the source
Does not contain sweeping generalizations that are impossible to verify
Ex. “Many students have trouble knowing where to go for computer help.” Is this true? Possibly. Can we verify it? Only if we talk to over 60% of students on campus. Can we do that? No.
link that can help you: http://cubreporters.org/sample_profiles
