Author Archives: Barbara Fought

Aug 06

Rating The Expert Finders

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Barbara Fought

After seeing a Poynter article about a new expert service for journalists, Expertise Finder, I thought I’d put it through some paces. The site sounded great.  A former Canadian TV journalist, frustrated with trying to find experts on deadline, helped … Read More →

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Jul 28

Public Records Requests Lead Reporters To Good Stories

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Barbara Fought

WHTM-TV’s Amanda St. Hilaire says her trick for finding good stories is to file public records requests every week.  A general assignment reporter,  3.5  years out of college and at her second station, St. Hilaire says these requests net a … Read More →

Posted in Databases, Finding Stories | Leave a comment
Jul 21

Reporter’s Legal Guide Available at Your Fingertips

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Barbara Fought

You’re out reporting on a story and you encounter a situation in which you’re unsure about whether you can record due to privacy laws. Or you wonder if you can record police arresting someone since you’ve heard some of the … Read More →

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Jul 14

Wayback Machine Helps Reporters Sleuth Out Information

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Barbara Fought

Last week when federal authorities raided the Indianapolis-area home of Jared Fogle, WFYI-FM’s reporter Ryan Delaney immediately scrambled to get reaction. Fogel, the spokesperson for Subway, gained fame for losing more than 200 pounds by eating the chain’s low-fat sandwiches. While Ryan knew … Read More →

Posted in Backgrounding for News Stories, Finding Sources | Leave a comment
Jul 07

Pitch Stories on Renting Since Fewer People Own Homes

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Barbara Fought

Since my parents owned a home and I own a home,  I probably have a bias that most people own their home. I think a lot of news coverage shows that bias, as well.  I’m continually surprised, when I teach … Read More →

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Jul 01

Google’s Research Guru Dan Russell Offers Weekly Tips That Can Make You A Better Searcher

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Barbara Fought

note: after 6 months, ReadyReporter is back and ready to give you more tips for quicker, better, smarter reporting. One of the most popular seminars at the Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference each year is the one led by Goggle’s … Read More →

Posted in Databases, Searching, Uncategorized, Verifying Information | Leave a comment
Jan 05

RR on Temporary Hiatus

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Barbara Fought

I’m doing some TV work for the next six weeks — hosting a public affairs show–on top of my teaching schedule. And so I’m taking a break from Ready Reporter.  But I’ll be back. –Barbara

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Dec 30

Best Tips of the Year for Journalists

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Barbara Fought

In case you missed them here are some of the top tips from the year to help make you a better journalist: Tips from investigative reporters on how to find people online or in databases. An amazing new way of … Read More →

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Dec 17

Google Brings Back Its Free News Archive

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Barbara Fought

I’m giving a big shout-out to Barry Swartz at Search Engine Land for the tip that we can again search Google News for stories from the past. This option has been gone for more than three years. So all you … Read More →

Posted in Backgrounding for News Stories, Databases | Leave a comment
Dec 10

Find Surplus Military Equipment Given to Local Police

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Barbara Fought

I commend the Syracuse Media Group and reporter Michelle Breidenbach for scouring the Defense Logistics Agency to find out about the cast-off armored vehicles that the feds gave to our local police.  In a series of stories she reported that … Read More →

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