Category Archives: Finding Stories

Aug 21

Story Leads on Education

Tired of doing the same-old back-to-school stories or looking for new ways to do education stories in coming weeks? Well, readers, viewers and listeners are tired of seeing the same old storylines.  So what else can you do? The Education … Read More

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Aug 03

Find Out News Today

A hat tip to recent alum Emily Maher, @eamaher90, for her recent tweet of a resource that will help with story generation.  AP publishes a list of the 10 things to know each day in the news. And it’s available … Read More

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Jul 27

How to Track Product Recalls

The government has made it easy — bet you don’t see those words too often!  Easy to find out government recalls. One site,  Recalls.gov, encompasses six federal agencies listing recalls ranging from food to tires to cosmetics. You can search by topic: … Read More

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Jul 17

Use A Directory to Find Farmers’ Markets

Where I live the produce is just coming in to the farmers’ markets — the blueberries and peaches have appeared and we’re all looking forward to sweet corn with butter dripping down our chins.  Some of you in warmer areas … Read More

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Jun 04

Research Studies Might Be Story Leads

When you’re dry for story ideas, check out the Journalist’s Resource from the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard. It peruses news research curates it on its website. The staff tries to choose relevant topics … Read More

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May 25

Use Kaiser Health News For Story Ideas

Memorial Day brings thoughts of veterans and I was surprised to read in Kaiser Health News  (KHN) today that 10 percent of veterans under 65 go without health insurance. They’re not getting help through the Veterans Administration and they account for … Read More

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May 14

Track how the feds are doing with TRAC

Part of  a series on databases. Tucked in a suite behind a non-descript beige door here at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University is an amazing group of people who crunch numbers and publish surprising statistics that help your readers/listeners/viewers gain … Read More

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May 03

Find Doctors In Your Area Paid by Drug Companies

Part of a series on databases to help in daily reporting. One important journalistic principle is avoiding conflicts of interest. We usually think about that for journalist avoiding ties that might taint their work. But I think it applies to … Read More

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Apr 19

Database Quickies: Corporation Filings to SEC

Part of a series  on databases that add value to a daily story. An international  company with a small plant aways from where I live announced it is closing that facility and  laying off 150 employees. The closure,  in a small … Read More

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Apr 10

Top Five Web Sites to Follow News

Job requirement: keep up with the news. So what are the best sites to check or autoload on your web browser? In our student newsrooms, we see the AP wires within the ENPS system where we write scripts. But in … Read More

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