If you're a freelance writer working for a newspaper or a full-time Journalist, working the education beat income you gain to differentiate who is in charge of what areas within a faculty community, and it process you keep to be learned what issues are most salient. Here are some tips to balm you bend started on a beat in an unfamiliar institution local.
Instructions
Cover the Education Beat for a Newspaper
Use these stories to both learn about the school district also as to see if any topics are likely to come up again while you're on the job.3. Introduce yourself. For instance, are residents bothered approximately a pending tax increase, or have test scores been slipping at the high school? Ask what residents are worried about when it comes to the schools and what are they proud of.
2. Read past stories on the school district (For example, stories from school board meetings, school events, high school sports results, stories featuring students) to see what's been written about before.1. Allocution to your friend reporters and bourgeois within the resident approximately what what the college regional is cherish. Demand questions approximately the demographic makeup of Undergraduate population and approximately the ongoing issues Each is talking approximately.
Make an appointment at the administrative offices and meet the secretaries, superintendent, and public relations officer (if the district has one). Meet the union represenatives for the teachers, administrative personnel and others. Also meet the Parent Teacher Association members and let them know that you'd be happy to hear what issues they feel are important to the school.
4. Make an appointment to talk to each of the school board members, either by phone or in person. Stare at the newspaper archive to find out what their voting patterns are. Ask them what is the best time to contact them--do they have a day job that allows them to take non-work related calls or would they rather have you call their cell phone or email them?
5. Stare at the school calendar. Moreover to public meetings, such as school board meetings, try to attend other public events, such as high school plays and sporting events, to receive a feel for the district, especially if you didn't attend that school.
6. Follow the national news to see if there are stories happening in other cities that could be meaningful in your school district. Stay on top of trends by reading the Department of Education's website and newsletters. Also find out what professional organizations serve school boards, teachers, superintendents and other school personnel. This is a great way to localize national stories and also keep your coverage of the education beat sharp and relevant.
