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In
connection with a beat reorganization, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
is using these "beat development plans" to help
reporters launch their work on new beats and refocus work
on continuing
beats. Submitted by Steve
Buttry, Writing Coach/National Correspondent, Omaha World-Herald.
Click here for new
beats.
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Atlanta
Journal-Constitution beat development plan -- returning beats
Beat:
How long in beat?
Reporter:
Editor:
Looking at your
beat in new ways
How do you define
your beat? What does it encompass?
How can you now
add a new element or perspective?
Who are your readers?
Who looks for your stories?
Who are the readers
you'd like to reach?
How can your team
be of assistance:
- to approach this
beat in new ways
- to find unpredictable
approaches to cyclical/seasonal stories
How can you help
team members as they map their beats?
How can you get
help from news research to go deeper and find surprises on your beat?
(reading materials, websites, experts)
Working your beat
Who are 10 new sources
(official and unofficial) you can develop and how will you go about
that?
How does your beat
overlap with other beats and writers?
How will you structure
time to stay connected and in sync?
What can you do
to further develop your beat online and with ajc.com?
How can you push
your reporting and writing to keep it fresh, more accessible and relevant?
What can you do
to push yourself professionally? (training, doing something new, taking
risks)
Setting
goals
What percentage
of your job has been:
Covering breaking
news?
Breaking your own
news?
Investigative reporting?
Storytelling?
Context, issues,
trends?
Brites and quick
hits?
Enterprise?
How will those percentages
realign as you reassess?
What are five stories
you want to do in the next month?
How do you view
success in six months? How will it be different from success six months
ago?
What's one project
you'd like to do in the next year?
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