SSI for the Journalistically Challenged
The concept, of course, is to come up with potential story ideas that will:
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Spark the interest of an average reader, or viewer.
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Lend themselves to interesting graphics, or B roll visuals.
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Feature an easily interviewed “official source.”
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Be based on valid data and solid facts.
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Require very little talent, time, or intelligence to produce.
That said, our first Simple Story Idea involves Crime Stoppers, a law enforcement program well known to virtually every South Florida resident capable of responding to loud noises and painfully bright lights.
First, of course, we begin with a set of interesting data involving the reward money South Florida's Crime Stoppers programs have paid to people calling in with anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of various bad guys.
Naturally, this will require a simple graphic showing the newsworthy trends in the amount of reward money the Crime Stoppers programs have shelled out during a three year period – as reported on the programs' 990 tax statements as 501C3 charities.
Fiscal Years 2006 2007 2008 % change
Crime Stoppers
Rewards for Tips
Broward $52,833 $129,905 $228,025 331.6%
Palm Beach $17,300 $21,000 $20,850 18.8%
Miami-Dade $47,655 $64,455 NA
Source:Guidestar.org
Clearly, the remarkable – and stunningly obvious – disparities in the above data should generate enough intellectual curiosity to produce a simple WTF, as in What The F*ck!?
Even for the most seriously challenged print, blog, or television journalist.
So good luck.
And try please try to ask a few questions beyond WTF!?
HELPFUL HINT: You might want to get the latest reward amounts by calling the local Crime Stopper people* in your particular market and/or county *Their numbers should be available from your local law enforcement agencies, or phone book. (These numbers will also be helpful if you decide to interview the Crime Stopper officials for quotes, anecdotes, and other journalism stuff like that.)
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