"Beat writer" redirects here. For the post-World War II literary subculture movement, see Beat Generation.
Beat reporting, also known as specialized reporting, is a genre of journalism focused on a particular issue, sector, organization, or institution over time.
Beat reporters build up a base of knowledge on and gain familiarity with the topic, allowing them to provide insight and commentary in addition to reporting straight facts. Generally, beat reporters will also build up a rapport with sources that they visit again and again, allowing for trust to build between the journalist and their source of information. This distinguishes them from other journalists who might cover similar stories from time to time.[1]
Journalists become invested in the beats they are reporting for, and become passionate about mastering that beat.[2] Beat reporters often deal with the same sources day after day, and must return to those sources regardless of their relationship with them.[3] Those sources may or may not be pleased with the reporting of the reporters.[3] It is pertinent that beat reporters contact their sources quickly, obtain all necessary information, and write on deadline.[3]
According to media sociologists, beat reporting occurs because of the limited time reporters are given to cover stories.[4] For big scoops, beats are not necessarily as useful as other journalism types.[4] Some of the best inside stories, such as the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Watergate scandal, did not come from beat reporting.[4]
Beat reporters collect information from each person they meet while reporting.[5] They routinely call, visit, and e-mail sources to obtain any new information for articles.[5] When reporters have experience on a specific beat, they are able to gain both knowledge and sources to lead them to new stories relating to that beat.[5] Beats are able to help reporters define their roles as journalists, and also avoid overlap of stories within the newsroom.[5]
The term comes from the noun beat in the sense of an assigned regular route or habitual path, as for a policeman. By analogy, the beat of a reporter is the topic they have been assigned for reporting.[9] Similarly, a beat reporter will follow the same routes or habitual paths in collecting new information on a specified topic. The role of the reporter is to deliver the news, show the story according to their perspective and observations, give us the insights, comment on it and to submit the report of the issues on the given period of time.[10]
^Ralph S. Izard; Hugh M. Culbertson; Donald A. Lambert (1994). "11. The Specialist at Work: Beat Reporting". Fundamentals of News Reporting. Kendall/Hunt. pp. 215ff. ISBN0-8403-7607-3.
^Ryfe, D. M. (2009)Structure, agency, and change in an American newsroom. 665-683
^ abcScanlan, C. (2011). Beat reporting: what does it take to be the best. Poynter Institute.
^ abcBerkowitz, Daniel A. (1997) Social Meanings of News: A Text-reader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
^ abcdGalbraith, K. (2010) The Capriciousness of Beats. Nieman Reports, 64(4), 5-6.
^Deitsch, Richard (July 28, 2022). "Covering NFL training camp: Six beat writers talk biggest challenges, storylines and more". The Athletic. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
^Beller, Michael (August 21, 2020). "Inside info: Our MLB beat writers identify potential changes for their teams". The Athletic. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
^Koblin, John (August 14, 2013). "The Best And Worst Baseball Beat Reporters, According To You". Deadspin. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
^V. S. Gupta (2003). Handbook of Reporting and Communication Skills. Concept Publishing Company. p. 50. ISBN81-8069-043-1.
^"Beats in Journalism". Nimcj.org. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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Beat writer redirects here For the post World War II literary subculture movement see Beat Generation Beat reporting also known as specialized reporting is a genre of journalism focused on a particular issue sector organization or institution over time Contents 1 Description 2 Etymology 3 Prizes 4 References 5 External linksDescription editBeat reporters build up a base of knowledge on and gain familiarity with the topic allowing them to provide insight and commentary in addition to reporting straight facts Generally beat reporters will also build up a rapport with sources that they visit again and again allowing for trust to build between the journalist and their source of information This distinguishes them from other journalists who might cover similar stories from time to time 1 Journalists become invested in the beats they are reporting for and become passionate about mastering that beat 2 Beat reporters often deal with the same sources day after day and must return to those sources regardless of their relationship with them 3 Those sources may or may not be pleased with the reporting of the reporters 3 It is pertinent that beat reporters contact their sources quickly obtain all necessary information and write on deadline 3 According to media sociologists beat reporting occurs because of the limited time reporters are given to cover stories 4 For big scoops beats are not necessarily as useful as other journalism types 4 Some of the best inside stories such as the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Watergate scandal did not come from beat reporting 4 Beat reporters collect information from each person they meet while reporting 5 They routinely call visit and e mail sources to obtain any new information for articles 5 When reporters have experience on a specific beat they are able to gain both knowledge and sources to lead them to new stories relating to that beat 5 Beats are able to help reporters define their roles as journalists and also avoid overlap of stories within the newsroom 5 In sports many professional teams have beat reporters assigned such as for teams within Major League Baseball MLB or the National Football League NFL 6 7 Many beat reporters work for major websites such as MLB com or The Athletic or for major newspapers such as The Washington Post or Los Angeles Times 8 Etymology editThe term comes from the noun beat in the sense of an assigned regular route or habitual path as for a policeman By analogy the beat of a reporter is the topic they have been assigned for reporting 9 Similarly a beat reporter will follow the same routes or habitual paths in collecting new information on a specified topic The role of the reporter is to deliver the news show the story according to their perspective and observations give us the insights comment on it and to submit the report of the issues on the given period of time 10 Prizes editSeveral organisations award prizes for beat reporting of which the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting discontinued in 2007 is possibly the best known Other awards that have a category for beat reporting include the Gerald Loeb Awards 11 the Canadian National Newspaper Awards 12 and the SEJ Awards 13 References edit Ralph S Izard Hugh M Culbertson Donald A Lambert 1994 11 The Specialist at Work Beat Reporting Fundamentals of News Reporting Kendall Hunt pp 215ff ISBN 0 8403 7607 3 Ryfe D M 2009 Structure agency and change in an American newsroom 665 683 a b c Scanlan C 2011 Beat reporting what does it take to be the best Poynter Institute a b c Berkowitz Daniel A 1997 Social Meanings of News A Text reader Thousand Oaks CA Sage Publications a b c d Galbraith K 2010 The Capriciousness of Beats Nieman Reports 64 4 5 6 Deitsch Richard July 28 2022 Covering NFL training camp Six beat writers talk biggest challenges storylines and more The Athletic Retrieved September 2 2023 Beller Michael August 21 2020 Inside info Our MLB beat writers identify potential changes for their teams The Athletic Retrieved September 2 2023 Koblin John August 14 2013 The Best And Worst Baseball Beat Reporters According To You Deadspin Retrieved September 2 2023 V S Gupta 2003 Handbook of Reporting and Communication Skills Concept Publishing Company p 50 ISBN 81 8069 043 1 Beats in Journalism Nimcj org Retrieved April 21 2020 Gerald Loeb Awards UCLA Anderson School of Management Archived from the original on March 20 2011 Retrieved October 20 2011 List of winners since 1949 Beat Reporting Journalisme specialise National Newspaper Awards Retrieved October 20 2011 SEJ 2011 Awards Rules Society of Environmental Journalists Archived from the original on July 4 2011 Retrieved October 20 2011 External links editDeadbeats On the Media radio program 12 September 2014 Reporting Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed 1911 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beat reporting amp oldid 1173544470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
