Beat memos

This is a handout created by Professor Steve Davis on Beat memos:

Start your beat memo by giving your beat a title – student housing, for example. Then, describe exactly what you mean. Talk about the type of stories you want to focus on, and why. Really make a pitch for the stories. Comment on the perspective or perspectives you want to write from. The University’s? Students? The community at large?

The beat memo should include:
A list of key resources: Web sites, publications, newsletters, listservs, etc.

A list of key sources you’ll be turning to this semester. These are people. Don’t confine yourself to people on this campus: The list could include a person in a key job on another campus, or someone with a national organization. Make some phone calls; don’t just sit and surf the Web.

Information from serious interviews with three sources, people you expect to be key contacts on the beat. Talk to them about story ideas, sources, trends, what’s happening here and on other campuses. Ask what’s hot and interesting now, and what’s to come. Include quotes. Get specific.

Several story ideas. Conclude with some substantial detail on the idea you are thinking about for your first story this semester.
A list of key events or dates.

Remember: You are in the market for story ideas that play off what’s in the news, or that anticipate what will be in the headlines. Do not come up with a list of feature story ideas that have no news pegs.

This research is very important to you and will set the tone for what’s to come. Make the most of it. Don’t go through the motions.

The memo will be graded and it will count just as much as one of your beat stories.