I am reading the book Aim for the Heart by Al Tompkins for my broadcast journalism two class at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In the introduction, Tomkins says there are many similarities between the list of characteristics that journalists represent and the list of characteristics people want from journalists. However he says there is a large discrepancy between the list of topics people are interested in seeing on the news and the topics most often covered on the news. The two lists from the book are as follows (see pages viii-ix).
"Viewers say they are not watching because we do not thoroughly cover the stories that viewers, and even we ourselves, think are important," says Tompkins (page ix). Additionally he says that many TV reporters quit broadcast journalism for this same reason. He says they lose the energy that once was their driving force. When thinking of topics to cover, broadcast journalists should ask themselves, 'when was the last time I did a story about a topic found in the first list.' The first list has topics that might be harder to cover, but are much more rewarding. Enterprising stories is one way journalists set themselves apart. If you are just starting as a broadcast journalists or a veteran, take the advice of Al Tompkins and start covering stories whose topics are important to everyone.
Journalists say the most important issues facing the country are:
- The economy
- Terrorism
- Energy Policy
- Urban sprawl/growth
- Traffic, transportation
- Family values, breakdown of the family
- Health care/coverage
- Environment issues
- Prescription drug costs
- Youth crime
- U.S./Foreign relations
- Schools/education
Journalists say the stories they most often cover are:
- Crime--usually drug-related murders
- Accidents/Incidents (fire, flood, storms, traffic mishaps)
- Celebrity news
- Planned community events
- Health stories, health studies, "breakthroughs"
- Government scandal
- Consumer tips
- Politician/government official press conferences
"Viewers say they are not watching because we do not thoroughly cover the stories that viewers, and even we ourselves, think are important," says Tompkins (page ix). Additionally he says that many TV reporters quit broadcast journalism for this same reason. He says they lose the energy that once was their driving force. When thinking of topics to cover, broadcast journalists should ask themselves, 'when was the last time I did a story about a topic found in the first list.' The first list has topics that might be harder to cover, but are much more rewarding. Enterprising stories is one way journalists set themselves apart. If you are just starting as a broadcast journalists or a veteran, take the advice of Al Tompkins and start covering stories whose topics are important to everyone.
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