Finding Ways to Beat Summer Doldrums

By Chris Roush
August 17, 2007

The dog days of summer are a time when many business journalists take vacations because the news flow tends to be slower than at other points in the year as Wall Streeters spend time in the Hamptons. But I'd argue that the summer is also a good time for a business reporter to work on improving skills and becoming a better journalist.

Here are some suggestions for the business reporter looking to step up their game instead of being overcome by the heat:

Find a story in a place where you’ve never looked before. When was the last time that you went to the courthouse and read lawsuits? If your business desk doesn’t have a reporter or a clerk who regularly checks lawsuits, there’s probably a story waiting to be written. Look for trend stories like the type of lawsuits being filed instead of just the basic Company A suing Company B story.

Expand your source list. Many reporters get into the bad habit of relying on the same sources over and over again for the same types of stories. Go find some new analysts, consultants or others that you or others at the paper have never quoted before. They’ll often have a new and different perspective on business issues.

Reassess your writing skills. Does your editor always make the same changes to your story? Talk to him or her about it, and think about ways to write the same story differently the next time. Write an earnings story that doesn’t mention the company’s net income or earnings until the fourth paragraph – after you have explained what’s led to the increase or decease in performance.

Think about interviewing. The best questions are short and to the point, and they’re open-ended so that they get the person talking. Too often, I see journalists ask multiple-part questions or long questions that confuse the person being interviewed or end up being only partially answered.

Look for the people. The average business story can be made into an above average story or a great story if you can find someone who illustrates the point you want to make. That requires going the extra mile in reporting by getting out of the office and talking to average, every-day people. Ask your friends and relatives if they know someone willing to be interviewed.

Have fun. Some journalists thrive on the pressure of a deadline or the barking of an editor. Not me. I tend to write my best stuff when I’m relaxed and comfortable. I also report and write better when I’m having fun with a story by exploring all of the angles and not just accepting the usual line.

Copyright © 2008 Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism