Tapping the Grassroots

By William Gilmartin


          When you read a news story, all of your information comes from the reporter, but where do they get their information from? Well, it is no secret that they get their information from sources and officials, but what many people don’t understand and appreciate is the how. How do reporters find these sources, by taking out a want ad in their own paper? No, they get out there and look for that story and look for people who would know something about that story. Basically it involves a lot of looking and a lot of talking, not a career for the shy.
          More often than not, the most valuable sources are those who are the most passionate about the topic, says Jan Barry, a retired newspaper reporter who shared reporting tips with his journalism class at St. Thomas Aquinas College recently. Such as when a local environmentalist in New Jersey revealed that the key chemical used in Agent Orange was being used to kill weeds near a water supply stream. This information helped uncover hidden information about vets who were harmed by Agent Orange and the dangers of the chemical.
          It is surprising how much information you can learn from the average town’s folk, especially at a town meeting, Barry said. Many of these people are valuable sources and are frequently used in stories large and small. “Citizens with a hot tip or a cool observation on public affairs are as crucial to American journalism as politicians whose careers flare or flameout in blazing headlines,” said Barry
          The newspaper is, and always has been, a valuable source for news and information. And it is thanks to those who supply our reporters with all they know that they can bring it to you, he added. Each source has their own story to tell; the reporter is the one who goes out and finds it.