Day 8: Forward Planning

Day 8:  Forward Planning

One of the biggest problems is to plan the news and to have news as planned. 

Ex: we can plan in the meeting for 9 am or 12 pm and to have news as planned. 

It is very difficult in news to have big story everyday. But we keep the program high. We should always look to a news program to have top story: story of the day. This can be planned, daily, monthly and annually. 

- the way to create news planning is to have news diary.

1. seasonal stories

Ex: veggie festival, Chinese New Year, Buddhist new year, Muslim new year, Christmas. 

- this should be put in news calendar. 

- this is called seasonal stories

2. Anniversary stories

Ex: anniversary , 10 years anniversary of Tsunami 

1 year of Suthep demonstration , impeachment of Yingluck 

Coup in Thailand. 

3. Running stories 

Ex: court cases, 100 days of corruption fighting 

4. Invitation stories 

- seminar, meetings, press conference

The diary should be put together, though not necessarily into news. 

Diary is anything that will happen in the future. : Expected 

Plan the expected to cope with the unexpected. 

Plan: 

Daily

Monthly

Yearly

10  years

20 years 

To keep diary of news provide you the opportunity to produce something "special." 

We need to have our own diary to try to break the news. 

- Good documentaries in Asia tend to come from NHK, some stories take 5 years. 

Ex: to have documentaries about someone who was affected by Tsunami and see his/her life 5 years on. That's the way to produce good documentaries: planning. 

We need some exclusive content on anniversary,  not only ceremony. 

- Exclusive and high quality content takes time, no magic wand to do it last minute. 

- reporters, editors and producers should make your own diary. 

- the more you start preparing, the better. : ex story ideas from the seminar. 

- ex: November, there is a meeting of banning Asbestos in Southeast Asia 

Pegs: seminar, conference is the answer why we need to report the news today. 

- we don't need to just cover the seminar, we need to expand the story. 

- we can produce higher quality of reports by discussing the issue from the seminar, not just the seminar. 

- the same logic applies with the press conference. 

- Thus, we need to plan in advance for special, insightful stories. 

- We tend to know in advance, the seminar or the meeting and we can plan news coverage ahead. 

- the newsroom has to do it, buy having forward planning diary. We should not wait until last minute, no magic wand.

- if there is no big event, diary planning is how we have strong content. 

Use: calendar.google.com

- we need to constantly look for news stories as news reporters, editors and producers. 

Story pitching process: 

= buying and selling news stories, news ideas. 

- newsroom is like the market, buyers are editors and producers, sellers are reporters. 

- editors and producers need to be good buyers, by asking details. 

- if editors are not good buyers, you don't pay attention to details, you will end up having bad stories. Editors want good stories for the program. 

- editors need to ask so what? Editors need to keep asking questions. 

- it is the way to keep news content going, reporters should be able to explain how important it is. We have to ask reporters to make sure reporters have the right information and make sure they can meet the deadline. 

- editor needs to ask next question what is the evidence? 

Pitching process: editors ask reporters when pitching a story

1. So what? Why today? 

2. What is the evidence? 

3. What is the source? 

4. Did you check it? 

5. Did you check directly with the news sources? 

6. any concrete examples? 

These questions can help editors evaluate the stories, whether the news should be done, will it be done today or tomorrow? 

These questions are important in guiding them to really think of whether the news can be pursued. 

The station has a limited number of reporters, cameramen thus every station has to manage limited resources. No time for fishing. 

It is very easy to be reporters at the ThaiPBS because you are not questioned much by editors or producers.

Assignment: 5 news stories we should do. 

the stories that I propose: 

1. hot-air lanterns in Chiang Mai affecting flight schedule in Chiang Mai 

2. Thailand- Cambodia relations during PM. Prayuth visit 30-31 October 

What can be achieved from this meeting? 

Also, we should not forget one year anniversary of Phra Viharn verdict. 

3. Tourism situation in Thailand after the news  of Koh Tao and The murder of Jap men. 

4. South China Sea conflicts before Asean Summit