Whether you're a freelance writer working for a newspaper or a full-time reporter, working the education beat means you have to know who is in charge of what areas within a school district, and it means you have to know what issues are most relevant. Here are some tips to help you get started on a beat in an unfamiliar school district.
Instructions
Cover the Education Beat for a Newspaper
1. Talk to your fellow reporters and people within the community about what what the school district is like. Ask questions about the demographic makeup of student population and about the current issues everyone is talking about. For example, are residents upset about a pending tax increase, or have test scores been slipping at the high school? Ask what residents are worried about when it comes to the schools and what are they proud of.
2. Read past stories on the school district (for instance, stories from school board meetings, school events, high school sports results, stories featuring students) to see what's been written about before. Use these stories to both learn about the school district as well as to see if any topics are likely to come up again while you're on the job.
3. Introduce yourself. Make an appointment at the administrative offices and meet the secretaries, superintendent, and public relations officer (if the district has one). Meet the union represenatives for the teachers, administrative personnel and others. Also meet the Parent Teacher Association members and let them know that you'd be happy to hear what issues they feel are important to the school.
4. Make an appointment to talk to each of the school board members, either by phone or in person. Look at the newspaper archive to find out what their voting patterns are. Ask them what is the best time to contact them--do they have a day job that allows them to take non-work related calls or would they rather have you call their cell phone or email them?
5. Look at the school calendar. In addition to public meetings, such as school board meetings, try to attend other public events, such as high school plays and sporting events, to get a feel for the district, especially if you didn't attend that school.
6. Follow the national news to see if there are stories happening in other cities that could be meaningful in your school district. Stay on top of trends by reading the Department of Education's website and newsletters. Also find out what professional organizations serve school boards, teachers, superintendents and other school personnel. This is a great way to localize national stories and also keep your coverage of the education beat sharp and relevant.
