As a journalist, we always rely on sources to get our information and do our jobs. But have we thought why we choose people for stories and what qualifies them to be an expert?
People experience different things in their lives. We as humans try to group those experiences into one category. Even if you are a vet tech, we see different cases and experience different things than another vet. Experience can help tell a story. Especially when you want a recap, an emotional sound bite, or even someone who know what it is like. But how do you choose a vet to talk to? Should we go for the first answer to a pleading call?
I think journalists are responsible for these types of judgements. As a result, we should know our community. We should strive to interact and find these type of people. Every time we make a call we should always just ask someone's background and experience. We should ask questions such as: "Can you send me information about yourself?" or "Have had experience in dealing with this?"
So often we forget to check true qualifications. Never be afraid to ask a source for similar people. A vet tech may be part of a group of vet techs. Take any time you can to know your source and you can find the quality journalism people need and crave.
Is experience all that qualifies someone? How do know someone is knowledgeable about a subject? Knowledge is easier to tell than experience in my opinion. If people can answer those tough questions, they have the knowledge to know about it. But knowledge is not as important as experience in my work. It still is needed but experience can tell the story in an emotional impact rather than someone who rambles off the dates.
Anytime you do a story, ask yourself why you chose who you did to talk to. Defending your choices as a journalist can come in handy in defending a story under criticism.
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