What role do sources play in beat reporting, and what can the reporter do to cultivate productive relationships with his or her sources?
What will be an ideal response?
Sources play an important part in almost every aspect of beat reporting. For a new beat reporter, sources can help define a beat by pointing out which issues are the most important or have not received the coverage they deserve. They can also suggest specific story ideas to the reporter or provide insider information that the reporter would not be able to gather on his or her own. A reporter who wants to build productive relationships should be courteous to administrative staff and other people who are close to those in power. They should make time to meet with sources in person on a regular basis and follow up with them even after the story has been published. The relationship should be professional and courteous but should avoid becoming too friendly so that the reporter is not tempted to slant his or her coverage to protect the source from negative stories.
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