With the help of an example, explain how reporters must be both proactive and reactive to think critically about a story.

What will be an ideal response?

Student examples will vary but should include the following main points: Reporters must be proactive in preparing for a story and reactive when the story changes unexpectedly. A reporter writing about the unexpected retirement of a state senator, for example, should be proactive in gathering information about the senator’s career and identifying patterns in previous coverage on the senator’s activities and personal life that may help shape the current story or reveal areas that require more scrutiny. However, if it is later revealed that the senator is retiring due to an undisclosed ethics violation, the reporter must be prepared to react to the new information. This includes abandoning the old story angle and refocusing his or her story on the new revelations and what they mean for voters.