Chapter 2: Reporting the Story

Skill Building: Story Ideas

You can turn almost any topic into a story idea by asking good questions.

Remember the example from the text? "Let's take a look at falling gas prices" is a topic. It's a starting point, but it's too broad and general to suggest what direction the story will take. It also fails the "so what?" test. To turn the topic into a story idea, you need to ask specific questions. "Let's find out if people are driving more now that gas prices have dropped" is an idea. So is, "Let's find out if gas stations are selling more gas now that prices have dropped." These suppositions may not turn out to be true, but they're worth investigating. For this exercise, choose one of the topics below:

Topics:

1. State students outscore national average on SAT test.
2. High levels of tree pollen plague allergy sufferers.
3. Government gives taxpayers one extra day to file income taxes.

Now ask these questions about the topic you've chosen: Who has something at stake? What is it? How might they help tell the story? What's the problem? What's the solution? Where does [did] this story come from and where is it going?

Based on your answers, write your story idea in the box below. Begin your story idea with this phrase: "Let's find out if…"

Then list three to five sources you would consult to further develop your story idea.

We recommend that you print or save your work now, before moving on.