Make field reporting come alive
Field reporting lets people see, hear and understand a situation they did not witness. Scenes, settings, voices and actions give the account its substance. Preparation makes that possible, but the story must remain open to what the reporter actually discovers on location.
The essentials
A field report is neither a monologue nor a routine account of proceedings. It tells what happened through scenes, voices, settings and actions. Jean-Dominique Boucher’s approach makes those elements central to the craft. Information gathered on location should supply the substance, rather than a few decorative details added to a desk-written article.
Prepare before departure. Read useful reports and existing coverage without deciding the story in advance. Locate the event accurately, identify potential contacts and tell your newsroom where you are going. Preparation should help you notice and understand what is new, not force the visit to confirm a script already written in your head.
Prepare your working tools too: notebook, pens, microphone, batteries and the practical arrangements that allow you to concentrate. On returning, look for a scene, a voice and a precise detail in your notes. If all you have is official statements, identify what is still missing from the field before claiming to make the audience experience the situation.
Take it to the field
When you return, find a scene, a voice and a precise detail in your notes. If only official statements remain, identify what further field reporting is needed to let the audience see and hear the subject.
Your turn
Review five field reports you recently read, watched or heard. Identify whether each covers breaking news, a recent event, a longer-running situation or a magazine-style subject, and note the evidence for your classification.