BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Journalism plays an important role in society so as part of national News Literacy Week, the 23ABC newsroom is sharing tips on how to determine the credibility of a news story you see online and how to use fact-based journalism to determine what to trust. 23ABC's Bayne Froney is giving "you" a look at how news coverage goes from an idea in a meeting to a story on your television screen.
The day starts with a morning editorial meeting where the newsroom discusses current news and community concerns while reporters and producers pitch their story ideas for the beginning of the day. Once stories are decided on for the day it is time for reporters and photographers to get to work.
The first step is to reach out to sources for interviews or statements to help answer questions that were discussed in our editorial meeting.
While waiting for sources, reporters gather more background information and continue their research to make sure that their stories are accurate and while forming questions that need to be answered by their sources. But with this pandemic reporters have had to get creative with how they conduct their interviews
"The laptop doesn't really reach my height. A lot of the times I am pulling a lot of these pillows out and resting the laptop on top of the pillows, that way it gives me the best look possible that you can work within an apartment," explained 23ABC reporter Austin Westfall.
When interviews are done it's back to an editorial meeting to make new managers aware if are any changes to assigned stories or if a new idea has come from a story already in the works.
From there reporters take the information they gathered from research and interviews and create a script which then gets sent to the newsroom to get checked and double-checked for content accuracy along with checking for any spelling errors before it gets approved for on-air.
While reporters are doing this producers, editors and directors are all busy putting together the rest of the newscast, assignment editors are listening to radio scanners for breaking news, and answering phone calls from Kern County residents with news tips and concerns.
When reporters get the green light for the script the editing begins, this time in a new location.
"I usually have to spend a few hours in the car, editing before I get ready for my live shot. It's a race against the clock," said Westfall.
After sending in their completed story, reporters set up their cameras, stop for a quick make-up touch up and it is time for the show.
