For Immediate Release                                                            Contact: Amy Klein

                                                                                                (515) 450-9640

September 20, 2006                                                                akklein@iastate.edu

 

Register assistant managing editor talks business to SPJ

 

AMES, Iowa—Randy Evans, assistant manager editor of the Des Moines Register, visited the Iowa State student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and other Greenlee School students on Sept. 12.

During his visit, he spoke about covering business news and other happenings in the corporate world.

            The Register editor encouraged writers to consider how the information they gather ties into the Iowa economy. He also said to watch the use of terminology. Using too much terminology can hurt your readership, Evans said.

            Evans discussed the difficulty of covering the loss of jobs. He said it was important not to be too pessimistic, because that also can hurt your readership. Instead, he said to find stories of companies who have overcome struggles and moved on.

            Iowa State Daily adviser Mark Witherspoon asked Evans to talk about the difficulty of obtaining corporate records. Evans explained non-profit corporations are required to file reports each year, which are public record.

            Evans said since many companies are not required to give out certain information, it can be extremely difficult to get any information from those companies.

            "You have to use your own charm," he said. "You have to build relationships so they’ll put up with your questions."

            A journalist’s best tools are the sources they have, Evans said.

            Knowing what kind of information is accessible is also very helpful to a journalist, Evans said.

            "There is a real gold mine of material to be mined out there, but you have to know that those records are there," Evans said.

            Evans said knowing what the law requires and courts have said can increase the amount of information a journalist can gather.

            Another tool in the journalism industry is the spotlight. Evans said putting “the spotlight” on an issue can make things change.

            Evans wrapped up with talking about story ideas. He said many young journalists think one day; they will just run out of story ideas.  He shared some of the ways he generates story ideas. One thing he does is carry a notebook and a pen right by the driver’s seat of his car.

            While working in eastern Iowa, Evans shared how he got a story idea from a small newsworthy event. Morris, the cat made famous in 9Lives cat food commercials, had recently passed away. Evans was curious how the 9Lives plant was handling the death that day. He jumped in his car and headed to Muscatine, where 9Lives cat food was made. There he found a big picture of Morris with black crepe paper draped all over.

            Evans said it is important to have that same kind of curiosity with any possible story idea. When he left eastern Iowa, he found a large folder in his desk full of story ideas.

            On Oct. 6, the ISU student chapter of SPJ will host Kurt Helland, a copy editor for the Register. Pizza and soft drinks will be served after Helland gives a talking on editing.

 

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