Alan Goldenbach: 3 things

GRADED EXERCISE: In the comments section below, add the three things you learned from Alan Goldenbach‘s presentation. Deadline is 30 minutes before class on Tuesday March 18, although I hope you won’t wait that long to do this.

Our guest on Tuesday March 18 in class is Washington Post sports columnist Mike Wise. Please prepare a question in advance of the class for Mike.

Our guest on Thursday March 20 in class in former USA Today assignment editor Don Collins. Please prepare a question in advance of the class for Don about the editor-reporter role.



28 Responses to “Alan Goldenbach: 3 things”

  1.   Elliot Fox Says:

    The three important things I learned from Alan were:

    1. A key to acquiring good sources is by building a trust with your sources and by making a good first impression when asking them questions.

    2. When writing your story try to report on the questions that a reader will want answered in the story. Make sure that the answers are reported from the most important to the least important.

    3. A “sense of wonder” will make a story even better as a writer. This is wanting to know about the topic and then creating that great story.

  2.   Latonya Says:

    Three things I learned from Alan:

    1. Your lead quote should never be anonymous, only supoortive.

    2. Get attached to your story, but not to your subject.

    3. Use your senses when dealing with any story.

  3.   ssokler Says:

    Three important things I learned from Alan were:

    1. When writing your story, ask “What will make a reader read THAT story” ? Try to write the story in a way that will grab the reader.

    2. When you approach an athlete, be casual, attempt to build a trust with the athlete you are interviewing.

    3. Get “attached” to the story, not to the subject. The reporter’s responsibility is to tell the reader about the sport and the competition.

  4.   Robert Says:

    What I learned from Alan Goldenbach:

    1. Covering high school sports can lead to unique stories that would be mostly unavailable at other levels of competition.

    2. Players’ speech in high school sports isn’t as restricted as in pro sports.

    3. Find a scene to describe when writing feature stories.

  5.   Jeremy Says:

    Three things that I learned from Alan Goldenbach:

    1. Don’t tell your story, show your story. In other words, use evocative language and style that people can relate to and will draw the reader in.

    2. Covering high school sports can be rewarding due to the feedback that you receive and the amount of freedom and access that you are granted.

    3. Professional sports teams are often very carefully controlled and difficult to interact with.

  6.   Eric Says:

    The three most important things I learned from Alan were:

    1. Be passionate about the story, but not your subject!

    2. When asking for an interview, you should seem human, let the interviewee know who where you come from.

    3. A good lede or title to a story can help allude to later details in a story in a feature.

  7.   Phil Murphy Says:

    1. Learn short-hand. It is invaluable in interviewing and during gameplay.

    2. Don’t be emotionally attached to your subject, but absolutely be attached to your story. Biases are obvious, but so is disinterest.

    3. Grab the reader immediately. Don’t take your time or the reader may not make it to your point without simply stopping.

  8.   Carlos Says:

    Three things I learned from Alan Goldenbach:

    1. Make a good first impression. It’s important to dress well so people will take us seriously.

    2. Covering high school sports allows you more freedom to write, which is not always available at the professional level because information tends to be controlled.

    3. Use acronyms when writing someone’s quote so that you write faster and accurately to what the person is saying.

  9.   Dechele Says:

    The three things I learned from Alan Goldenbach:

    1) It is very important to have a good relationship with your sources. Stories come from people that know you and people that trust you.

    2) When interviewing someone for a story, make sure to present yourself as a real person and not just a reporter.
    3) Tell a story and make sure you do not have any emotion behind it.

  10.   matt Says:

    1. Most important thing is to get attached to your story but not to your subject

    2. Acquiring good sources is built on trust.

    3. I thought his take on high school sports was interesting in the idea that it brings out unique stories.

  11.   Nadia Says:

    1. Never quote an annonymous sourse as a lead quote or perferably never.

    2. Get attached to the story not to the people you are writing about

    3. Sometimes copy desk will change your work

  12.   Will Says:

    Alan Goldenbach 3 things:

    1. You should never get too involved with your subjects.

    2. Sometimes your work may be changed so that it does not reflect the initial purpose of the story.

    3. Stay away from anonymous sources whenever possible.

  13.   ambar Says:

    Three important things I learned from Alan:

    1. It is important to try to put people at ease when you are talking to them especially when your dealing with high schools students.

    2. Bringing a sense of wonder into a story will ultimately make it better.

    3. Learn to get attached to your story not your subject.

  14.   Danny U to You Says:

    The three aspects I found interesting are:
    1. Dont get attatched to the subject of you story.
    2. How when a story draws public interest, it sometimes is exploited by the newspaper.
    3. Be sure to let the person you are interviewing know what he or she says could show up in the paper.

  15.   Dylan Cavalheri-Gaiteri Says:

    1. Treat your sources like people, and not just like another source.

    2. Covering High School sports is much less restricting then covering the pros.

    3. Be aware that editors sometimes find the need to alter your work.

  16.   stephen ball Says:

    Three things I learned from Alan Goldenblach were:

    1. TO make a source more willing, they must trust you.

    2. Get attached to your story, not your subject.

    3. That high school sports are more interesting to cover because you have better access.

  17.   Mike Coppinger Says:

    1. Build trust with your sources. Very important so that way you get news first.

    2. Bring a sense of wonder. Bring curiousity to your writing and reporting.

    3. Make a good first impression. Dress sharp, be on time, shake everyone’s hand, introduce yourself.

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