News Gathering Guidelines

Oak Grove Radio News Gathering Guidelines

Handout for volunteer gatherers

Target length: up to 2 minutes per update  |  Tone: neutral and factual  |  Correct quickly when needed

 

1) Mission and tone

Provide short, useful, accurate updates for Oak Grove Radio listeners in Minneapolis and Ottawa County. The news brief is not commentary, not a community calendar, and not advertising.

• Write and read it straight. Avoid opinion, jokes, and loaded language.
• Attribute facts to sources whenever possible (“According to…”).
• If details are uncertain or developing, say so or leave it out until confirmed.

2) What is “newsworthy” for Oak Grove Radio?

Prioritize items with impact, timeliness, and local relevance.

Priority order:

• Local (highest): public safety, closures, outages, boil-water advisories, school changes, local government actions, significant service disruptions.
• Regional: county/state issues that affect local roads, schools, agriculture, healthcare, services, or major employers.
• National/international (lowest): only when it clearly impacts local life (prices, services, major policy changes, severe weather systems).

Quick news test (usually air it if it hits two or more):

• Impact (safety, money, services, access)
• Timeliness (new today or a major update)
• Proximity (town, county, region)
• Accountability (public officials, public spending, public decisions)
• Unusual (verified and not sensational)

3) Advertising and underwriting red flags (do not put these in the news)

Avoid anything that sounds like it is trying to drive sales or attendance.

• Calls to action: “stop by,” “come in,” “sign up,” “don’t miss,” “buy tickets”
• Prices, discounts, sales, coupons, or “free” offers
• Qualitative or comparative claims: “best,” “top-rated,” “award-winning,” “number one”
• Long product or service lists that sound like a commercial
• Reading business press releases as if they are news

Business names are OK only when unavoidable for public impact (examples: clinic closed, major employer layoff, recall, service disruption). Keep it factual.

4) Acceptable sources

Prefer sources that can be verified and named on-air.

Best sources:

• City/county agendas, minutes, and official notices
• School district statements and official channels
• Law enforcement and emergency management statements
• National Weather Service alerts and briefings
• Court records (charges, filings, hearing schedules)
• Reputable local or regional journalism with clear attribution

Use caution (often not usable):

• Social media posts, screenshots, anonymous tips, or “a friend said”
• Rumors or unconfirmed claims without documentation

5) Verification rules

• Minimum: one solid source for routine items (closures, meeting dates, official notices).
• Two-source rule for anything controversial, damaging, or involving alleged wrongdoing.
• If you cannot verify it, do not air it.
• Always attribute: “Police say…” “According to court records…” “The city agenda shows…”

6) Legal and safety guardrails

These rules reduce risk and protect the station and the community.

Defamation avoidance (most important):

• Do not repeat rumors as facts.
• Do not imply guilt. Use “charged,” “accused,” or “police say.”
• Be extra careful naming private individuals in negative stories.

Privacy: do not air:

• Private medical details
• Home addresses, phone numbers, or instructions on where to find a private person
• Identifying details about minors unless part of an official public alert

Crime and courts wording:

• Use: “arrested,” “charged,” “scheduled to appear,” “according to court records.”
• Avoid: “did it,” “is guilty,” speculation about motives, or unnecessary graphic detail.

7) Politics: keep it neutral

• Report actions and facts (votes, filings, meeting outcomes).
• No endorsements, no opinions, no slogans.
• If mentioning candidates, be consistent and fair in how you describe them.

8) Writing and timing standards

Style: short sentences, one idea per sentence, minimal adjectives, clear attribution.

Time targets:

• 1 minute update: 2 to 3 items total
• 2 minute update: 3 to 5 items total
• Each item should be 1 to 3 sentences

Suggested structure:

1. Top local item (highest impact)
2. Second local or regional item
3. Quick hits (closures, meeting reminders, brief updates)
4. Weather impact line (only if meaningful)
5. Tag out: “That’s your Oak Grove Radio news update.”

9) Required logging (accountability)

For each item aired, record:

• Date/time gathered
• Source link or document name
• Who provided the information (if applicable)
• The final text that was read on-air

10) Corrections policy

• If you get something wrong, correct it in the next available newscast.
• State the correction plainly: “Yesterday we reported X. The correct information is Y.”
• Update the log with the corrected information and source.

Standard: Accurate, local, neutral, and never promotional.