Choosing sources is one of the most important decisions you make as a feature writer. Sources are the people who provide you with information, insights, opinions, and anecdotes that enrich your story and make it more credible and engaging. But how do you find and select the best sources for your feature? Here are some tips to help you.
Before you start looking for sources, you need to have a clear idea of what your feature is about and what perspective you want to explore. Your topic is the general subject of your story, such as climate change, education, or sports. Your angle is the specific focus or approach you take to your topic, such as how climate change affects farmers, how education shapes social mobility, or how sports foster community. Your angle will help you narrow down your search for sources and identify the most relevant and interesting ones.
Once you have your topic and angle, you need to do some background research to find potential sources. You can use online databases, libraries, directories, social media, and search engines to locate experts, professionals, organizations, activists, or individuals who have knowledge or experience related to your topic and angle. You can also use your own network of contacts, such as colleagues, friends, or acquaintances, to get referrals or recommendations. As you research your sources, you should evaluate their credibility, authority, and bias. You should also check their availability, accessibility, and willingness to participate in your feature.
Healthcare Content Writer and Editor | Digital Health Writer | HIMSS Masters Scholar
A good journalist cultivates a strong network of contacts over time - including PRs. Go to conferences and events in person whenever you can. Help people out. Get to know their opinions. When you need quotes, facts or insights, trust has already been established and your contacts will be there for you.
A good feature story should have a variety of sources that represent different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. This will make your story more balanced, nuanced, and inclusive. You should aim to include sources that are directly involved in your topic, such as primary sources, as well as sources that can provide context, analysis, or commentary, such as secondary sources. You should also consider sources that can offer personal stories, anecdotes, or emotions, such as human interest sources. You should avoid relying on too many sources that have similar views, agendas, or affiliations, as this may create a biased or one-sided story.
As an advocate of Solutions Journalism, I believe that a good feature story should have sub angles that tackle all possible perspectives of the story to give it depth and credibility. This entails that a good feature story should include rigorous and compelling reporting about issues which include key elements like relevance, evidence of existence from risks and causes to effects and solutions, as well as effectiveness of solutions and lessons learned from the issue. Consequently, a feature story needs a variety of sources to feed it with adequate and balanced information. For example, a climate change story should tackle its effects, causes, risks, and diverse people's responses to its existence from challenges to opportunities.
Before you contact your sources, you need to prepare a list of questions that will help you elicit the information, insights, opinions, and anecdotes you need for your feature. Your questions should be open-ended, specific, and relevant to your topic and angle. You should also avoid leading, loaded, or yes-no questions that may influence or limit your sources' responses. You should tailor your questions to each source, depending on their role, expertise, or experience. You should also have some follow-up questions ready to probe deeper or clarify any unclear or incomplete answers.
The final step is to conduct your interviews with your sources. You should arrange a time and mode of communication that is convenient and comfortable for both you and your source. You should also inform your source of the purpose, scope, and duration of the interview, and ask for their consent to record or quote them. During the interview, you should be respectful, attentive, and curious. You should listen actively, ask your questions clearly, and follow the natural flow of the conversation. You should also take notes, record the interview, and thank your source at the end.