What are the most effective time management strategies for researching a story?

1 Plan ahead

Before you dive into your research, take some time to plan your approach. Define your main question, your angle, and your target audience. Identify the key sources, data, and documents you need to consult. Outline the main points and subpoints you want to cover in your story. Set realistic and specific goals and deadlines for each stage of your research. This will help you focus your search, avoid distractions, and prioritize your tasks.

2 Use reliable tools

The internet is a vast and valuable source of information, but it can also be a source of misinformation, bias, and confusion. To ensure that your research is credible and relevant, use reliable tools and platforms to find and verify your information. For example, use reputable databases, libraries, and archives to access academic, official, and historical sources. Use fact-checking websites, tools, and organizations to check the accuracy and validity of online claims and sources. Use citation managers, note-taking apps, and cloud storage to organize and store your references and notes.

3 Evaluate your sources

Not all sources are created equal. Some are more authoritative, relevant, and accurate than others. To avoid wasting time and compromising your quality, evaluate your sources carefully and critically. Ask yourself questions such as: Who is the author or publisher? What is their expertise and reputation? When was the source published or updated? What is the purpose and tone of the source? How does the source support or contradict your main question and angle? How does the source compare to other sources on the same topic?

4 Seek multiple perspectives

Researching a story is not only about finding facts and figures, but also about finding stories and voices. To enrich your story and provide a balanced and nuanced perspective, seek multiple sources and viewpoints on your topic. Look for sources that represent different backgrounds, experiences, opinions, and perspectives. Seek sources that challenge, complement, or contradict your own assumptions and biases. Seek sources that can provide firsthand, personal, or anecdotal evidence or insights.

6 Review and refine

Researching a story is not a one-time or final task. It is an ongoing and iterative process that requires constant review and refinement. As you gather, analyze, and synthesize your information, keep track of your progress and evaluate your results. Check for accuracy, relevance, consistency, and completeness of your information. Identify and fill any gaps or weaknesses in your evidence or arguments. Eliminate any irrelevant, redundant, or outdated information. Review and refine your research until you are confident and satisfied with your story.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?