Original journalism often begins by finding a unique, unexplored angle within existing public information or the reporting of others. This exercise looks at what a journalist should do in those situations.
Welcome to this Media Helping Media (MHM) exercise based on the article referencing, attribution and plagiarism which is published on MHM. You are invited to complete the exercise either on your own or with a colleague. Please ensure you read the article above before proceeding.
MHM exercises are a chance for those who are new to journalism to learn skills and test what they know against fictional scenarios. The articles on which the exercises are based have been created from the experience of journalists who have shared their knowledge free of charge in order to help others learn the fundamental principles of robust public service journalism.
The first requirement of any piece of journalism is that it should be accurate. Although this is an exercise involving fictitious material, not for publication, trainees must take everything they are told in the exercise to be factual and they must stick to those facts. If one thing they produce in the exercise is inconsistent with those facts, their whole work is discredited. Accuracy comes first.
So here is a scenario along with three tasks which include writing a 300-word article. You should complete all tasks BEFORE having a look at our example of how the story might be written. We suggest you take 30 minutes for this exercise. You should complete this exercise using only the material included in the scenario. We are not asking you to make stuff up!
The scenario: The Crumbling Bridge Controversy
The information points
- A report was published this morning on a local blog, The Oakwood Watch, claiming that the main bridge into town is structurally unsound.
- The blog post includes a leaked snippet of an internal council memo dated last month.
- The council issued a brief news release two hours later stating the bridge is “undergoing routine assessment.”
- A local structural engineer, Dr Sarah Jenkins, posted on social media that she resigned from the council’s safety board because her warnings about the bridge were ignored.
- You have not spoken to the mayor directly, but he told the local radio station, Radio Oakwood, that “there is no immediate danger to the public.”
The players/actors
- The Oakwood Watch: A community-run blog that first broke the news.
- Oakwood Town Council: The official body responsible for the bridge.
- Dr Sarah Jenkins: An independent expert and former council advisor.
- Radio Oakwood: The broadcaster that secured the only interview with the mayor.
- The Mayor (Councillor Thomas): The political leader of the town.
Exercise tasks
Task 1: Identify the main characters
List the key individuals or organisations involved in this story. For each one, note whether they are a primary source (someone directly involved) or a secondary source (someone reporting on the event). Also note down what you would want to ask them based on the information you have.
Task 2: Identify the main issues
Identify the three most critical points of conflict or information in this story. This is so that you retain focus on the main point of the story and don’t get sidetracked. Ensure your summary is fair to all sides involved in the story.
Task 3: Write the news story
Write a 300-word news report based on the information points provided. You must ensure that every piece of information is attributed to the correct source. Be careful not to plagiarise The Oakwood Watch or Radio Oakwood. Your goal is to be transparent about where each fact came from.
Summary
This exercise tests your ability to juggle multiple sources while ensuring the audience knows exactly who said what. In journalism, failing to attribute a quote or a specific “scoop” (like the leaked memo) to its original source is a form of plagiarism. By identifying the players and the core issues first, you build a foundation for an impartial and accurate report.
Below is a suggested version of this story observing the need to attribute information, refer to sources, and avoid plagiarism. Please make sure you write your own version of the story BEFORE checking it against the example below.
Click here to see the suggested story treatment
The crumbling bridge controversy
By our own correspondent
Questions have been raised over the safety of Oakwood’s main bridge following a leaked memo and the resignation of a safety expert.
The controversy began this morning when the local community blog, The Oakwood Watch, published details of an internal council memo. According to the blog, the document suggests the bridge is structurally unsound.
In response to the leak, Oakwood Town Council issued a statement claiming the bridge is currently “undergoing routine assessment.” However, this explanation has been challenged by Dr Sarah Jenkins, a structural engineer. Writing on social media, Dr Jenkins claimed she recently resigned from the council’s safety board, alleging that officials had ignored her specific warnings regarding the bridge’s condition.
The Mayor has sought to calm the situation. Speaking to Radio Oakwood earlier today, Councillor Thomas insisted there is “no immediate danger to the public.”
While the council maintains that the work is part of a standard safety check, the revelations by The Oakwood Watch and Dr Jenkins suggest a deeper disagreement over the urgency of the repairs.
This report relies on initial claims made by The Oakwood Watch and subsequent broadcasts by Radio Oakwood. As of this afternoon, the council has not released the full safety report to the public.
To maintain credibility a journalist must continue to credit these original sources until they can independently verify the documents or interview the parties involved directly.
How does this version compare with the one you produced? Reflect on any areas that could be improved in either version.
