Crime Reporting 101
Headlines about crimes, whether it’s murder cases, theft, or corruption, dominate our news feeds. True crime shows have proliferated across all media platforms, in the form of documentaries, TV series, and podcasts, and numerous crime-related books are published annually. If you watch the daily news, chances are you’ll see at least one crime story covered during each broadcast.
It’s safe to therefore proclaim, that we, the viewing, listening, and reading public for whatever reasons, are fascinated with crime.
(5 Rules of Ethical Journalism.)
As a journalist, covering criminal justice stories can either be a specialty or part of a beat. Generalists or regional reporters will regularly report on crime and often cover court cases of public interest. Investigative journalists will dig deep into a current or past crime, and others concentrate exclusively on the criminal justice system, making it their area of expertise. Many podcasters have built their whole careers and made a huge impact through covering crime.
Some crime stories are so intriguing they stay in the news cycle for weeks, months, and even years. Recent examples are the Murdaugh murders and the disappearance of Gabby Petito. Big stories of the past include the killing of JonBenet Ramsey, the Manson murders, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the Zodiac killings, Son of Sam, the Green River Killer, and the O.J. Simpson trial, which some claim is the most-watched criminal case of all time.
So, what qualities and skills do you need to become an effective crime reporter?
There are some fundamental skills and qualities you need to possess and develop for all types of journalism. These are accuracy, strong research skills (especially important with crime stories), listening skills, and you must be a good interviewer. You’ll be talking to all kinds of people, from police officers and prosecutors to the family of victims and quite often the victims themselves.
Here are 5 skills you need to be a good crime reporter (or podcaster!).
1. Knowing the Judicial System
You don’t need to obtain a law degree or take special courses; all you need to know are the basics. It can seem complicated at first, but once you gain experience and become more familiar with the process, things will fall into place. The United States operates under a dual court system—state courts and federal courts. Most cases heard in the US court system happen at the state level, and these include criminal activities such as murder, robbery, assault, and drug-related crimes. Civil cases including family, custody, and divorce cases, juvenile and probate are also heard in state courts. The state court system is generally composed of three main levels: trial courts, state appellate courts, and a state Supreme Court.
Examples of cases heard in the Federal Court System include interpretation of aspects of the US Constitution, Federal criminal cases, intellectual property laws, disputes between states, and violations of securities laws.
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2. Finding Crime Stories
Just like all types of journalism, crime reporting involves grunt work. Finding stories is the first step, of course, and this can be achieved through regular communication with your local police station. If you have a beat as a regional news reporter, for instance, this will be one of your weekly if not daily tasks, to check if there are any newsworthy arrests.
Building a good rapport with local officers is vital, as you need their cooperation and hopefully, they will start calling you with interesting cases. Another way to find crime-related stories in your state is to check with the courts. Each state has courts in practically every county and many of them have websites where you can find recently filed cases.
Journalists who cover federal crimes have access to many online resources, including statistics and court documents.
Podcasters often report or comment on ongoing trials or cold cases, and investigative journalists will conduct deep dives into cases, often spending weeks, months, or more on a story.
Feature journalists can approach a past crime from several different angles, some that may not have been previously covered, for example an in-depth interview with the perpetrator of a crime.
3. Building Contacts
Building and maintaining good relationships is important in all branches of journalism and having a list of go-to contacts you can count on and trust is vital to your success. Where crime stories are concerned, people in your contacts book can include police officers, lawyers, local councilors, detectives, activists, community leaders, non-profits, and probation officers.
Always be courteous and respectful and nurture your relationship by checking in with your contacts regularly. You can also arrange a meeting, which is highly recommended, people are more likely to respond to those they have met in person. You may need their expertise, advice, or quotes for a current and future piece.
4. Interviewing Sources
Reporting on crime involves talking to police officers, lawyers, witnesses, families, in some cases victims, and even perpetrators of crime. Each interview will be different in length, intensity, and structure, so plan accordingly.
Public officials, lawyers, and police officers will have limited time, so make sure you can get a quick interview with them to get the quotes you need to fill out your piece. If you’re covering a court case, you can also question those involved outside the courthouse.
An in-person interview is the best option for a crime victim or their family members. During the conversation, be respectful, compassionate, and reassuring. Above all else, give them time and space to talk. Ask a question, then sit back and listen. You can explain the larger purpose of your story, reassuring them that you’re not out for sensationalism, just the truth. You can also gently emphasize that their side of the story should be heard.
Just remember, some people involved in a crime need to remain anonymous for their own protection, including minors and victims of sexual assault. And if a person tells you something is off the record, honor that request. But you can circle back and delicately ask how much information they are willing to share publicly.
5. Researching Stories
Research must be thorough and meticulous, and all facts verified before publication or broadcast. Whenever possible you will need multiple sources for your piece, including records and people. Primary or original sources, who are willing to be on the record, not only flesh out your work but make it stronger and more credible.
Keep in mind with a crime story your research may lead to some disturbing facts, so a thick skin is required. You must also determine what gory details to omit, just think about how this could affect the families—they may not even know this information. As emphasized in the SPJ Code of Ethics journalists must be aware of how their work will affect those involved, and balance this with the need of the public to know.
And finally, I cannot emphasize enough—truth and accuracy are the key words in any form of journalism.
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Resources
https://judiciallearningcenter.org/state-courts-vs-federal-courts/#:~:text=Types%20of%20Cases,and%20many%20drug%2Drelated%20crimeshttps://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/federal-court-media-basics-journalists-guidehttps://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/accessing-court-documents-journalists-guidehttps://pacer.uscourts.govhttps://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/federal-courts-public#:~:text=Federal%20courts%20have%20jurisdiction%20over,U.S.%20government%20and%20foreign%20governments