Trust me: Beat reporters need to develop good sources

Gaining the trust of your sources is critical to succeeding as a beat reporter. In a guide for new beat reporters, John Rains, a writing coach in North Carolina, says your sources need to know your word is good. That may mean not over-promising what you will keep off the record, for instance. Christine MacDonald, a beat reporter at The Detroit News, suggests thinking of the relationship with a source as a two-way street. And most importantly, she says treat people with respect. They'll be more apt to help you when you need it. Beyond developing good sources, you also need to know where to go for information when you are new to a beat. Check out the power reporting guide to beats created by Bill Dedman, an investigative reporter for msnbc.com