Golden Tips for a Beginner Journalist: Seek Useful News, Not the Familiar

A journalist’s eye does not pay attention to what is ordinary and repetitive, but passionately searches for everything exceptional, surprising, and most importantly, useful to the reader. A news story about routine matters in a Moroccan city, for example, although true, lacks the spark that makes it “news”—the spark of usefulness and significance.

Here are some golden tips to help you refine your talent and guide your journalistic compass toward stories worth telling:

1. The First Principle: What is the benefit of this news to the reader?
   Before writing a single word, ask yourself this pivotal question: “What will the average citizen gain from reading this news?” Will it help them make a better decision? Protect them from danger? Save them money or time? Inform them of an opportunity they did not know about?

• Your example is excellent: a weather alert bulletin is a perfect case. Its benefit is clear and direct: enabling people to prepare and protect themselves and their property. This is the essence of service journalism.
• Another example: news about the closure of a main road for maintenance should include alternative routes and closure times. Here lies the benefit.

2. Distinguish Between “Event” and “Useful News”:
   The classic journalism rule says: “A dog biting a man is an event; a man biting a dog is news.” Let’s develop this rule: “A dog biting a man is an event; useful news is revealing the spread of rabies in a certain neighborhood and informing residents how to prevent it and where to find medical help.” The first is mere sensationalism, the second provides a service and information that protects the community.
3. Look for the “Useful Exception” Within the “Ordinary”:
   Even in the most ordinary places, there are unusual and beneficial stories. Instead of describing daily traffic in Tangier, look for:

• The problem and its solution: Does a neighborhood suffer from garbage accumulation? Don’t just describe it; investigate causes, talk to residents and officials, and try to suggest solutions or highlight successful initiatives in other neighborhoods.
• The hidden opportunity: Is there an association offering free training courses to youth that few know about? Your story could change someone’s life path.

4. Be Curious “To Serve People”:
   Turn your curiosity into a tool to serve the reader. Don’t ask “why?” just for knowledge’s sake, but ask “why is this happening and how does it affect people’s lives?” Who benefits? Who is harmed? How can my news help the harmed or alert the unaware?
5. Go Off the Beaten Path:
   Useful stories rarely come from official press releases. Go to the field, talk to people in markets, hospitals, transport stations. Listen to their real concerns; there lie the treasures of news that truly matter to them.
6. Numbers Tell Useful Stories:
   Learn how to make numbers speak. A simple analysis of food prices in different markets may produce a report that helps families save money. Analyzing patient waiting lists may highlight a crisis in the health sector and pressure for a solution.

Always remember, you are not just a conveyor of events but a mediator of knowledge and a bridge for service. The more useful and practical your news is, the greater its value and importance, and the stronger your position as an influential, professional journalist trusted by society.