Bloomberg veterans share their pro tips with the Class of 2021 from March 1-5
What makes a good long-form story? Check.
How can journalists identify fake news? Check.
What’s the best way to win online readers? Check.
How can you boost your network? Check.
These were some of the themes covered by Bloomberg veterans in their last set of lectures at the Asian College of Journalism for the Class of 2021.
Adam Majendie, Senior Editor at Bloomberg News, used his sessions at ACJ to zoom in on the ingredients of a good long-form story including compelling anecdotes, pithy quotes, powerful images, good videos, clear charts and relevant data.
He also walked the class through the process of researching, reporting and writing enterprise stories, especially on climate change and other topics covered by Bloomberg Green.
Alyssa McDonald, Managing Editor at Bloomberg.com, talked about how journalists could identify fake news and get better at rejecting stories from unverified news sources.
She also urged the aspiring journalists at ACJ to challenge themselves to find newer ways of telling stories, especially using digital tools, widen the scope of their stories, arrange for photos in advance and make their graphics interactive.
“The more markets our story covers, the larger your potential audience,” she said.
Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Reifenberg used her session with the ACJ-Bloomberg students to prepare them for life after school.
She advised them to keep their resumes short and cover letters simple. She also urged them to find ways to expand their professional network. She told them to not be upset when they see their stories getting rewritten and remember “it’s not personal, Sonny, it’s business”.
She advised the female reporters to keep the conversation about their experiences, inside and outside the newsroom, going.
Anand Krishnamoorthy, Asia Newsdesk Editor at Bloomberg, encouraged students to not obsess over the numbers thrown at them by companies in their quarterly report cards or term sheets. He encouraged them to spend their energy on finding the real context and understanding the bigger picture behind those earnings numbers or deal terms.