Covering an event-

Before the Event:

Do research on the event prior to attending, so that you may ask educated questions. Read previous news stories on the speaker/ issue, etc.

Arrive early & find a good seat. Talk to people who come early and find out why they came. Decide if you want to talk to them afterwards and pick a place/ contact information.

Set up a recorder if you have one, at the front.

During the Event:

Take good notes and live tweet.

Get some quotes from the speaker

Get audience quotes, make sure you get names.

After the Event:

Talk to the audience.

Talk to speaker and verify information.

Verify names. titles, any proper nouns...

Do research on official websites.

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Bushwhacking- Live or travel in uncultivated area.

In internet- There is an overwhelming amount of information, so you must find your way past inaccurate, misleading information and propaganda to find the solid information..... like moving through the tangled weeds.

Develop a connection of recourses that will always be there for you if you plan on writing a piece that takes more than a day or two.

Universities, as well as hospitals and research institutes, normally have "press rooms" to find experts in specific fields to quote.

Go to Media Relations to come into more direct contact with sources that you want to quote. This may be frustrating at some points.

NGOs (Non Government Organizations) have their own experts.