Ten Rules of Reporting

An essential guide for reporters and aspiring reporters: the former editorial director of the ABC shares the secrets of good reporting from his life-long career in journalism.

Journalism is changing.   The demand for information about the world we live in has never been greater. But those charged with obtaining it are under constant pressure. Newspapers are closing, traditional news outlets are cutting jobs and losing money. Fake news and disinformation are spreading across social media.   Despite that, the best reporters continue to do what they always have – provide fair, accurate and reliable coverage of issues that matter most to us. And increasingly they are being joined by a new army of citizen journalists determined to fill gaps in local coverage.   In this new world, one thing everyone needs to know is how to report well.   Whether you’re starting out in community journalism or working at a major news organization; whether you’re working on traditional or new platforms; whether you want to learn the basics of good reporting or remind yourself of what the best reporting can and should be, The Ten Rules of Reporting is your essential guide to quality journalism.   Alan Sunderland has been a journalist for more than 40 years, covering almost every beat and news-type. He was most recently the editorial director of the ABC, in charge of reporting standards and ethics. In this book, Alan distills decades of experience into a one-stop handbook that will guide you through the dangers of fake news and spin, teach you how to get the facts and earn the public’s trust, and make you a better reporter.   Published in partnership with the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.