Lesson 2.2 A Worksheet
Instructions: In this role-playing activity, your team acts out a cold call interview between a journalist and a source. An evaluator offers coaching and suggestions as you practice. Then, you will perform your cold calling role-play in front of the class
CASE STUDY #1
Journalist: You are an education reporter for the local TV news channel who is doing a story on a group of people who are protesting the high-stakes tests that students in public schools have to take in elementary school before they enter high school.
Source: You are an educational consultant who helped to create the test.
Evaluator: Use the criteria below to help your team members be successful. Offer feedback after each rehearsal to help both be successful.
Journalist Source
CASE STUDY #1
Journalist: You are an education reporter for the local TV news channel who is doing a story on a group of people who are protesting the high-stakes tests that students in public schools have to take in elementary school before they enter high school.
Source: You are an educational consultant who helped to create the test.
Evaluator: Use the criteria below to help your team members be successful. Offer feedback after each rehearsal to help both be successful.
Journalist Source
1. Do Your Homework. Before you pick up the phone, do some research on your topic. Learn about the issue before you attempt to reach out to a source.
2. Explain Your Reason for Calling. Be able to state our purpose for reaching out to this person within the first minute of the call. 3. Flatter Your Source. Explain why you consider this person a valuable source. Show that you care about the topic. 4. Plan Some Questions in Advance. If it helps, write the questions that you want to ask down. Use then as a reference when you’re talking with the source. 5. Listen and Take Notes. Be an active listener and ask questions if you don’t understand something. Ask your source to repeat themselves if necessary so you can write down the information. (But never audiotape a conversation without asking permission first.) |
1. Get Your Expertise On. Before you talk to a journalist, make sure you can talk like an expert. Gather some key facts that you think a reporter will want to know.
2. No Jargon. Even though you’re an expert, if you want your message to get across, you will need to explain ideas accurately, clearly and simply. 3. Stay Calm and Confident. You’re the expert. Don’t display nervousness and use vocal energy to hold your listener’s attention. 4. Use Vivid Examples. Make your ideas come alive by offering examples and specific information. Don’t just speak in generalities. 5. Short and Sweet. Experts who drone on and on make life difficult for reporters. Be aware that the reporter is trying to take notes while you talk. Pause after important ideas and new information so that the reporter has time to process it. |
Instructions: In this role-playing activity, your team acts out a cold call interview between a journalist and a source. An evaluator offers coaching and suggestions as you practice. Then, you will perform your cold calling role-play in front of the class.
CASE STUDY #2
Journalist: It’s Opening Day for the local professional baseball team and you are a reporter who’s been assigned to cover the festivities. The team won the World Series last year and has made a very important change to try and repeat this year: they’ve signed the off-season’s most coveted free agent: a dominating pitcher who won 25 games and the Cy Young award last year.
Source: You are the new pitcher.
Evaluator: Use the criteria below to help your team members be successful. Offer feedback after each rehearsal to help both be successful.
Journalist Source
CASE STUDY #2
Journalist: It’s Opening Day for the local professional baseball team and you are a reporter who’s been assigned to cover the festivities. The team won the World Series last year and has made a very important change to try and repeat this year: they’ve signed the off-season’s most coveted free agent: a dominating pitcher who won 25 games and the Cy Young award last year.
Source: You are the new pitcher.
Evaluator: Use the criteria below to help your team members be successful. Offer feedback after each rehearsal to help both be successful.
Journalist Source
1. Do Your Homework. Before you pick up the phone, do some research on your topic. Learn about the issue before you attempt to reach out to a source.
2. Explain Your Reason for Calling. Be able to state our purpose for reaching out to this person within the first minute of the call. 3. Flatter Your Source. Explain why you consider this person a valuable source. Show that you care about the topic. 4. Plan Some Questions in Advance. If it helps, write the questions that you want to ask down. Use then as a reference when you’re talking with the source. 5. Listen and Take Notes. Be an active listener and ask questions if you don’t understand something. Ask your source to repeat themselves if necessary so you can write down the information. (But never audiotape a conversation without asking permission first.) |
1. Get Your Expertise On. Before you talk to a journalist, make sure you can talk like an expert. Gather some key facts that you think a reporter will want to know.
2. No Jargon. Even though you’re an expert, if you want your message to get across, you will need to explain ideas accurately, clearly and simply. 3. Stay Calm and Confident. You’re the expert. Don’t display nervousness and use vocal energy to hold your listener’s attention. 4. Use Vivid Examples. Make your ideas come alive by offering examples and specific information. Don’t just speak in generalities. 5. Short and Sweet. Experts who drone on and on make life difficult for reporters. Be aware that the reporter is trying to take notes while you talk. Pause after important ideas and new information so that the reporter has time to process it. |