How to do a news plan with news agencies

A news plan is a document that outlines the news coverage plan for a specific period, typically a day, week, or month. It's a crucial tool for news agencies, journalists, and editors to ensure that they are covering the most important and relevant news stories. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a news plan with news agencies:

Step 1: Identify the News Cycle

• Determine the news cycle for the day, week, or month. This includes identifying the key events, deadlines, and milestones that will shape the news agenda.
• Consider the time of year, holidays, and other factors that may impact the news cycle.

Step 2: Gather Information

• Collect information from various sources, including:
  • News wires (e.g., AP, Reuters, AFP)
  • Social media
  • Online news sites
  • Government agencies
  • Industry reports
  • Interviews with experts and sources
• Identify the most important and relevant news stories, and prioritize them based on their significance, impact, and audience interest.

Step 3: Categorize and Prioritize News Stories

• Categorize news stories into themes or beats, such as:
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • International
• Prioritize the news stories based on their importance, relevance, and audience interest. Use a scoring system or a matrix to evaluate each story.

Step 4: Assign Journalists and Resources

• Assign journalists and resources to cover each news story, taking into account their expertise, availability, and workload.
• Consider the type of story, the level of complexity, and the required resources (e.g., photography, video, audio).

Step 5: Create a News Plan Document

• Write a clear and concise news plan document that outlines:
  • The news cycle and key events
  • The most important and relevant news stories
  • The assigned journalists and resources
  • The deadlines and expected output
  • The budget and resources required
• Include a summary of the news plan, highlighting the key stories and themes.

Step 6: Review and Revise the News Plan

• Review the news plan with the editorial team, including editors, producers, and journalists.
• Revise the news plan as needed, taking into account feedback, changes in the news cycle, and new information.
• Ensure that the news plan is flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Step 7: Implement the News Plan

• Assign journalists to cover the assigned stories, and provide them with the necessary resources and support.
• Monitor the news cycle and adjust the news plan as needed to ensure that the most important and relevant stories are covered.
• Review the output and provide feedback to journalists and editors.

Step 8: Evaluate the News Plan

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the news plan, considering factors such as:
  • The quality and relevance of the news stories
  • The audience engagement and feedback
  • The impact on the news cycle and the industry
  • The budget and resource utilization
• Use the evaluation to improve the news plan and adjust it for future cycles.

By following these steps, news agencies can create a comprehensive and effective news plan that ensures they are covering the most important and relevant news stories, while also meeting their audience's needs and expectations.