What Makes a Good Reporter?

Daniel Owens, Deputy News Editor for Northampton’s Chronicle and Echo, thinks that all journalists need an eye for news.
Though he considers enthusiasm and a high standard of writing to be essential for journalism, the most important quality is an eye for a story.
“A good reporter is able to walk down the street and spot a story,” Mr Owens said, “for example if you see two shops next to each other both closing - that could be a story on the effects of the credit crunch on the local area. It’s something most people won’t notice.”
The 29 year-old started working for the newspaper as a junior reporter after completing a journalism degree at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.
Whilst on his course Mr Owens had come to the paper for work experience on a number of occasions, as well as attending placements at Sport First and the Watford Observer.
“It seemed like a natural transition to make,” he said, “I don’t live in Northampton itself, I live just outside, but this is still my local paper.”
Out of the 18 daily newspapers owned by Johnston’s press the Chronicle and Echo is one of the highest in terms of internet growth.
Unfortunately this means that with the industry suffering the effects of the credit crunch, there are fewer journalists to write material and so the workload has increased dramatically.
Despite the intensive conditions Mr Owens says he still enjoys “being at the centre of breaking news in Northampton and being able to break news to the public.”