Finding a Story: First Steps

Okay, so how do you go about finding your story, once you have thought about a theme area like e.g. modellling, or paramedics?

Well, the best starting point is making a research plan.

I always start on the web, in a library, and on a phone.

Both primary and secondary research are invaluable and have different advantages and disadvantages.

First up though, the plan.

The point of making a research plan is just to answer questions.  Forget about the story for a while.  It's not important at this stage.  It'll make itself known when it's good and ready.

Well, let's take our Paramedic theme.

For secondary research, I'd make a list of questions, stuff that interests me:

Could be:

How many paramedics are there in Northern Ireland?
What problems do they face?
What's the job actually like to do?
How much training do you need?
Is it well paid?
How do they cope with the stress?
What sort of people are they?
Does it take a lot of courage?
Is there anything coming up that they are doing which might be interesting?
Could I get a hold of anyone who would talk to me?
What are the access issues about getting into ambulances?

You'll notice some of these are vague questions.  They certainly aren't stories.  We are still in the land of school project.  But that's fine.  It's gets us started.

However, some of the questions at the bottom are more practical. 

Thinking of who you can talk to, or at least film, is always of paramount importance and if you can't answer it, then most likely, you don't have a documentary.

Remember, the cool thing is, you're not married to this idea.  If you're initial bit of digging doesn't show you much then the chances are there isn't much in it for you.  At least, not at the moment.

Make the same list of questions yourself.