Developing sources

Add comment February 11th, 2008

We have this massive database in our newsroom. It’s called mySource and it contains contact information for some 7,500 people who live in the Rock River Valley.

We’ve had an electronic database since 2000. We ask people we meet, people who call us, people who complain, people who praise and just plain people to be our sources. The information given is kept confidential and only used by newsroom staffers. So, if you agree to be our source, we won’t give your info to our circulation department so it can ask you to subscribe to the newspaper. We just ask you to fill out a form. All the questions are voluntary, so you can be as detailed as you want.

Our database just went through a massive upgrade which means the search function is much improved. If I want to talk to a Twinkie lover for a story I’m writing about the birthday of the cream-filled cake snack, I do a keyword search and in a matter of seconds I have a person I can call. It’s pretty cool.

I share with you in case you want to be one of our sources. Drop me an e-mail, and I’ll get you a form.