I’m going to tell you how to break exclusive political news stories. It’s tough out there, and every political reporter wants that big scoop – the one that really changes things, holds powerful people accountable, and completely takes over the news for a while. This isn’t about just covering what someone says at a press conference or rewriting a press release. This is about digging up hidden truths, connecting things that seem unrelated, and sharing information no one else has.
To do this, you need more than just being persistent. You have to think strategically, build really strong relationships with sources, and be totally committed to checking every single detail. Here are five simple rules that will help you consistently break political news stories. You won’t just be watching; you’ll be making the news.
Rule 1: Become a Master of Finding Sources Beyond the Usual People
The foundation of breaking political news is having an unbelievably good network of sources. But it’s not enough to just have contacts. You need to build deep, varied relationships, and often with people you wouldn’t expect. These are the relationships that will give you information that others can’t get. The “usual suspects” – like press secretaries, campaign managers, and elected officials – are good for official statements, but they rarely give you exclusive revelations.
Here’s how to do it:
- Find the “Hidden Hands”: Politics is complicated. Don’t just focus on elected officials. Think about legislative aides, staffers on committees (even the junior ones), people who work in government departments, policy advisors, long-time lobbyists (the ones who stick around through different administrations), campaign volunteers, and even the companies that provide services to political campaigns or government offices. These people often have a detailed understanding of how things really work, internal arguments, or upcoming policy changes before they become public.
- For instance: Instead of only paying attention to a Senator, get to know their highly efficient, long-serving chief of staff who manages their schedule and controls the flow of information. Or the legislative director who actually writes the bills and knows where the internal opposition is hiding. Likewise, build relationships with the analysts in a state budget office, not just the budget director. They can point out spending problems before they are officially released.
- Don’t Just Stick to One Side: It’s tempting to only get information from people who agree with your political views or the most powerful party. But some of the best exclusive stories come from unhappy insiders, anonymous whistleblowers, or people who want to expose hypocrisy within their own group.
- For instance: If you’re covering a conservative state legislature, purposely look for moderate Republicans who are unhappy, or even long-serving civil servants who have seen policy shifts they think are wrong. Don’t just rely on Democrats to give you critiques. Getting information from across the political spectrum can give you unique insights into internal controversies.
- Focus on the “Why” and “How,” Not Just the “What”: When you’re building sources, don’t just ask for surface-level information. Instead of just getting a comment on a new bill, ask about the internal discussions, the compromises that were made, the specific interest groups that pushed for certain parts, or the secret deals that made it happen. This adds layers to your reporting that are crucial for exclusive stories.
- For instance: Instead of just reporting that a new environmental regulation was proposed, find sources within the regulatory agency who can explain specific economic pressures that led to its creation. Or talk to external industry lobbyists who can reveal private meetings that shaped its final form. This helps you uncover the real people behind things and their motivations, leading to deeper, less obvious stories.
- Master the Art of “Off-the-Record” and “Deep Background”: Understand the different ways information is shared. Many sources will only give you sensitive information if you agree to strict conditions of anonymity. Clearly define these terms at the start of any conversation. “Off-the-record” means you can’t use the information at all, but it can guide your reporting, giving you leads to confirm on-the-record elsewhere. “Deep background” means you can use the information but you can’t even hint at your source. “Not for attribution” means you can quote or use the information but only attribute it generally (like “a source close to the campaign”).
- For instance: A source might give you “off-the-record” information that a state official is about to resign because of a financial scandal. You can’t print that. But now you have a specific angle to pursue with other sources, who might be willing to go on the record, within the administration or the opposing party, who can confirm parts of the story or provide evidence. Similarly, a source on “deep background” might explain the true internal cost implications of a complex infrastructure project, allowing you to report those figures without revealing your highly placed source.
- Build Trust Through Giving Back and Being Discreet: Sources put their careers at risk when they give you information. You earn their trust over time by always being accurate, honoring their anonymity, and showing that you truly understand the risks they are taking. Sometimes, giving a source some context or information (that isn’t privileged or something vital to a competing scoop) can build goodwill and show that you’re willing to have a reciprocal relationship.
- For instance: A source might call you to complain about an internal political struggle. Listen carefully, offer perspective without offering a solution, and never reveal their identity or the content of the conversation to others, even if you’re pressured. Over time, being discreet like this builds your reputation as a trustworthy confidante, which leads to more significant leaks when they happen.
Rule 2: Become a Super Sleuth for Data and Documents
While human sources provide crucial insights, documents offer undeniable proof. Many of the most impactful political exclusive stories come from carefully examining public records. These are often hidden in plain sight or require you to be very persistent to find them. You absolutely must master how to request public information and understand the digital footprints of political entities.
Here’s how to do it:
- Master Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests (and Similar Laws): Learn everything you can about federal, state, and local public records laws (like FOIA). Understand what is explicitly covered, what exceptions exist, and how to write specific requests that make it hard for them to say no. Don’t let initial rejections stop you; learn how to appeal.
- For instance: Instead of broadly asking for “all communications about the state budget,” narrow your FOIA request to “all emails, text messages, and internal memos exchanged between [Specific Agency Head] and [Specific Lobbying Firm] regarding [Specific Bill Number] between [Date X] and [Date Y].” Being specific makes it harder to deny and easier for them to process.
- Set Up Automated Alerts for Public Data: Many government agencies now publish huge amounts of data online – campaign finance reports, lobbying registration databases, legislative calendars, meeting minutes, ethics filings, court records, land records, government contracts. Set up alerts or regularly check these sites for changes, unusual patterns, or new filings.
- For instance: Set up automated alerts for campaign finance reports. If a Super PAC you’ve never heard of suddenly donates a massive sum to a local mayoral candidate, it immediately signals a potential unique story. Similarly, monitoring zoning board meeting minutes can reveal a politically connected developer’s plans before they become public knowledge.
- “Follow the Money” in Detail: Public financial records (campaign donations, money spent on lobbying, government contracts) are a goldmine. Look beyond just who donated to whom. Investigate when donations were made (like before or after a critical vote), who the individual donors are (their business interests, other political affiliations), and how money flows between different groups (like PACs, dark money groups).
- For instance: A local school board votes to give a very profitable contract to a specific construction company. Check campaign finance records to see if executives or employees of that company, or its related PACs, made significant donations to board members just before or after the vote. This isn’t illegal on its own, but it’s a strong lead for an exclusive investigation into potential favors or undue influence.
- Dig Into Regulatory Filings and Legal Documents: Businesses and organizations operate under a complex web of rules. Publicly available filings with agencies like the SEC (for publicly traded companies), state utilities commissions, or environmental protection agencies can reveal financial problems, violations of rules, or planned expansions/closures that have political implications. Also, civil lawsuits often contain sworn testimony and documents that reveal hidden truths.
- For instance: An exclusive story might come from finding an obscure regulatory filing from a polluting factory that details new emissions violations that the public health department hasn’t announced yet. Or, by sifting through court records, a reporter might uncover a previously unreported settlement involving a high-ranking official that shows a pattern of misconduct.
- Examine Metadata and Digital Trails: In an increasingly digital world, documents often carry metadata (creation dates, authors, revision history). While sometimes you need special tools, simply looking at document properties can be revealing. Also, social media profiles, archived websites, and even publicly available phone directories can provide critical leads or confirm connections.
- For instance: A leaked internal policy document might have metadata revealing it was written or edited by someone surprising, which can lead to a specific line of questioning. Or, an archived version of a politician’s website might reveal a previously deleted policy position, indicating they’ve changed their mind.
Rule 3: Always Think Like an Investigator
Breaking exclusive stories isn’t about waiting for a story to just appear. It’s about actively hunting for it. This requires you to be persistent, skeptical, and curious. You need to question assumptions, look for inconsistencies, and see every normal interaction as a potential path to a deeper truth.
Here’s how to do it:
- Question Every Official Story: Governments, campaigns, and political organizations put out statements and stories designed to control information. Your job is to find the holes, notice what’s missing, and ask the “why” and “what if” questions that others don’t.
- For instance: A city hall press release praises a new economic development initiative as a huge success. Instead of just reporting it, ask: Who really benefits? What were the specific terms of the negotiations? Were any ethical rules bent? What’s the success rate of similar initiatives in the past?
- Look for Contradictions: When something doesn’t make sense, or when two pieces of information seem to conflict, that’s often where the exclusive story is hidden. This could be a politician’s public statement contradicting their private actions, or an agency’s stated policy conflicting with what they actually do.
- For instance: A state legislator who speaks strongly about saving money consistently votes for bills that increase public spending in their district. This contradiction means you need to investigate who specifically benefits from those projects and any potential conflicts of interest.
- Treat Rumors as Leads, Not Facts: Just dismissing a rumor is a missed opportunity. While you should never report a rumor as fact, a persistent rumor can often be a signal that something is happening behind the scenes. Treat it as a lead that you need to thoroughly check with documents and multiple sources.
- For instance: Persistent whispers are circulating about a prominent political figure having health issues that could affect their ability to serve. You don’t report the rumor. Instead, you start discreetly checking their public appearances for subtle changes, contacting sources close to their office or family (if appropriate and ethical), and reviewing public schedules for unexplained cancellations.
- Cross-Reference Information Obsessively: Never rely on a single source or document for confirmation, especially for important exclusive stories. A core principle of investigative journalism is triangulation – confirming information through at least three independent sources or a combination of sources and undeniable documents.
- For instance: A source tells you a senior official is secretly planning to retire. You then look for subtle clues in their office or staffing changes, and discreetly contact a second, independent source who is also close to the official. Ideally, you’d find a third piece of information, perhaps through an unrelated public record that hints at a change in their availability or finances.
- Anticipate the Next Move: Political strategy is all about predicting future moves. By deeply understanding the key players, their motivations, public opinion, and who holds power, you can often predict potential policy changes, legislative actions, or political alliances before they actually happen.
- For instance: After a major election primary, instead of just reporting the results, think about the alliances that will now be necessary for the general election. Which defeated candidate’s supporters are essential? Which ideological groups need to be satisfied? This forward-thinking approach can lead to exclusive stories about pre-election deals or internal party struggles.
Rule 4: Master the Art of the Strategic Interview
Interviews aren’t just about asking questions; they’re a delicate dance of understanding human psychology, asking tactical questions, and actively listening. For exclusive political news, interviews often involve sensitive topics, cautious individuals, and a lot at stake.
Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare Meticulously (Go Beyond the Obvious): Research your subject and the topic thoroughly. Understand their public image, past statements, political alliances, and potential weaknesses. Have a clear goal for the interview, but be flexible. Create open-ended questions designed to get detailed stories, not just “yes” or “no” answers.
- For instance: Before interviewing a politician about a controversial land deal, research not only the deal itself but also their financial disclosures, past votes on development, and any family or business connections to the involved parties. Prepare questions about their motivations, any perceived conflicts of interest, and specific details of meetings or negotiations, rather than simply asking, “Did you do anything wrong?”
- Listen Actively for Hidden Meanings and Hesitation: Pay attention not just to what is said, but how it’s said. Hesitations, changes in tone, sudden defensiveness, or attempts to change the subject can be just as informative as direct answers. Follow up on these clues.
- For instance: If a press secretary quickly changes the subject when asked about a staffer’s departure, that hesitation signals a potential hidden story. Instead of moving on, gently circle back with a follow-up like, “You seemed to pause there. Is there something about their departure we should know?”
- Use the “Friendly, But Firm” Approach: Build a sympathetic connection, but never shy away from tough questions. Phrase your questions neutrally, focusing on facts and verified information, rather than making accusations. Let silence work for you; many people will fill an awkward silence with more information.
- For instance: Instead of an accusatory, “Did you take a bribe?”, try: “Records show a significant donation from [Company X] shortly before you voted on [Legislation Y] which directly benefited that company. Can you explain the timing of that donation in relation to your vote?”
- Look for Discrepancies and Push Back (Respectfully): When what an interviewee says conflicts with existing evidence (documents, previous statements, or other reliable sources), present that discrepancy calmly and directly. Don’t accuse; ask for clarification.
- For instance: “Your public statement on Tuesday said [X], but newly obtained documents from [Agency Z] suggest [Y]. Can you reconcile these two pieces of information for me?” This direct question, backed by evidence, can force a new disclosure or reveal a falsehood.
- Never Reveal Your Sources (Even Accidentally): When a source shares information anonymously, your absolute loyalty is to protecting that source. Don’t hint at who your source might be, or what other information you have that might lead someone to guess their identity, even to another colleague who isn’t a reporter. Building this reputation for discretion is crucial for future scoops.
- For instance: If an interviewee asks, “Who told you that?”, your immediate and unwavering response is, “I can’t reveal my sources.” Do not waver. Ever. This builds your reputation for trustworthiness among all your sources.
Rule 5: Master How to Tell Your Story and Plan Before Publishing
Breaking the news is just the first step. Presenting your exclusive story in a compelling, verifiable, and impactful way determines how widely it spreads and how much influence it has. This also means anticipating strong reactions and preparing for any backlash.
Here’s how to do it:
- Start with the Exclusive and Its Impact: Don’t bury the most important part. Your story’s unique revelation should be immediately clear. Clearly explain what is new, why it matters, and who it affects.
- For instance: Instead of “A new bill was introduced today,” an exclusive might start: “Behind closed doors, a powerful corporate lobby secretly negotiated a tax loophole worth millions in the state’s new budget, documents obtained by [Your News Outlet] reveal.”
- Write for Clarity, Credibility, and Easy Reading: Use clear, concise language. Write strong topic sentences for paragraphs. Break up complex information with subheadings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. Integrate documents, quotes, and data seamlessly as evidence. Make sure the story flows logically from the exclusive revelation to its broader implications.
- For instance: When explaining a complex financial scandal, use a bulleted list to outline the key players and their roles, and a simple graphic or table to illustrate how money moved, making the technical details understandable to a wide audience.
- Anticipate Criticism and Prepare Your Defenses: If you’re breaking a major exclusive, expect denials, alternative stories, and attempts to discredit you or your sources. Before publishing, identify any potential weak points in your reporting or likely ways people will attack you. Strengthen those areas with additional evidence or confirmation.
- For instance: If a politician is likely to deny that a leaked document is authentic, make sure you have multiple authentic copies, a witness to its creation, or forensic verification. If they will attack an anonymous source, ensure the information can be confirmed independently through documents or multiple sources, making the source’s anonymity less critical to the story’s truthfulness.
- Control the Release (Strategic Timing): The timing of an exclusive can be crucial. Sometimes, waiting for prime time or a specific news cycle maximizes impact. Other times, getting it out immediately is essential to beat competitors. Consider the news cycle, other events happening, and how it will have the most impact on your audience.
- For instance: Releasing an exclusive about a major scandal just before a legislative session or an election debate can make its impact much bigger and force the issue into public discussion. Releasing it on a Friday afternoon might allow it to be ignored.
- Plan the Follow-Up and Multimedia Strategy: An exclusive is rarely a one-time story. Think about potential follow-ups: Who needs to respond? What are the policy implications? Are there related stories? How can visuals (documents, photos, data visualizations) and audio (interviews, leaked recordings) make the story more impactful?
- For instance: After breaking a story about a state agency’s misuse of funds, immediately start planning follow-up stories on the agency head’s response, potential legislative hearings, and the broader impact on the services the agency provides. Prepare graphics illustrating the money flow and perhaps a map showing where the misappropriated funds were allegedly spent.
Breaking exclusive political news is both an art and a science, a marathon of constant effort and smart strategies. It demands more than just reporting facts; it requires uncovering truths, challenging power, and shaping public discussion. By carefully using these five strategies – deep sourcing, thoroughly examining data, thinking like an investigator, conducting strategic interviews, and meticulously planning before publishing – you can consistently unearth the stories that truly matter. This will solidifying your reputation as an essential pillar of accountability in the complex world of politics.