Coverage of a Broad Beat Requires Many Hats

"So... you cover the work place... what does that really mean?"

That's probably the most common question I get when I talk to someone about my job. Even some of my fellow reporters don't seem to know.

I used to answer: "Everything that has to do with the work environment." But the blank stares remained, so I started explaining with examples.

Covering the work place means writing about everything from workers with interesting jobs to legislative issues such as workers compensation. In the four months I've covered the beat, I've written stories spanning from a profile on lab workers who safety-test cooking skillets, outdoor lighting and other products before they hit the market to stories explaining the differences in employment contracts before, during and after a grocery store strike.

Although the grocery store strike coverage had a lot to do with politics and contract debates between the unions and the corporations, it also allowed me to write personal stories about the strikers and the temporary workers. That mix is what I like best about this beat.

I'm not much of a policy expert. I will do the legislative or contract-type stories when they are called for, but then I try to explain an issue through the eyes of real people. For example, the grocery union had an emergency fund for members who couldn't pay their bills with their strike pay alone. I gained access to those records and interviewed some strikers who applied for that aid. The result was a story that went beyond the politics and debate and looked at the strike's real human toll.

There are certain big package stories that arise every year on this beat. I just finished a package on what the job market looks like for college graduates, and I'm starting another on executive compensation. These require quite a bit of reading statistics and crunching numbers. I have made sure I know how to use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets well, and I participate with other reporters in weekly meetings to learn about computer programs that help us work through documents and statistics.

I make it a priority not to forget about the real people. For the grad-jobs package, I visited a college job fair and talked to graduates and corporate recruiters.

This beat can offer its lighthearted moments as well. As the NBC television show, "The Apprentice," took off, I interviewed local executives and MBA students for their thoughts on the show and wrote a story about how it applies to real life. The story was fun to do and tapped into a current trend.

As companies close down or move, I write stories about people who lose their jobs. And that is where I usually run into the toughest part of this beat: getting to the actual workers. When Kraft Foods closed down its Nabisco plant in Buena Park, Calif., a couple of weeks ago, I went there to try to talk to workers. The company officials would not let me speak to anyone -- they wouldn't even let me onto the property. I ended up calling union leaders, and they helped me contact some workers. I have found the unions to be valuable resources when I need to talk to people holding positions other than the spokesperson or human resources director.

Core sources include labor attorneys and human resources corporations. I cover three publicly traded HR firms in Orange County, so my job includes tracking their earnings and other important news.

I also often rely on researchers at local universities for background and context for my stories. Professors with expertise in the history of unions and labor disputes were crucial to put the grocery store conflict in its proper context. Labor market reports from the academic institutions provided a good framework for the grad-jobs package.

All of those sources are usually willing to talk. Corporations are sometimes a bit difficult, directing me to the spokesperson, when I, of course, want to talk to the executives themselves.

Since this beat is so broad, it often overlaps with other beats. Working well with other reporters is a must. I'm now working with our personal finance reporter on the executive compensation package and collaborating with another reporter who covers senior issues for a story discussing how retirement patterns are changing.

I'm still new to the beat, so I'm still learning, but I like it so far. Because it spans so many issues, there is plenty of variation. I may have too much work to do most days, but at least I'm never bored.

Copyright © 2008 Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism