How do newspapers get their news?

Question

How do they find out when a shooting or stabbing, etc happens? Do they police always inform the newspapers or something? Say for example, there is a local drive-by shooting and no one is killed, however, it makes the local newspaper the next day. How does the newspaper find out about this?

Answer 1

Actually most murders never make the news. Big cities typically have a murder or two every month, but only the more sensational ones are put on TV.

To find out about them, they can just use a "police blotter" (usually updated daily, that's just a log of what the police have been doing) -- in most jurisdictions, the police are required to make their activities and crime reports a matter of public record. Also, a newspaper will typically have some contacts at the police department, DA office, etc.

If the police want coverage for something, they can also just call the newspaper office.

Answer 2

I think the reporters listen to police scanners and of course there are police spokespeople (public relations) who the reporters can contact.  Some web-sites for police and other agencies have that information and anyone can pretty much access it including you.  Some even post mug shots.  Just google or yahoo your local police department or whatever organization you want to find information on including the latest events and cruise around the site and see what you find.

Every agency and or organization should have public relations personnel that reporters can contact for the latest.  If they don't, any decent reporter knows to call and talk to whoever is in charge.