Seeing as I have been doing The Corporate Reporter a lot, I figured I'd try and add to this since the groundwork was already made. A few other tips or build ons to previously mentioned ones. Be aware of the following:
1. You are going to be Target Numero Uno for some groups.
It is no secret that you are on the station if you are doing your jobs right, however, the reporter has a room where they can tint the windows and isolate. Further, they have -no- way to defend themselves and fundamentally the Reporter's job is non-essential. All this combines into the perfect first kill. The only way to avoid this, is, at best, to be proactive about it. What I would recommend is:
- Bring an Extra Recorder: Station laws allow you to have an active recorder in your office that's hidden. Turn it on, hide it in a planter in the office, and put a note on the board (Yes, you can put paper with written info on that poster board between the APC and the Newscaster) that says you have one in there. If there's a bloody mess that makes it 'CSI:Reporters Office' you most definately want to make sure to leave clues. Even in death the truth can get out.
- Make friends with colleagues: More on this later but the more people who see you the better, the -only- thing aside from suit beacon (turn that on) that's keeping you safe is people noticing your vanishing. If there is anyone in the Liason or Consular's office, -GREAT-. And try and keep tabs with an investigator, more on that later.
Do both of those and you are hopefully gonna be either safer, or not as vulnerable to a useless death.. though bare in mind, if a Vampire shows up for a private interview or a Changeling, you're still likely gonna die or worse.
2. Corporate Reporters get a Press Pass. USE IT.
There is an unwritten social contract that goes like this:
A reporter asks for comment. The asked party chooses to respond or not. The Reporter does their job.
With a presspass you can pretty much ask for comment or stories or even face to face interviews with everyone on the station. The only exceptions to this rule are security officers during a crisis, or the captain for similar reasons. Beyond that, I've used this to ask the captain for an interview on a lark before, do not burn bridges during this and you can talk to anyone but here's the best part.
If it's a 'Saucy' story and they refuse comment? Put that in the story. Readers may think it suspicious, so the 'unwritten social contract' means that most people you ask for comments are going to give you one, out of a worry about being shown in a bad light that is, likewise, not even incriminating to you. Almost a win-win.
3. Your Key Contacts: Liasons/Consulars, and Investigators.
The Former can give you news stories, Liasons may also on occassion have a literal heirarchy to assign you tasks or stories to look into. Be friends with them. However, Investigators can give you an entirely other avenue.
Investigators and Reporters, Fundamentally, have the same job with different clearances. Each are trying to uncover truths or informative nuggets that they then pass on to those who listen. For the Investigator, officers and their superiors. For the Reporter, your readers. With this in mind, one thing you can try to do is form a pseudo-agreement with Investigators who want to play ball to share tips and information about goings on around the station. This could mean early warnings about stories for the reporter (which leads to a plucky Journalist with the camera in the -right- place.) or could even give the Investigator a 'Non-Security Department' means to look into something. Both parties win, but the reporter stands to gain even more.
Be warned though, asked the wrong way or if interpreted poorly, this could be seen as soliciting non-civilian info. Be careful with this, as helpful as it is.
4. Miscellaneous Tidbits
- I organize my folders for "Recordings", "Transcripts", "Pictures", "Gained Files" and "Misc." Helps keep the office clean, and a clean office is a presentable interview spot.
- Have something to give people, whether you print out a newspaper for them or bring cigars or booze, have something to entice interviewees.
- Take your clipboard, put paper on it and a red pen. Trust me, very handy to writing down interviews.
- Do not be afraid to talk to Antags. Those are some -ABSURDLY- juicy stories that can generate a lot of buzz, and if they aren't psychopathic in motive, they don't want to kill members of the press usually, for they have nothing to gain but everything of their face value to lose.
- You will eventually come to blows with security over secret sources or unauthorized papers. This can get messy. Be ready to de-escalate, and try and have anything with sources names in a hidden area.
