Steve Langford

“Tell me a story.” That simple but vital instruction was made famous by legendary “60 Minutes” creator Don Hewitt. It is advice I like to remember when writing a TV news story.

Make it accurate, make it fair. But make sure it’s memorable.

We’re here to inform. There’s no rule that says television news should be boring.

Television news is a team venture. When a videographer and a reporter work together well in the field, the results can be powerful. Add a newspaper with a tradition of great reporting, and the combination can yield terrific broadcast journalism.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it’s a big asset for a reporter. Idle questions, everyday chit-chat, and just plain listening have helped me discover some big stories.

And there has to be a good amount of probing, some skepticism, and a lot of fact-checking. Legend has it the City News Bureau in Chicago had a sign on the wall that reads somewhat like this: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out!”

But it all comes back to storytelling. We’re here to inform. There’s no rule that says television news should be boring.