How does a Journalist plan stories?
When planning his or her stories, a Journalist will use an organizational method called the "TARS". This allows the writer to list their Topic, Angle, Rationale and Sources in an organized manner. The example to below shows the TARS for A Battle of Bias, with handy explanations of each section.
Topic-
The Topic is the general idea that the Journalist wants to cover.
A Battle of Bias' topic was "The difference between Critics' and audiences' views on Venom."
Angle-
The Angle is the Journalist's initial stance on the topic.
A Battle of Bias' angle was "Critics view movies like Venom analytically, while audiences just want to have an enjoyable time."
Rationale-
The Rationale is the Journalist's reasons for writing the story.
A Battle of Bias' rationale was its timeliness, proximity to the student body and its prominence in media and amongst students.
Sources-
The Sources section lists the Journalist's main sources for their story
A Battle of Bias' were myself and other critics.
(Note: Op/Ed's, like A Battle of Bias, don't have the variety of sources most stories do.