A scoop is an exclusive story that attracts attention and adds prestige to a newspaper. It can be a scandal, important news, or emotional event. Getting scoops requires effort and a large support team, including foreign correspondents and local contacts. Scoops have been found in news since 1874 and can boost a journalist’s career.
A scoop is an exclusive story told by a single journalist or a group of journalists working together. Good scoops will attract a great deal of attention for the journalists and newspapers involved, with most major newspapers urging their staff to get as many scoops as possible to add to the prestige and perceived value of the paper. When a reporter manages to swoop down on a big story before other reporters, she is said to have “discovered” the competition.
Scoops can take on a variety of shapes. Many refer to scandals and secret information, which by its very nature tend to be met with intense interest when exposed on the news. The story can also be simply important or particularly emotional; the most important news is often a scoop. For example, the first newspaper to report on a major natural disaster may view its report as a scoop, as may the public, who will flock to the paper for more information while its competitors scramble to keep up.
Getting scoops takes a lot of effort and a very large support team. Many newspapers send out reporters around the world in hopes of getting scoops on unexpected big stories, and supplement these reporters with sleepers who sell content to the highest bidder. Having foreign correspondents in place is a crucial part of running a successful major newspaper, and many news organizations devote a large chunk of their budget to retaining such correspondents, along with their contacts.
Scoops can also be more local in nature. Reporters typically follow local politics and events closely, in hopes of getting a scoop, and many cultivate extensive contacts with local officials so they’ll be the first to know about major events. Without such connections, a reporter can flail behind the pack when big stories break, becoming a liability to their papers.
Numerous examples of scoops have been found in the news since 1874, when the word was first used in print. These scoops range from celebrity scandals to the publication of the Watergate Papers, and for the journalists involved, a scoop can be a substantial career booster. If a reporter becomes known for getting high-quality scoop, they will typically be in high demand from major newspapers, and this may allow the reporter more leeway to pursue projects and stories of personal interest.
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