After completing this chapter you should be able to:

• Find news features by opening up the aperture of your mind and learning to see elements of everyday life as potential story ideas.
• Understand the basic elements of beat reporting as well as the types of beats you could cover as a journalist.
• Engage in the basics of beat reporting through proper research, source development and continual follow-up work.
• Understand the value of personality profiles as well as some best practices for profile reporting.
• Apply the three interviewing phases of personality profiles.
• Understand the role of the watchdog as part of bigger investigative pieces.