ABSTRACT

At metro newspapers, young entrants are moved around all the major rounds during their twelve-month traineeships. Rounds journalists are likely to spend longer with contacts than general reporters, and build up deeper relationships—which, of course, can create problems in drawing boundary lines between personal and professional relationships. This chapter looks at some of the key rounds of police or emergency services, courts, local and state government, health and sport. There are two situations that are specific to covering emergency rounds and both involve situations of high drama and stress. These are sieges and deathknocks. Councils may be the lowest tier of government, but they deal with issues of major concern to many people and their activities are a staple of reporting for local papers. Nothing fills as much space in Australia's newspapers and news sites, and as much time on the country's radio and television news bulletins, as sport.