Instead of books, the wall behind journalist David Betancourt’s desk is lined with frames, each encasing his most prized interviews — from Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to Jason Momoa’s Aquaman.
Betancourt built a comic book culture beat from the ground up at The Washington Post. Now, the author of “The Avengers Assembled” serves as an editor for Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles at The Athletic.
The Institute reached out to Betancourt for quick tips on covering niche topics that apply to every beat.
- Know your audience: Go into your reporting with an understanding of the culture or subculture you’re covering. Whether it’s politics, sports, or niche fandoms, credibility comes from understanding the world you’re reporting on.
- Build a reputation of trust and fairness by developing your sources over time. Trust is earned with consistency and respectful reporting.
- Prove the value of your coverage by tracking your wins: Keep a record of successful stories, engagement metrics, and impact. This data will help demonstrate audience interest and impact. And be ready to pitch new ideas. Even if a section doesn’t exist for your coverage, prove why it should through analytics.
- Create new opportunities by finding allies in the newsroom: Supportive mentors and editors can open doors and back your pitches for more eccentric news. “You have to have allies above you in the upper ranks,” Betancourt said.
- Carve out your niche: Every great beat starts with someone deciding it mattered. Ask your editor if you can write stories that matter to you on the side until it builds an audience deserving of its own beat.