By SCOTT DOCHTERMAN
St. Joseph News-Press

Wright Thompson knew he was rambling. Still it didn't prevent him from mocking some of the best advice many reporters continue to receive.

Editors have given him conflicting opinions for years as to whether he should take sources out of their environment or shadow them in their environment.

"Just hang out with them," said the award-winning takeout reporter from the Kansas City Star said during Monday's APSE Great Plains Regional Workshop on July 25-26 in Kansas City. "We're not talking about a ... water buffalo."

Thompson's remark drew laughter from the attendees, but it emphasized his point that sometimes crafting the perfect feature story doesn't have to be a rigid, unforgiving process. Thompson joined Lincoln Journal Star reporter Colleen Kenney in a panel on how to craft better feature stories.

Thompson said he asks himself three questions after each story. One, would he pay $10 if the story was a movie? Two, he gives the story a "William Shatner Test" to ensure he didn't go over the top with useless, cheesy phrases. Three, he enacts the Sports Illustrated test: what would the magazine write about if it came to his town.

He also recalled a story of what Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander told him in press box.

"It's all about the scenes, man," Telander told Thompson while strumming a guitar. "Real moments, real people."

Kenney emphasized that editors need to "take the stink of journalism off her stories" and "keep our ears open for dialogue" while reporting a feature or takeout. She added that reporters need to ask for access to improve their stories.

"Find something unique," she said.

The workshop began Monday with a session on improving soccer coverage. Tyler Lechtenberg, a prep sports reporter with the Cedar Rapids Gazette, and Justin Gorman, the Kansas City Wizards' public relations director, gave tips on how to deepen game coverage.

Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock, Daily Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson and The Hawk Eye sports editor John Bohnenkamp offered tips on writing thought-provoking columns. Whitlock said one of his goals was "to be comfortable around people who aren't comfortable around you."

Carlson spoke of overcoming narrow views from fans who don't believe a female should produce commentary about football.

"You have to know what the readers are passionate about and don't be afraid to write about those subjects," she said. "Write about what you know and what you're passionate about."

Bohnenkamp has challenges of running a department, covering the University of Iowa basketball team and writing columns for his newspaper. That doesn't stop him from provoking the public, including his former publisher's wife.

During a soccer match between two high schools, soccer fans ended the game by charging the field to dispute officiating calls. Bohnenkamp criticized the fans, but didn't mention them by name. One of the parents in attendance was the publisher's wife, who retorted with a letter to the editor slamming Bohnenkamp.

Chiefs President Carl Peterson was the guest speaker and a discussion ranged from NFL access issues to Peterson's concerns about "inaccuracies" in reporting.

Other sessions at the workshop included a discussion on how to stretch resources with tight budgets and how to better understand ACL tears and HIPAA laws with former Baltimore Ravens team physician Brian Crites and Kansas City Chiefs team doctor Jon Browne.

Region meeting notes

• With Mike Fannin's elevation to APSE second vice president, the Great Plains region elected Toby Carrig of the Southeast Missourian as vice chair. Carrig will take over for Scott Dochterman next June as chairman and the region will elect a new vice chairman next July. ...

• Next year's workshop will be held either July 17-18 or July 24-25 depending on the Royals' schedule. It will be held once again at the Clarion Hotel in Kansas City. ...

• AP's Kansas City Bureau partners with APSE to run the workshop. The cost per participant went up from $20 to $25 to help cover ticket costs. ...

• Sixty-two signed up for the conference, and only six did not show. ...

• APSE members and non-members from eight different states (including Arkansas and South Dakota) attended the conference.

Scott Dochterman is the Great Plains region chair. You can reach him via e-mail at scottd@npgco.com

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