How do newspapers find anecdotal stories like this? I mean this could have been anyone, anywhere - we all have these sorts of frustrating stories.
Is there a sort of marketplace or broker who has a list of on-demand anecdotes?
I just can’t imagine it’s worth it for WSJ to fly a reporter halfway across the country to get a head shot and a one paragraph statement.
Likely picked telco's since they rank so low on customer satisfaction, ditto with banks
Large part of being a good reporter and getting the story right is networking and finding where the story leads you
This is certainly right in this case - if you count the sources in the story you'll see the reporter spoke to at least 9 people and cited a few reports and previous reporting
edit: it's also possible the reporter didn't fly to IL - she may have done the interview over the phone/video and the editor sent in a local freelance or bureau photographer
- A very large online footprint associated vaguely with the story.
- Knew the reporter socially.
- Knew the reporter through previous contacts. (Emailing the publication can do this.)
- Chaining through other contacts -- "oh, you should talk to ...".
That includes a decade or three's experience. Today with social media the task is much easier.
Various public filings (court records, consumer complaints to gov't offices, to watchdog groups) can also trigger journalist follow-ups, depending on the case.
The reporter very likely talked to 10x the people cited in the article -- one reason good journalism is hard. As with high-quality video and audio production, it's what's left out that makes what's left in much better.
I think I found my new startup idea"Help A Reporter Out (HARO): Your PR Agency's Worst Nightmare" https://www.forbes.com/sites/zalmiduchman/2015/11/27/haro/
"Help a Reporter Out (HARO): Ultimate Guide 2019" https://fitsmallbusiness.com/help-a-reporter-out-haro/