Feature Reporters are assigned to cover news in special fields such as medicine, foreign affairs, consumer affairs, fashion, art, education, labor, or social events. Reporters who are expert in certain fields may specialize in one type of story including stories involving sports, politics, or financial affairs. Reporters may also form their own concept for a feature story and newspaper pictures. They may carry their own camera and obtain photographic coverage or they may request a photographer. Stringers are freelance reporters, often students or nonprofessionals, who write news stories about their campus or community.
Reporters usually return to the office to write copy on a computer.
As Reporters type their copy, it can appear simultaneously on their screen and the editor's terminal screen, or the story can be sent to the editor after it has been polished. From the editor, it is transmitted to the composing room computer which produces the story. Sometimes, to meet deadlines, reporters deliver their news story over the telephone or use portable computers to enter the story which is then sent by modem directly to the newspaper's computer system. Although electronic technology has brought change to the newspaper office, it has not diminished the need for reporters. Automation has eliminated the legendary clamor of the large news room in favor of a more high-tech information producing operation.