what is beat in journalism

In journalism, a beat refers to a specific area of specialization where reporters focus on covering a particular issue, sector, organization, or institution over time. Beat reporters develop expertise and sources within their beat, allowing them to produce in-depth and informed stories on that topic. This specialization helps reporters establish long-term relationships with sources and gain expertise in their subject areas. There are different types of beats in journalism, including topical beats (focusing on specific issues like politics, weather, and health), location-based beats, and specific entity or organization-based beats. Beat reporting is aimed at making the journalism industry more efficient and effective, but it may also have some drawbacks, such as potentially inhibiting diversity of opinion within a subject area and leading to reporter burnout from covering the same topic for an extended period of time.