Contributed by Lauren McLaughlin A car wreck on I-55, an armed robbery and a significant court case — how can one person cover them all? Lekitha Terrell, an assignment editor at WJTV in Jackson, Miss., has been in the journalism industry for eight years. She says that without sources to help you find accurate information, those stories won’t make the air. So, how can new journalists build their sources? Terrell says persistence is key. “On a daily basis you have to contact the same people. I know it may seem like you’re getting on their nerves but it really does pay off,” says Terrell. It doesn’t take long to make your name recognizable, if you are willing to work at it, according to Terrell. School officials, police departments, sheriff dispatchers or court workers are all potential sources for a journalist. Once a journalist proves to be trustworthy, the information will come more frequently says Terrell. Melanie Christopher has been an anchor or reporter in the Jackson market for more than 25 years. She says that journalists must be two people when it comes to sources. “You have to be compassionate, but at the same time you’re there to do your […]