Analysis of the Stakeholders
WHO IS:1. directly affected by the problem?2. directly involved in the problem?3. directly involved in the dealing with the problem?4. indirectly affected by the problem?5. not involved, but aware of the problem?6. inspecting the problem on behalf of the public?
WHO MIGHT BE:1. affected by the problem in future?2. involved in the solution of the problem?3. influential on decisions concerning the problem?4. final decisionmakers?
WHO HAS BEEN:1. affected by this or similar problems?2. part of negotiations and decisions?3. influential on decisions?4. dealing with similar problems?5. researching the problem scientifically?6. commenting on this or similar problems previously?
WHO REPRESENTS:1. directly affected and involved persons and groups?2. persons and groups affected by or involved in similar problems?3. persons and groups likely to affected or involved?
WHO HAS FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE ON:1. personal experience with the problem?2. scientific research or surveys of the problem?3. decisions?4. rules and practices in the field?5. similar problems?
WHO KNOWS:1. about the causes and background?2. consequences?3. decision-makers in the field?
WHO WILL GAIN:1. if the problem is exposed in public?2. if the problem is solved?3. by status quo?
WHO WILL LOOSE:1. if the problem is exposed in public?2. if the problem is solved?3. by status quo?
WHO EARNS?
WHO LOOSES?
WHO PAYS?
- always FOLLOW THE MONE!
WHO CARES ANYWAY?
- remember your audience...

Assess the reliability of the sources

Ask yourself if the sources are:- real (as existing, not pretending to be)?- close to the events (in time and space)?- primary sources (opposite secondary sources)?- having open or hidden motives (also experts)?- blinded by opinion, prejudice, interests, fear, personal repression or the like

Mind map more sources
You may also make a mind map on sources. The mind map is a useful tool for journalists to develop our ideas and to find sources for our stories.
A mind map is a very easy tool. You can always call on your colleagues to help brainstorming and record it on any piece of paper.
Really it is just another way of recording a brainstorming of ideas.
Normally you write a brainstorm down on paper beginning in the top left corner - and continuing downwards in some sort of logical structure.
The mind mapping way is to begin in the center of the paper and work your way out in all directions without any other structure than the one of a tree seen from above.
In the center you write your subject and circle it. From this trunk you associate freely, recording connected words and subjects and ideas as branches and sub-branches to your main subject.
Every time you associate on a sub-branch, you will be more specific. Through the branching you will find that your idea is developing from a general subject to a specific story.
But don't worry about branches and sub-branches. Just brain storm and associate freely. With a mind map you record the ideas when they occur. The mind map opens several rows of associations in a brainstorming - all at once.