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Iran nuclear talks: Six tips on covering a story that keeps on not happening Iran nuclear talks: Six tips on covering a story that keeps on not happening
(8 days later)
The Iranian nuclear talks have not just been a marathon for the negotiators. They've also presented a huge challenge to the journalists covering the event.The Iranian nuclear talks have not just been a marathon for the negotiators. They've also presented a huge challenge to the journalists covering the event.
For more than two weeks now, reporters from all over the world have been camped outside the Palais Coburg hotel in Vienna, waiting for news.For more than two weeks now, reporters from all over the world have been camped outside the Palais Coburg hotel in Vienna, waiting for news.
With deadlines slipping and very little information leaking out it's been quite a challenge to find new things to say.With deadlines slipping and very little information leaking out it's been quite a challenge to find new things to say.
With so much at stake for ordinary Iranians, there's been an especially big demand on BBC Persian.With so much at stake for ordinary Iranians, there's been an especially big demand on BBC Persian.
Here are our behind the scenes tips on how to survive a marathon story. Here are our behind-the-scenes tips on how to survive a marathon story.
1. Make as many friends as possible1. Make as many friends as possible
If the participating nations are all in this together - to quote German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier - then that's definitely also true for the journalists.If the participating nations are all in this together - to quote German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier - then that's definitely also true for the journalists.
With politicians and press officials providing only minimal information on what's going on at the negotiating table, everyone has been relying on everyone else to share any tip offs, however small.With politicians and press officials providing only minimal information on what's going on at the negotiating table, everyone has been relying on everyone else to share any tip offs, however small.
2.Secure the right accommodation and make the most of it2.Secure the right accommodation and make the most of it
With the exclusive Palais Coburg reserved for the negotiators, most of the press pack have based themselves in the Marriott hotel, just across the road.With the exclusive Palais Coburg reserved for the negotiators, most of the press pack have based themselves in the Marriott hotel, just across the road.
The hotel lobby has become a hot bed of news with experts, lobbyists and other journalists sharing views and offering advice.The hotel lobby has become a hot bed of news with experts, lobbyists and other journalists sharing views and offering advice.
As one BBC Persian cameraman discovered, the Marriott also offers a prime view of all the comings and goings across the road. This helped him grab some great shots of the Iranian negotiating team at a late night session.As one BBC Persian cameraman discovered, the Marriott also offers a prime view of all the comings and goings across the road. This helped him grab some great shots of the Iranian negotiating team at a late night session.
3. Arrive early and hold on to your spot3. Arrive early and hold on to your spot
With so much of your visual content depending on which negotiators come out for a break on the Coburg balconies, it's vital to arrive early and secure a spot in the front of the press tent.With so much of your visual content depending on which negotiators come out for a break on the Coburg balconies, it's vital to arrive early and secure a spot in the front of the press tent.
It's also a good idea to invest in a gazebo.It's also a good idea to invest in a gazebo.
Not only will it shelter you against the Sun (it's been very hot here in Vienna), other journalists might use it, too, and then they'll feel obliged to reciprocate the favour, maybe by sharing information - or even offering a helping hand to pack up the gazebo itself at the end of a long day.Not only will it shelter you against the Sun (it's been very hot here in Vienna), other journalists might use it, too, and then they'll feel obliged to reciprocate the favour, maybe by sharing information - or even offering a helping hand to pack up the gazebo itself at the end of a long day.
4.Make friends with the locals and speak their language4.Make friends with the locals and speak their language
We've been amazed at how much German we've learned in the past two weeks. It's come in very handy to plead with policemen trying to push us back, truck drivers parking in our line of vision and hotel receptionists in charge of reservations.We've been amazed at how much German we've learned in the past two weeks. It's come in very handy to plead with policemen trying to push us back, truck drivers parking in our line of vision and hotel receptionists in charge of reservations.
When news of a deadline extension breaks out and everybody scrambles to prolong their stay, the waiting list assumes mythical status and you need to do everything you can to be at the top of it.When news of a deadline extension breaks out and everybody scrambles to prolong their stay, the waiting list assumes mythical status and you need to do everything you can to be at the top of it.
5.Be creative5.Be creative
"When barbers have no customers they start cutting one another's hair," as one of our favourite Iranian proverbs goes. Everyone reporting on this round of talks has done a story about the trials and tribulations facing the press pack here."When barbers have no customers they start cutting one another's hair," as one of our favourite Iranian proverbs goes. Everyone reporting on this round of talks has done a story about the trials and tribulations facing the press pack here.
And everyone has learned to be extremely creative with their vocabulary. We've found many ways in Persian to say "significant progress has been made but there are still many issues to be resolved".And everyone has learned to be extremely creative with their vocabulary. We've found many ways in Persian to say "significant progress has been made but there are still many issues to be resolved".
Colleagues from all over the world have been finding similar equivalents in the bewildering array of languages here - from English and Arabic, to Spanish and Danish.Colleagues from all over the world have been finding similar equivalents in the bewildering array of languages here - from English and Arabic, to Spanish and Danish.
6. Maintain a sense of humour6. Maintain a sense of humour
Twitter has been helping everyone here keep their spirits up. In slow moments people have shared their thoughts on everything from the best Persian restaurants in Vienna, to just exactly how many complimentary boxes of Mozartkugeln chocolates the Viennese authorities have been delivering to the press corp.Twitter has been helping everyone here keep their spirits up. In slow moments people have shared their thoughts on everything from the best Persian restaurants in Vienna, to just exactly how many complimentary boxes of Mozartkugeln chocolates the Viennese authorities have been delivering to the press corp.
And everyone has joined in on speculating which Hollywood stars will play the negotiators in Iran Talks: The Movie, after a post by The Boston Globe's Matt Viser.And everyone has joined in on speculating which Hollywood stars will play the negotiators in Iran Talks: The Movie, after a post by The Boston Globe's Matt Viser.
Javier Bardem as the US energy secretary anybody?Javier Bardem as the US energy secretary anybody?