Just yesterday I was asked that perennial writer’s question once again, “Where do you get your ideas?” Since I write magazine articles I constantly need to come up with new ideas to query to magazine editors. Where do they come from? You may find it hard to believe but many come from my local newspaper. Yes, that hometown newspaper that is 40% local sports news, 20% classifieds, 10% local organization news, 5% Letters to the Editor, 5% local schools and churches news, leaving 20% for inter/national news.
Don’t worry if you come from a small town. In fact, the smaller the better. That means the chances of a national magazine having heard about the story you “uncover” in your local paper are practically nonexistent. Although many of my hometown newspaper stories are sold to regional or niche magazines, I’ve sold several to national markets and one to an international market. You haven’t made it as a writer until you’ve seen your words in the Scandanavian Press! 
So where do you look to find these stories?
Articles — Well, duh? Just remember to retrace the original writer’s steps. Do your own interviews, research, photographs–no lifting quotes or facts from the original article. I read about a local non-profit foundation that allows 3rd graders to vote on where their charitable contribution goes each year. Boom! Story.
Sometimes it isn’t the whole story. Sometimes it’s just a tiny piece. An article on an Open House at a local beauty school mentioned they were participating in a program called Cut It Out to teach stylists how to educate their clients about domestic abuse programs. Boom! Story.
Advertorials/Special Sections — My paper occassionally runs special inserts to celebrate the anniversaries of towns, specific local businesses or non-profits, high school graduates. At first glance these inserts look, well…boring. Read them from cover to cover. Often you’ll uncover an interesting fact that can become an article. In an insert about a local trucking company I found two columns about their plans to develop an town art center in empty space in their new office building. Boom! Story.
Photographs — Does your paper run photographs of the local Rotary giving money to charity, high school musicians performing in state orchestras, the welcome wagon meeting new businesspeople? Study the captions–could be a story there. I found a photo of a group of high school students building a Viking ship for their senior project. Boom! Story.
Items — My newspaper has plenty of columns filled with tiny items: neighbors in the news, local military personnel, college news, even the local calendar of events. Look for unique people or events with stories that could find a home in magazines you write for. I found a notice about a local library hosting a puppeteer. Boom! Story.
So don’t overlook your local paper. In fact, read it from cover to cover. It’s a daily source of ideas that too often go unnoticed. It’s up to you to uncover them and turn ideas into articles.
What’s the best article idea you’ve found in your local newspaper?