1. The Field Trip Preparation and Itineraries

2. THINK, CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK... TIMING: ONE to THREE days... Meticulous planning... Ideally, an operator and host community... Secure commitment and authorisations... Organize, check, recheck ….

3. I'd like to run something past you... Find a pretext to phone up your Field Trip contacts... It will keep your trip a priority for them too... It could be a simple call to share some news … Get a view on an industry talking point... Ask advice on something … People generally like that kind of thing … Particularly if they know they are NOT going to be quoted !

4. Suggestions... An oil or gas exploration or production operation... A mine and/or a mining community.... The state oil company … An oil refinery or gas processing plant... A power station or pipeline...

5. More suggestions... An extractive industries research institute … The industry regulator and their staff... A sustainable project funded by extractive money... Training centres for extractive industries... Companies providing local content...

6. Key Messages This is a reporting opportunity … This is NOT sight-seeing... Focus on news-gathering … Use your new knowledge … Go beyond the obvious … Challenge received wisdom …

7. Listen and Learn... Don’t ASSUME you understand … Ask your sources WHAT's happening … Ask WHAT IMPACT it has on their lives Their opinion may be interesting … Their TESTIMONY is worth more … Their quotes are EVIDENCE of what you report!

8. Round Table At the start and end of the day... Personal reflections – What stood out? Share story ideas, evidence, and sources Reflect on follow-up questions and sources needed

9. Remember… Talk to SOURCES WITH ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES Seek BOTH or ALL SIDES of any argument Gather QUOTES & SIGNIFICANT DETAIL FACTS and Figures – Source where they can be disputed RECORD what you sources say SIFT, ANALYSE, SEPARATE quotes that you might need for stories BEFORE THE END OF EACH DAY!

10. Last day… You should have a clear idea of what your story is likely to be. Ask yourself … WHAT evidence do I still NEED? Who are the best sources? What questions can I ask?