With the exception of restaurant reviewers who should remain anonymous, a newspaper's food reporter needs to network with both foodies and the culinary artists of the newspaper's coverage area.
If covering food events, restaurant openings, food production and the people involved with them, make sure you:
1. Are on the scene. Go to the food events and be a part of the crowd, stop by the studio where the cooking shows are being filmed, take culinary classes, and wander through the picnics at the outdoor concerts. Talk to the people who are creating the events AND the ones who are attending.
2. Know the people who have influence. You could crack a dozen posh food-filled charity events just by meeting, and getting to know, the most popular event planner in the area. Have a Master Sommelier's phone number in your rolodex? He is the perfect resource to offer tips, clue you in on up and coming trends, and provide you with reviews of the best for each holiday throughout the year.
3. Carry business cards with all your phone numbers on them. When you give them to a culinary contact, insist that you are available to take their calls day and night. Pass them out at business events. Some of the entrepreneurial development seminar attendees may be starting restaurants, bakeries, cheese processing plants or nostalgic candy stores. By giving these people your card, you will be the first to bring the information to your editor, saving you the embarrassment of having a competing paper break the news.
4. Read the business news, property sales, and tax auctions briefs. These can give you the jump start on articles covering the birth or death of a restaurant or which chef is moving on to start his own place.
5. Include your work email in your articles, or on the newspaper's website. Sure, you want the local foodies who know what's going on to contact you, but sometimes you get outstanding tips from a reader about shops, falafel stands, and outdoor cafes that have been existing under your radar.
6. Send thank-you's to contacts if they've helped you on a big feature. Nothing big, but offer to buy them coffee, or write an email thanking the referral to an interviewee for that last big feature.
7. Love what you do! Be conversant in food-talk. Read the food trade magazines or spend part of your workday online keeping up with new trends. Sure, your new informants on the local food scene can help keep you up-to-date, but your research will show these same contacts that you take your job seriously and understand what's going on in the world of food.