[Reporter Pamela Stallsmith's tips for covering the Legislature]

By Lindsay Kastner

Pamela Stallsmith's day begins early. The legislative reporter walks the six or so blocks from the Richmond Times-Dispatch newsroom to the state Capitol each morning in time for committee meetings that often start as early as 8 a.m.

Once at the Capitol building, she greets people in passing and hurries into the press room to unload winter garments and a knapsack. Stallsmith said she finds that the press room is generally a safe place to leave her belongings.

She will return to the room occasionally to gulp down a cup of coffee – Chicken's, the Capitol snack bar, is just next door – and chat with other reporters. Stallsmith said regional differences in newspaper coverage help to keep competition between reporters down to a friendly rivalry.

This morning the first meeting on her agenda is an 8 a.m. session of the House Science and Technology Committee.

Stallsmith wants to hear discussions concerning Internet filters in public school libraries and e-commerce, but has to leave the meeting early to make the start of a House Education Committee meeting. That meeting takes place across the Capitol Square in the General Assembly Building.

As a legislative reporter, Stallsmith said it can be difficult to prioritize her interests without the risk of missing a scoop. She frequently faces the decision of whether to leave one meeting in favor of another. "You take a lot of gambles," she said.

At the education meeting, Stallsmith occasionally turns in her chair to talk to a lobbyist, gathering opinions and explanations on a variety of issues.

When that meeting adjourns, it's back to the press room where reporters banter about the morning's events and keep one eye on television monitors (one for each chamber) that show legislators trickling onto the floors of the chambers.

As the television screens begin to fill with lawmakers greeting one another and toying with their new laptops, Stallsmith heads for the House floor herself.

Stallsmith, who presently covers only the House of Delegates, said the Senate is a little too stuffy for her tastes. The House, on the other hand, has an energy that suits her just fine.

Stallsmith's Tips for Legislative Reporters

• Check with the patrons of bills and with committee chairs to find out when a particular bill is likely to come up in committee.

• Prioritize your interests. Sometimes you must leave one meeting to catch another, but don't miss an important potential scoop in favor of a particular bill.

• Be flexible and prepared to shift gears at any moment.

• Be humble. Don't be embarrassed to ask stupid questions in favor of accuracy.

• Lobbyists make excellent sources. When covering the Legislature, however, remember that EVERYONE has a vested interest.