This NYT story looks at the people who cover crimes on the streets of New York City.

An excerpt:

At the crime scene, reporters compete ruthlessly for exclusive information, hunting and hoarding the juiciest quotation, the grittiest fact and the bloodiest narrative - anything to land a story on the front page.

But after deadline, many of them head to a bar, declare a truce and order enough beer to douse the daily dose of horror. An eavesdropper can sample the next day's headlines, along with details too gory to print.

"These are the best street reporters in the city," said Kerry Burke, a reporter for The Daily News, on a recent Saturday night in the 11th Street Bar in the East Village. "They stink of death, but I'm honored to work the same streets as them."

Mr. Burke travels by subway with a knapsack full of tools for survival and infiltration, including a heavy-duty flashlight and enough trail mix for a 24-hour stakeout. You have not adequately covered a homicide, he tells rookies, if your shoes are not wet with the victim's blood.