Ch. 18: Investigative Reporting
Okay...well the chapter started off by showing that investigative reporting doesn't always dig into just crime and corruption--"they perform a public service by examining our most trusted institutions."
And they used a Dayton Daily News (Ohio) investigation into the Peace Corps as their example. Apparently, many of the volunteers were raped, robbed, and some even murdered. And the Peace Corps didn't tell the families of those involved: they were covering it up.
Hm...interesting...then again, the person I know who worked with the Peace Corp for many years and had no problem was a man travelling and working in a male-dominated society in Africa.
Oh, Freedom of Information Act. I have never heard so much about you before this year. One would think that if that law didn't exist, journalists would crumple up and die. While the act does help us get information that is needed to keep our government in check, I think journalists rely on it tooo much. It's nice, but geez...I'm kind of sick of hearing about it.
One of my professors is from Uzebekistan, and as far as I'm concerned, he's allowed to talk about how much he loves our FOIA. But he also said that American journalists complain too much about losing their FOIA rights....and I think he's right.
Anyhoo...back to the chapter.
MUCKRAKERS!!! Frankly, I love hearing that word. Basically because it's so much fun to say. Okay, well they were the first investigative journalists. They exposed a lot of corrupt industries...including the most disgusting, the meat packing industry (I have yet to read "The Jungle" by the way)
Journalists--learn computer skills. You'll be equipped for the 21st century. (now I don't know a single aspiring journalist who doesn't have some basic knowledge of the internet, search tools, or microsoft word, so I guess we're 1/2 equipped)
Before starting an investigation, you need to have some basis for suspicion (ie: grand jury report that is missing something, surge in drug overdoses, etc)
ooh make a hypotheses like scientists do...kind of for experimenting to see if you can prove it or not. Interesting comparison to science. I guess investigative science crosses into journalism (they have a lot of interviewing and reporting to do too)
sniff around for a trail. so we go from being scientists, to blood hounds.
make an action plan and follow it!!! Be methodical..,and before you leave the newroom, give yourself an update on what you know.
and then there's accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. so be accurate (if you aren't aiming to be accurate already as a journalist, then I'm surprised) Check and double check...especially in investigative reports, mistakes can be exteremely costly. I emphasize the extremely.
Most investigative stories are run through by the company's lawyer before publication. Just watch "All the Presidents Men."
"The best reporting in the world is wasted unless it is read."
that's one of the best quotes I have ever read. nice.
Normally investigative stories are written with a hard lead.
Keep it simple, make it intriguing, tell the reader what your research means.
Keep in mind that sources will change their minds. Their stories will change.
Nonpublic records are more difficult to obtain, but not impossible. Know how to gain access--and in order to do so, you need good human sources.
Keep in mind that written sources are usually dull and misleading.
OBSTACLES:
investigative reporting is expensive. With newsrooms becoming smaller and smaller, it is hard to find the time or the staff to dedicate a large amount of time on one story. It's a sad fact, but true. Lack of courage by reporters is also a problem. If you want to do investigative reporting, you'll find the resources.
And the www.ire.org stuff:
(extraextra section)
There are more toys with lead paint!!! this as of Nov. 2, 2007!!! poor kids...having to get their toys taken away. But then again, thanks to the investigative work of journalists, more and more kids are safe from lead poisoning.
There's also some drug testing loopholes that allow drug users to drive big trucks on our nations highways...
Whistleblowers almost never receive federal protection after testifying against the corrupt business...the law meant to protect them actually hurts.
in the news archive:
If you're a journalist covering major stories like shootings, fires, hurricanes, space shuttles---www.ire.org/inthenews_archive/ is for you! There are a ton of resources and links so give you the background info'll need!
IRE's Beat Source Guide lets you type in any subject and it will give you a list of links that may give you helpful info. Ex: you type in agriculture. the top 3 links are: Environmental Working Group Agriculture Resources, Agricultural Communications, 4-H.
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