In-depth and Investigative In-depth and Investigative JournalismJournalism

JOU 302 Advanced Media JOU 302 Advanced Media ReportingReporting

Investigative vs In-Investigative vs In-depthdepth InvestigativeInvestigative

– Often has a more negative/”gotcha” Often has a more negative/”gotcha” connotation, at least for those on the connotation, at least for those on the receiving endreceiving end

– often more event/action driven—something often more event/action driven—something was done (or not done) that should be was done (or not done) that should be brought to lightbrought to light

– Deals with issues such corruption, Deals with issues such corruption, mistakes, lack of oversight, dereliction mistakes, lack of oversight, dereliction of duties, etc.of duties, etc.

– Frequently involves sources that are Frequently involves sources that are unwilling/reluctant to talkunwilling/reluctant to talk

Investigative vs In-Investigative vs In-depthdepth

In-depthIn-depth– Often less timely storiesOften less timely stories– typically more issue-orientedtypically more issue-oriented– Cover on-going topics, such as grade inflation, Cover on-going topics, such as grade inflation, race on campus, # of part time vs full-time race on campus, # of part time vs full-time instructors, etc.instructors, etc.

– In many cases, some of the sources want the issue In many cases, some of the sources want the issue to come to light (ex: disabilities on campus)to come to light (ex: disabilities on campus)

They share many of the same research and They share many of the same research and storytelling techniques.storytelling techniques.

Investigative vs In-Investigative vs In-depthdepth

SimilaritiesSimilarities– They share many of the same research They share many of the same research techniquestechniques

– They require a great deal of time They require a great deal of time and attention to detailand attention to detail

– They frequently involve lots of They frequently involve lots of document workdocument work

– They often share some of the same They often share some of the same storytelling techniquesstorytelling techniques

In-depth vs other In-depth vs other storiesstories

Many journalism articles are Reactive, Many journalism articles are Reactive, written in response to an event/activity written in response to an event/activity that has occurred or will occur that has occurred or will occur

Ex: Meeting, speech, game wrap-up/preview Ex: Meeting, speech, game wrap-up/preview

In-depth stories are Proactive, often In-depth stories are Proactive, often stemming from the research, creativity stemming from the research, creativity or critical thinking of the reporteror critical thinking of the reporter

Not always negative—sometimes just brings Not always negative—sometimes just brings an issue to light that should be an issue to light that should be discusseddiscussed

Drawbacks to Drawbacks to Investigative/In-Investigative/In-DepthDepth Can take lots of timeCan take lots of time Sacrifice of giving up other stories Sacrifice of giving up other stories (most staffs have very limited (most staffs have very limited resources)resources)

Can cost moneyCan cost money Great potential for dead-endsGreat potential for dead-ends Political fallout—can make enemiesPolitical fallout—can make enemies

But, But, ““If youIf you’’re not pissing anybody off, re not pissing anybody off, youyou’’re probably not doing your jobre probably not doing your job””

““Journalism is printing what Journalism is printing what someone else does not want someone else does not want printed: everything else is printed: everything else is public relations.public relations.””

― ― George Orwell

Why do Why do Investigative/In-Investigative/In-Depth Articles?Depth Articles? Win awardsWin awards Portfolio pieces/jobsPortfolio pieces/jobs PrestigePrestige Reputation of newspaperReputation of newspaper Be a watchdog, SERVE the Be a watchdog, SERVE the readersreaders

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.

Thomas Jefferson

WarningsWarnings

Use voice recordersUse voice recorders Keep copies of notes, documentsKeep copies of notes, documents Accuracy, Accuracy, AccuracyAccuracy, Accuracy, Accuracy Hold it!Hold it! Always give all sides the chance Always give all sides the chance to respond—avoid surprises on to respond—avoid surprises on publication dayspublication days

Never, ever do these stories half-Never, ever do these stories half-assedassed

Tools for Investigative Tools for Investigative JournalistsJournalists State State sunshine laws—county, laws—county, municipal, municipal, state records

Federal FOI Act guidelines (EPA, Federal FOI Act guidelines (EPA, OSHA, etc)OSHA, etc)

WhistleblowersWhistleblowers The need for the other side to tell The need for the other side to tell their storytheir story

Databases/websitesDatabases/websites Charm and persuasivenessCharm and persuasiveness

Sources of ideasSources of ideas

Other newspapers, commercial and Other newspapers, commercial and college (and Chronicle of Higher Ed)college (and Chronicle of Higher Ed)

Your own newspaperYour own newspaper Networks of sources, people on beatNetworks of sources, people on beat Delve into available budgets, Delve into available budgets, minutes of meetingsminutes of meetings

Brainstorming sessionsBrainstorming sessions Cafeterias, dorm roomsCafeterias, dorm rooms

Comparison storiesComparison stories

How does your university stack up to How does your university stack up to other schools? Does it fall short in other schools? Does it fall short in some areas, or excel in certain aspects?some areas, or excel in certain aspects?

Examples: Entrance requirements, tuition Examples: Entrance requirements, tuition rates, student fees, per capita funding rates, student fees, per capita funding (state), endowments, PhD/Terminal (state), endowments, PhD/Terminal degrees, student/faculty ratio, degrees, student/faculty ratio, household income, hours worked by household income, hours worked by students, enrollment #s, resident #s, students, enrollment #s, resident #s, drinking/drug use, retention rates, drinking/drug use, retention rates, faculty pay, facilities, etcfaculty pay, facilities, etc

Sources: Provost/administrators, DOE, Sources: Provost/administrators, DOE, state dept. of higher ed, Petersonstate dept. of higher ed, Peterson ’’s, s, AAUPAAUP

Comparison storiesComparison stories Comparison between divisions/schools Comparison between divisions/schools at your university—does one area get at your university—does one area get more funding, more prestige, computer more funding, more prestige, computer facilities and other equipment, have facilities and other equipment, have higher GPAshigher GPAs

Comparison between years: increase in Comparison between years: increase in enrollment, tuition, greek #s, etc.enrollment, tuition, greek #s, etc.

Other comparisons: bookstores vs Other comparisons: bookstores vs online, cost of living on vs off online, cost of living on vs off campus, men vs women comparisons (GPAs, campus, men vs women comparisons (GPAs, overall #s, majors), greek vs overall #s, majors), greek vs independent, resident vs commuter statsindependent, resident vs commuter stats

By the numbersBy the numbers

Many of these stories are number Many of these stories are number drivendriven

Find the discrepancies/anomalies!Find the discrepancies/anomalies! Compare numbers over time, spaceCompare numbers over time, space Dig, dig, digDig, dig, dig Compare apples to applesCompare apples to apples Show me the money trail, follow Show me the money trail, follow the $the $

BreakdownsBreakdowns These stories are good at showing who These stories are good at showing who is at your universityis at your university

Examples: Religion, race (students and Examples: Religion, race (students and faculty), age, male-female, greek, faculty), age, male-female, greek, resident, transfer, full-time/tenure resident, transfer, full-time/tenure track/part-time teachers, students who track/part-time teachers, students who work and how much, states from (and % work and how much, states from (and % international), on probation, honors, international), on probation, honors, politicspolitics

Sources: admissions, NSSE and other Sources: admissions, NSSE and other surveys, newspaper or class surveys, surveys, newspaper or class surveys, greek affairs, faculty senate, greek affairs, faculty senate, registrarregistrar’’s offices office

Compare with national numbersCompare with national numbers

InspectionsInspections

Your university must comply with Your university must comply with guidelines from many agencies—Take a guidelines from many agencies—Take a fishing trip to make sure they are fishing trip to make sure they are following those guidelinesfollowing those guidelines

These are great sources for private These are great sources for private schools, since public agencies usually schools, since public agencies usually conduct these inspections and the conduct these inspections and the documents are therefore publicdocuments are therefore public

Examples: Health codes (cafeteria, pool), Examples: Health codes (cafeteria, pool), Safety (EPA, OSHA, fire codes), emergency Safety (EPA, OSHA, fire codes), emergency phones, Labor laws/EEO, ADA, outside phones, Labor laws/EEO, ADA, outside audits, accreditation reports, consultant audits, accreditation reports, consultant reports, state-required reports, state-required reports,denomination-required reportsreports,denomination-required reports

Documents required for Univ. receiving Documents required for Univ. receiving fed finan. aidfed finan. aid

AcademicsAcademics

GPAs by dept., grade inflation, GPAs by dept., grade inflation, part-time vs full-time, exit part-time vs full-time, exit exams, ACT scores, % students exams, ACT scores, % students passing licensure exams, getting passing licensure exams, getting into grad/law/med school, teacher into grad/law/med school, teacher exam results, nursing, CPA, exam results, nursing, CPA, magazine rankings, GRE/LSAT/MCAT magazine rankings, GRE/LSAT/MCAT scores, freshman-soph retention scores, freshman-soph retention rates, graduation rates, etcrates, graduation rates, etc

SportsSports

DonDon’’t settle for doing just game t settle for doing just game storiesstories

NCAA requires many documents which NCAA requires many documents which lead to great stories: revenue vs lead to great stories: revenue vs expenses, gender equity (athletes, expenses, gender equity (athletes, scholarships, coaches), graduation scholarships, coaches), graduation rates, budget for each sport, pay of rates, budget for each sport, pay of coachescoaches

Great data to compare among sports, Great data to compare among sports, among schools in your conferenceamong schools in your conference

Others: attendance figures, Others: attendance figures, facilities, GPA, NCAA infractions by facilities, GPA, NCAA infractions by school, athleteschool, athlete

CrimeCrime

Do a Clery report story annually—Do a Clery report story annually—compare with previous years, other compare with previous years, other schools for trendsschools for trends

Look at campus crime logs Look at campus crime logs daily/weeklydaily/weekly

Get incident/arrest reports from Get incident/arrest reports from your campus and local authoritiesyour campus and local authorities

Read local paperRead local paper’’s police blotters police blotter Lexis-Nexis searchLexis-Nexis search CasenetCasenet Local courthouse, county/city policeLocal courthouse, county/city police Disciplinary hearingsDisciplinary hearings Sex offender registrySex offender registry

Contracts/biddingContracts/bidding

Separation agreements, Separation agreements, presidential perks, preferred presidential perks, preferred vendors, kickbacks, change orders vendors, kickbacks, change orders on buildings, patent ownership, on buildings, patent ownership, college architect/lawyer, college architect/lawyer, settlement fees, etc.settlement fees, etc.

Private schools: deeds—see how Private schools: deeds—see how much adjacent land your much adjacent land your university ownsuniversity owns

Student GovStudent Gov’’tt

Always go to the meetingsAlways go to the meetings Check budgetsCheck budgets Check bylaws and constitutionCheck bylaws and constitution Analyze where funding Analyze where funding allocations are goingallocations are going

Any groups under- or over-Any groups under- or over-represented (greeks?)represented (greeks?)

Perks for officers?Perks for officers?

Open recordsOpen records

Cell phone bills, emails, Cell phone bills, emails, charge/procurement cards, charge/procurement cards, expense accounts, disaster expense accounts, disaster plans, travel expenditures, plans, travel expenditures, investmentsinvestments

AssortedAssorted

Search state statutes and pending Search state statutes and pending billsbills

Google job candidates (and call Google job candidates (and call adviser/editors at that adviser/editors at that institution)institution)

Federal grant programsFederal grant programs Research parksResearch parks Federal work study #s, Pell Federal work study #s, Pell grantsgrants

Private schoolsPrivate schools

Request IRS form 990s, which are for Request IRS form 990s, which are for non-profits; online?non-profits; online?

These documents outline a rough These documents outline a rough budget and pay for executivesbudget and pay for executives

Do this for state school Do this for state school Foundations, athletic fundraising Foundations, athletic fundraising groups, etc.groups, etc.

Always ask for documents; mention Always ask for documents; mention any denial of documents in your any denial of documents in your stories, write editorials about lack stories, write editorials about lack of opennessof openness