1. Investigative Reporting
News Reporting Mcom 201
Investigative Reporting

2. What is Investigative Reporting
“The reporting through ones own initiative and work product, of matters of importance to readers, viewers and listeners. In many cases, the subjects of the reporting wish the matters under scrutiny remain undisclosed.”
(Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc.)

3. What is Investigative Reporting
When Laws don’t work.
Public Records.
Health department records.
Lawsuits filed against institution.
Department budgets.
Salary data.
Accreditation reports.
Crime reports.
Criminal records of staff, members etc.
records.
Contracts with other firms.

4. What is Investigative Reporting
Following up on tips and hunches.
Knowing the law.
Cultivating Human resource.

5. Investigative Story Ideas
Crime
Get crime statistics from the police department. Take note of crime trends which are up and those which are down.
Ask for arrest records. Look for familiar names, trends, evidence of raids.
Run important and high profile individuals through a criminal records check.

6. Investigative Story Ideas
Budget
Get the budget for the last five years. Take a note of which departments are getting more or less funding. Have there been any changes in budget allocation recently?
Compare budgets of different institutions. Divide by the number of persons working in those departments or by the number of projects allocated to these departments.

7. Investigative Story Ideas
Athletics
How much is being spent on recruitment of athletes for the national sports?
Look for funding. Who are the major donors and what are their interests in the sport.
Find out what kind of perks do athletes and officials get.
How much do individuals associated with sport make annually. How much of that income can be justified?

8. Investigative Story Ideas
Health & Safety
Check the health inspector reports on food service establishments and eateries.
Find out which places have been warned by law enforcement agencies for permitting illegal activities or indecent behavior on their premises.
Check out the licensing records of famous medical facilities and personnel.
Check fire and safety inspection reports on public and private buildings.

9. Avoid being Burned by a Hot Story
Activate your common sense
Remember your role as a journalist
Take good notes
Documents overload
Don’t over state the facts
Don’t over state the credibility of a source
Be fair
Eliminate the non-essential
Seek the input of others
Prior to publication step back and look at the big picture
After publication, respond to complaints courteously and fairly
Finally if you need help – legal or otherwise – don’t be afraid to ask for it