1. Profiting from Public Service
The story behind the series
The Asbury Park Press and Gannett New Jersey Newspapers

2. How it came about
Local investigation leads to biggest probe ever of the New Jersey Legislature
Details, Details: A local town had put a powerful state senator on its payroll for $116,000 a year. The mayor, in turn, gets a $105,000 a year state job.
Broader issue: What led to this and how could this be legal?

6. Story development Determine what the story is NOT about:
It’s not a political story
It’s not a story about Republicans or Democrats
It’s not about who is running for office
Determine what the story IS about:
It is about how your tax dollars are spent
It is about how a corrupt system flourished
It is about how it affects all of New Jersey

7. Triangulate with readers
Information
Writing

8. Look at Pay-to-Play money
Check registers – how the money is spent
Contracts database – who gets the money
Campaign contributions database
Pensions database – shows jobs, salaries over time
Professional services appointments, or no-bid contracts

12. Other sources used
Built database of 1,500 pages of financial disclosure records
Campaign contribution database of 500,000 records
Database of 3,000 bond issues in New Jersey worth $54 billion over five years
Profile database of lawmakers
100+ people and experts

13. Common values
Build a relationship with readers by addressing issues they are concerned with: Property taxes, government waste and efficient services
Involve real people in your stories through photos and quotes
Give them news they can use – Drive them to the Web by placing massive amounts of information on the site in a user-friendly format

18. Results Strong editorials led the way for voters
Powerful GOP Senate president defeated in what was once a safe district
Ethics becomes the number one topic in the campaign
Lawmakers clamor to pass good-government reform

22. Impact to date Higher voter turnout in contested districts
Defeat of “ethically challenged” incumbents
Passage of sweeping ethics reform bills
Local towns and counties jump on the ethics bandwagon to ban pay-to-play and nepotism