2. DEVISE A GAME PLAN IDENTIFY THE INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES STUDY THE KEY NUMBERS CREATE ALERTS CHECK IN WITH SOURCES FILE ACCESS REQUESTS Investigative reporting and beat journalism

3. Tips for successful investigative reporting (with thanks to Les Zaitz of the Oregonian newspaper) 1. Keep a tidy desk 2. Start files: one for story ideas, one for future access requests 3. Plan ahead: projects, datebooking 4. Make a daily to-do list 5. Make appointments with yourself 6. Ask for something every day 7. Try for one investigative story every month 8. Follow up your own stories 9. Pause: listen, read, think 10. Pace yourself: it’s a marathon, not a sprint

4. Break into five groups Tackling the City of Ottawa beat Online sources: Google alerts, listservs, discussion groups, websites Contacts: Key sources, lobby groups, citizens Public events: Coming meetings, conferences Reading: Background information, reports, financial data Timeline: Milestones for pressing news stories, medium- term stories, projects.