By: Katie Coster, Tasha Totaram, Alyse Anuszewski

History of Investigative Journalism

Muckraking“The man who could look no way but downward with the muck-rake in his hands; who would neither look up nor regard the crown he was

offered, but continued to rake himself the filth on the floor.”

•Coined 100 years ago by President Theodore Roosevelt•Aka investigative reporting, adversarial journalism, advocacy reporting, public service journalism, and exposé reporting•Traced back to 1690•New muckraking age began again by the 1960’s, investigative journalism

Discuss: In what ways do you find investigative stories and tabloids to be similar? Different?

Tabloids Vs. Investigative Journalism

Similar• Stories are crafted around the theme of victimization• Extensive use of irony

Different• Investigative stories are earnest and deeply felt• Tabloids are superficial

“In the main people do not watch programmes such as Panorama or Watchdog. Neither do they buy newspapers for the in-depth journalistic investigative stories. The most popular papers are tabloids.”

Downfall

• “…The spectre of the intensification of concentrations of media ownership, which journalists themselves believed ‘chilled’ the atmosphere for investigative reporting.”

Limitations

1. Media owners may curb reporters independence.

2. Advertisers can mute journalists’ criticisms.

3. Investigative reporting’s expensive cost causes it to be scarce.

Diminishing

“Investigative journalism is the most expensive and riskiest form of reporting, partly because it is labor intensive and partly because by its very nature it can sometimes result in no story. Today’s news gatherers are more financially constrained, and therefore find it easier to spend a diminishing budget on chasing celebrities or the Royal Family.”

Discuss:Can you think of any recent stories the prove that investigative journalism has diminished?

Idealism of Investigative Journalism

Discuss: What is investigative journalism?

What is investigative journalism?

Qualities of An Investigative Journalist

1. Passion2. Curiosity3. Initiative4. Logical thinking, organization and self-discipline5. Flexibility6. Teamwork7. Well-developed reporting skills8. Good research skills9. Determination and patience10. Fairness and strong ethics11. Discretion12. Citizenship13. Courage

Myths about investigative journalism

• Myth 1: It’s glamorous and can be career defining to the point where it creates stars

Famous Investigative Journalists

• Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

Famous Investigative Journalists

• Seymour Hersh

Famous Investigative Journalists

• Walter Cronkite

Famous Investigative Journalists

• Robert Rosenthal

Myths About Investigative Journalism

• Myth 2: Journalists can indeed be bigger than the stories they report

Famous Investigative Stories

• Bloomingdale Asylum in 1872

Famous Investigative Stories

• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Famous Investigative Stories

• My Lai Massacre

Famous Investigative Stories

• The Color of Money

Myths About Investigative Journalism

• Myth 3: The investigative journalist is a Lone Ranger

Myths About Investigative Journalism

• Myth 4: Investigative journalism is the preserve of the private media

Discuss: Do you think the purpose of investigative journalism is just to uncover secrets?

Watchdogs or Whistle Blowers?

• Do you think that society views investigative journalists as whistle blowers or as society's watch dogs?

• BBC’s Slip of the tongue• Who’s the real target? – Corporate targets

Semi-Investigative Journalism

• Semi-Investigative Journalism- involves journalists creating an image of investigative reporting rather that actually performing it.

• Do you see this being the future of investigative journalism?

• Strategies used to construct an image of investigative journalism:– Factism– Extensive citing of authoritative

official sources– Reliance on faceless (secret)

sources– Appealing to common knowledge

and common sense

Future of Investigative Journalism

• Does the public influence what investigative journalists write about?

• The people are the future of journalism!– Gaining credibility through

their ability to explain, interpret, or investigating

– Crowdsourcing- citizens who provide expertise or bloggers who contribute analysis or review of documents

Future of Investigative Journalism• How can investigative journalist make

their dream story a reality? • Three phenomena for the future of

investigative journalism:– Rise of non-profits

• Collaboration – Rise of machines

• Computers and software– Social Media – “Computational

journalism”» New Field?

– Rise of networks• Mash-ups

• What does it take to be an investigative journalist in the future?– Organizer – Interpreter– Gathers and delivers facts– Database manager– Data processor – Data analyst

Discussion Questions:•  Is investigative journalism just good reporting?

•  1. If investigative journalism were to die out, what do you think the consequences would be for society?

• 2. Do you think there are any downfalls to investigative journalism?

• 3. Does the public influence what investigative journalists write about?

• 4. Do you think current investigative journalism keeps the public informed of the truth?

• 5. Do you think that society views investigative journalists as whistle blowers or as society's watch dogs?