ABSTRACT

This book gives readers the confidence they need to handle any investigative reporting assignment and to produce demonstrated results. Its step-by-step progression covering the entire investigative process will help them stay on track to complete stories of any size. The book answers relevant questions such as "Where can I find a story?" "What do I do when a source won't talk?" "How can I find the right documents to support my story?" "How can I present this story online?" and "How can a spreadsheet keep it all from falling apart?"

Investigative Reporting contains full stories and timely examples from both professional and student reporters. Each chapter concludes with sequential "Big Story" assignments to help readers research, write and publish their own investigative stories. Web links to online resources (including public records information, computer-assisted reporting techniques and interactive investigative story examples) will help readers move smoothly and successfully through an investigative story or team reporting project, whether for print, broadcast or the Web.

part |2 pages

part i Getting Started

chapter 1|14 pages

IntroductIon

chapter 2|14 pages

FIndInG the Story

chapter 3|32 pages

Setting up the Investigation

chapter 4|18 pages

requeStInG publIc recordS

chapter 5|36 pages

The Game Plan

part |2 pages

Part II Gathering Information

chapter 6|34 pages

the IntervIew proceSS

chapter 7|22 pages

Analyzing the Big Story

chapter 8|28 pages

Documenting the Story

chapter 9|22 pages

Finding and Using Data

part |2 pages

Part III Writing and Publishing the Story

chapter 10|20 pages

Shaping the Story

chapter 11|20 pages

Writing the Story

chapter 12|24 pages

leGal and ethIcal conSIderatIonS

chapter 13|26 pages

Advanced Reporting Methods

chapter 14|14 pages

pItchInG the Story

part |1 pages

Appendices

chapter |35 pages

A Sample Investigative Stories

chapter |3 pages

B The Game Plan Checklist

chapter C|7 pages

An Excel Cheat Sheet