JOUR1710 Summary - Lecture notes 1-9 PDF

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Lecturer: Dr Scott Downman ...

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JOUR1710 Summary

Week 1

1. 2. 3. 4.

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typically investigative journalism was linked intrinsically to traditional media. Today four main models of investigative journalism have emerged: The mainstream/traditional model. The mainstream/citizen journalism model. The not-for-profit journalism model. The outsourced/pre-packaged model.

Mainstream/traditional model: Journalists allocated an investigative role. Usually more experienced journalists with extensive contacts. Involves extensive research using tools such as FOI, government/business documents, leaked information, data collection and analysis and substantial interviews to support allegations. Newsroom cutbacks have reduced resources and the capacity for extensive investigations. Mainstream/citizen journalism model: This emerging model is not widely exploited in Australia but has had significant impact in countries without a free media. It involves a combination of traditional investigative journalism with data and information also gathered by citizen journalists (people who are ‘untrained’ in journalism). The consequences have been some of the most powerful and significant pieces of investigative journalism in recent times. Not-for-profit model: 75 not-for-profit investigative journalism houses in the US in 2011. It continues to grow. Now more than 100. Operating budget $US135-million and employ 1300 full-time staff. They have legitimacy and ProPublica, The Center for Public Integrity (CIP) and the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) have multi-million $$$ budgets and a mission to produce solid investigative journalism. Legitimate and successful - Pulitzer awards. Outsourced/pre-packaged model Extensive stories that appear to be objective investigative pieces. Provided by organisations and companies with a vested interest in the story. Often the interest is not declared when the story is published in the mainstream media. Advanced PR and NOT investigative journalism.

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1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Investigative journalism Investigative journalism is part of process that first identifies an issue or problem in need of exploring. Investigative journalism involves applying ‘tests’ to the issue to determine its newsworthiness. The ‘tests’ require an understanding of news values. It involves looking at seemingly everyday events with an inquisitive mind. It involves lateral thought. It is a complex form of journalism that usually involves ongoing research over a period of weeks or months. INVESTEGATION PROCESS Observe Research Interview Analyse Report

Week 2 Active witnessing 

Journalistic observation is not just about looking, it’s about ‘active witnessing’.

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Active witnessing involves using all of our senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.

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It is not a passive exercise - it is engagement with our environment and circumstances that results in the journalist evaluating the newsworthiness of what they are experiencing.

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Often active witnessing will only focus on one aspect of a story – but it provides the launching pad for further investigation.

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Observation can also provide fantastic colour and insight for the final report that recreates an event.

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Observation can be used to describe the detail that makes the story important, unique, powerful or engaging.

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It is a process of assessment, evaluation and asking questions (to ourselves) as we ‘witness’ events, circumstances and changes in our environment.

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The 5Ws and the H represent a powerful forensic technique to evaluate what we see and to interrogate a situation.

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They should spark other questions: (i) Is this typical/normal? (ii) What is it that makes this unusual? (iii) Does this have impact?

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The ‘active’ element is responding to what we have ‘observed’. It involves recording valuable and detailed evidence: dates, times, photographs, ambient sound, vision, detailed diary notes outlining activities.

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It is the skeleton of every news report.

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Without ‘active witnessing’ we end up with shallow and contrived journalism.

Week 4 The ‘D’ factor relates to four of the biggest issues in contemporary investigative journalism: 6. Dumbing down 7. Distortion 8. Data 9. Digitisation These factors are often interconnected and have the potential to either greatly enhance your investigation or sabotage/undermine it.

News organisations seek to publish stories based on two key elements: 

News values

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Readership

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Readership refers to the demographic the news content is written for and varies in depth and diversity according to the publication.

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In highly competitive, digital media markets the audience has become the driving force behind news content.

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This has seen the emphasis on international news in many news services decline and niche news rounds such as celebrity, entertainment and ‘weird stuff’ increase.

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Several mainstream news providers have tried to resist this trend but have succumbed to demand.

The consequences of this trend: 

A general dumbing down of news.

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Quality, thorough, investigative journalism is now harder to find.

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News breakers such as WikiLeaks have emerged as legitimate news providers.

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Celebrities have an elevated status they’ve never had and more often than not don’t deserve.

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Data journalism involves four key phases:

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Finding data

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Interrogating data

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Visualising data

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Mashing data.

Week 5

The best approach 10. Protection – the news talent/yourself 11. Empathy – reporting and story-telling 12. Research - backgrounding 13. Investigate – interviewing authoritative sources 14. Language – non-discriminatory/stigmatising 15. Subdue – if the story is shocking no need to sensationalise

Trespass   

You will be required to enter properties that may have warnings for trespassers. Trespassers can be prosecuted but courts will examine whether the journalist’s behaviour has been reasonable. Journalists can be liable if:

a. They enter a property without the occupier’s consent. b. Remain after permission has been withdrawn. c. Place a listening or surveillance device on the property without permission.

MEAA Code of Ethics “Do not place unnecessary emphasis on personal characteristics, including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, family relationships, religious belief, or physical or intellectual disability.”

Subdue

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Check the language you use does not glamourise or sensationalise potentially illegal activities.

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Establish context without overwriting the story. (Overuse of adjectives and descriptions.)

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If the story is sensational, it does not need embellishment.

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Ensure you treat your news talent and the story with integrity.

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A subdued story-telling approach is an objective approach.

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It allows the news talent/sources to tell their own story in their own words/way without journalistic interference.

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This gives the story integrity, provides the news source with dignity and treats the reader with respect.

Avoid the PERILS of poor journalism Protection Empathy Research Investigation Language Subdue

Week 6

Confidential sources 

If someone says the information is ‘off the record’ you ethically should not report the information.

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People whose confidences have been broken by the media most commonly seek damages, or an injunction to prevent publication.

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If confidential sources (reports, government documents) are stolen, journalists are liable to face charges of possessing stolen goods.

Without authoritative sources your story will be superficial, lack impact and runs the risk of being inaccurate. Authoritative sources can take many forms:

1. People who are experts in the field you are writing about. 2. Witnesses: people who have seen something or who have experienced something FIRST HAND. 3. Politicians, academics, managers and public relations officers representing people.

Authorities Sources iv) Whistleblowers (but claims always need to be verified and protection considered). Whistleblowers are critical for investigative journalists. They provide leads, detailed, leaked information and insider context.   

Whistleblowers are generally people who have a sense of justice and morality. Their aim is usually to expose some form of wrongdoing. Ultimately their aim is to have the wrongdoing stopped. Characteristics of the media outlet valued by the whistleblower:

4. Change agent: Media exposure is likely to cause change and fix the injustice. 5. Anonymity: Outlet able to keep the whistleblower’s identity secret from all except possibly the journalist. 6. Story treatment: Fair, sympathetic treatment of the story. 7. Reputation: Of the journalist and publication. 8. Previous related stories: Whether similar issues had been run before. 9. Audience: The constituency and relevance of the audience. 10. Treatment after the story runs: Relationship with the whistleblower after the story runs. 

There are ‘shield laws’ which provide special legal privilege to confidential communications between journalists and their sources.

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Shield laws primarily protect the journalist, saving them from jail for contempt of court.

Week 7 Avoiding the perils of investigative journalism Best approach 1. Protection - the news and yourself 2. Empathy - reporting and story-telling 3. Research - backgrounding 4. Investigate - interviewing authority

5. Language - non-discriminatory/stigmatising 6. Subdue - if the story is shocking no need to sensationalise

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Protection Protect victims Protect sources from possible implications of telling a story Protection can involve identity, dignity and the way you represent them Empathy Respect Throw away pre-conceived ideas Be comfortable with silence

Week 8 Infographics: Give background Text to a min Simple title Simple text Reference all data You can draw on data from elsewhere Infographic has a beginning and a middle - a way in Build background and context Make it have a hook - visually stimulating

Week 9 Writing a major investigation: 800-900 words 5 to 6 sources but 3 or 4 decent ones is fine The analysis  Analyse the info you have gathered. Divide from most important to least important  You can do this physically with different pieces of paper. Place it on a desk and look at what you've gathered  Make sure all claims are substantiated throughout your story by using attribution  Consider how you can represent the analysis as a data visualisation (if you don’t have stats think about how you could show process)

The write up  Divide the 900 word paper into thirds  Put the juiciest stuff in the first third  The information that supports the claims that are made in the first third should go in the second 300 words  The padding, which will include background and anecdotes should go in the last third

Writing and editing  Make sure you check your spelling and grammar. Do not make careless errors  Remember your legal responsibilities. Just because you are a student does not mean you cannot be sued for defaming someone. If in doubt check with us Intro can be a quote if it’s a good one Go back and introduce Build story around that...