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More About This Textbook
Overview
Published with Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. (IRE), The Investigative Reporter’s Handbook is the best-selling classroom and newsroom classic. Useful as a textbook in advanced journalism courses and as a reference for professional journalists, this book shows students how to use fundamental news reporting and writing skills like gathering sources, tracking information, and interviewing to pursue investigative stories in a variety of beats — from the government and education to healthcare, the environment and real estate. In addition to discussing the latest techniques and challenges in the profession, the fifth edition is now thoroughly streamlined, making it easier to locate the resources that investigative reporters need to get the story.
Product Details
Meet the Author
Brant Houston is the Knight Chair in Investigative & Enterprise Reporting at the College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was the executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and a professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism for 10 years. The author of three editions of "Computer-Assisted Reporting: A Practical Guide," Houston served as managing director of the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting for three years after working in daily journalism for 17 years. He was an award-winning investigative reporter at The Hartford (Conn.) Courant, The Kansas City Star and several news organizations in the Boston area.
Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting. IRE was formed in 1975 to create a forum in which journalists throughout the world could help each other by sharing story ideas, newsgathering techniques and news sources.
Table of Contents
PREFACE
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Part I: The Basics: How to Investigate Anyone or Anything
Chapter 1: The Investigative Process
The Investigative Process
Choosing a Subject for Investigation
The Research Hypothesis
Secondary Sources
Having a "Documents State of Mind"
Human Sources
Research Techniques
Organizing Information
Questioning Conventional Wisdom
The Paul Williams Way
Step 1: Conception
Step 2: Feasibility Study
Step 3: Go/No-Go Decision
Step 4: Base Building
Step 5: Planning
Step 6: Original Research
Step 7: Re-evaluation
Step 8: Filling the Gaps
Step 9: Final Evaluation
Step 10: Writing and Rewriting
Step 11: Publication or Airing of the Story and Follow-up Stories
Chapter 2. Secondary Sources
Newspapers
Finding the Right Newspapers
Stories and Announcements
Legal Notices, Police Reports and Classified Ads
Non-Newspaper Secondary Sources
Broadcast and Cable Sources
Magazine and Newsletters
Reference Books
Dissertations and Theses
Books
Libraries
Search Techniques
Key Word and Citation Searches
Bibliographies
Secondary Source Databases
Chapter 3. Primary Documents
Specific Primary Documents
Using Social Security Numbers
Public Records
Vital Records
The Uniform Commercial Code
Liens and Tax Documents
Primary Documents Databases
Commercial Databases
Government Agency Records
Government Databases
Depository Libraries
Technical and Scientific Sources
The National Archives System
Putting It All Together
Using Primary Documents: A Real-Life Example
Using Primary Documents: A Sample Investigation
Chapter 4. Computer-Assisted Reporting
Finding, Accessing and Using Computer Databases
The Tools of Computer-Assisted Reporting
Finding Databases and Deciding Which to Use
Keeping Databases on Hand
Gaining Access
Local Data Sources
Politics
Business and Economy
Property and Tax Records
Guns and Crime
Education
Courts and Jail
City and County Government
Infrastructure
Accidents
The Environmental
State Data Sources
Federal Databases
Demographic Data
Other Federal Data Sources
Chapter 5. People Trails
Identifying and Evaluating Sources
"Formers" and "Currents"
Whistleblowers
Outside Experts
Locating Sources
Online Tools
Telephone Directories
City Directories
Workplace Directories
Personal Habits
Useful Documents and Records
Mapping Power Structures
Interviewing Sources
Researching the Source
Looking for Credentials Fraud in Resumes
Getting in the Door
Understanding the Source’s Motivations
Preparing Questions
Structuring the Interview
Taking Notes and Following Up
Chapter 6. Writing the Compelling Investigation
The Fundamentals
Writing an Effective Story
Getting the Details
Avoiding Clichés and Stereotypes
Writing from Chronologies and Outlines
Story Structures
Focus and Resolution
Leads: The Opening Sentences
Middles: Flow and Momentum
Point of View and Tone
Endings
Chapter 7. Ethics of Investigative Reporting
Ethics and Accuracy
Fairness and the Law
The Golden Rule
Dilemmas in Reporting
Obtaining Information Covertly
Conducting Ambush Interviews
Exposing Private Behaviors of Public Figures
Using Unidentified and Paid Sources
Writing Ethical, Accurate Stories
Line-by-Line Accuracy Check
Prepublication Review
Part II. Investigating the Government
Chapter 8. Investigating the Executive Branch
The Players and Processes
Understanding Government Agencies
Using the Federal Register
Making Sense of Agency Budgets
Consultants and Contractors
The Contracting Process
Budget and Management Watchdogs
Investigating Federal Affairs
The Top Executive
Cabinet Appointments
Conflicts of Interest
Inspectors General
The Permanent Bureaucracy
Public Affairs Personnel
Public Authorities and Self-Regulatory Organizations
Investigating State and Local Affairs
The Governor
Public Employees
Campaign Finance Corruption
Using the State Register
Chapter 9. Investigating the Legislative Branch
Investigating Congress
Following the Money
Campaign Finance
Lobbyists
Financial Disclosure of Legislators
Resources and Perquisites in Office
Personal Character
Making Legislation
Authorizations and Appropriations
Committees and Oversight
Government Accountability Office: The Research and Investigative Arm of Congress
Investigating Local Legislatures
Following the Money
Lobbyists
Other Paper and People Sources
Chapter 10. Investigating the Judicial System
Approaches to Investigating the Judicial System
The Judicial System as a Political System
Two Tracks: Civil Cases and Criminal Cases
Tracking the Civil Case
Tracking the Criminal Case: From Arrest to Sentencing
Between Arrest and First Court Appearance
From Jail to Courthouse
Initial Appearance in Court
Pretrial Hearings
The Assignment of Judges
The Jury
Case Backlogs
Victims of Crimes
Sentencing
Appeals
Investigating Punishment: Prison, Probation, Parole, Commutations, and Pardons
Gaining Access to Prisons
Prison Conditions
Probation
Parole
Commutations and Pardons
Investigating Juvenile Cases and Family Court
Juvenile Cases
Family Court
Investigating Judicial Operations and Personnel
Court Budgets and Court Operations
Personnel
Judges
Prosecutors
Defense Attorneys
Wrongful Convictions
Investigating Specialized Courts
Traffic Court
Municipal Court
Divorce Court
Probate Court
Small Claims Court
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Military Courts
Chapter 11. Investigating Law Enforcement
Investigating Local Police
Monitoring Individual Law Enforcement Officers
Recruitment
Training
Raises, Promotions and Pensions
The Top Command
Discipline of Wayward Officers
Moonlighting
Police Reporter Edna Buchanan’s Tips
Preventing and Investigating Crimes
Murder
Rape
Domestic Violence
Narcotics
Vice
Missing Persons
Stolen Property
Arson
Bombings
Traffic Violations
Organized Crime and White-Collar Crime
Juvenile Crime
Investigating Other Aspects of Law Enforcement
Patrol Officers, Dispatchers and 911 Operators
Crime Scene Technicians and Crime Laboratories
Evidence Rooms
Coroners and Medical Examiners
Canine (K9) Corps
Civil Rights and Community Relations
Resources for Investigating Law Enforcement
Crime Statistics
Budgets and Contracts
Records Divisions and Public Information Officers
People Trails
Paper Trails
Chapter 12. Investigating Education
Issues in K-12 Education
Student Test Scores
School Violence and Discipline
Student Retention
Curriculum
Class Size
Technology and Corporate Sponsorship
Special-Needs Students
Race, Class and Gender Equity
School Choice
Investigating School Personnel and Facilities
Teachers
Administrators
School Staff
School Buildings
Approaches to Investigating the Schools
Following the Money
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Vocational and Trade Schools
Issues in Higher Education
Document Trails
Public University Revenues and Expenditures
Accreditation Documents
Enrollment and Retention
Diversity, Disabilities and Affirmative Action
In the Classroom
Outside the Classroom
Athletics
Campus Safety
Faculty
Administrators
Support Staff
Governing Boards
Part III. Investigating Business
Chapter 13. Investigating For-Profit Businesses
Investigating Companies
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Annual Reports
Federal Regulatory Agencies
State and Local Business Agencies
The Paper Trail: Public Documents
The Paper Trail: Other Document Sources
Human Sources
The Overlooked Resource: Labor
Labor Lawyers and the Courts
Investigating the Workplace
Labor Unions
Labor Relation Boards
Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration
Safety and Health
Wage Enforcement
Pensions
State Employment Securities Divisions
Investigating Licensed Professionals
Finding Licensing Documents
The Licensing Process
Professional Associations as Sources
Investigating the Protectors
Chapter 14. Investigating Non-profit and Religious Organizations
Investigating Charities and Foundations
Where to Begin: Questions and Documents
The Gaul and Borowski Model
Form 990: The Annual Informational Tax Return
Fund-raising Techniques and Conundrums
Foundations
Federal, State and Local Government Regulation
Investigating Religious Organizations
Chapter 15. Investigating Financial Institutions and Insurance
Investigating Financial Institutions
Government Regulators
Banks
Savings and Loans
Credit Unions
Credit Card Companies
Investment Companies and Mutual Funds
Investigating the Issues
Redlining and Community Reinvestment
Insider Transactions
High-Risk Transactions
Money Laundering
Investigating Insurance
Health and Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Auto insurance
Homeowners’ and Other Property Insurance
Commercial and Professional Insurance
Investigating the Players
Company and Their Finances
Agents
State Regulators
The Government as Insurer
Workers Compensation
Chapter 16. Investigating Health Care
Investigating Hospitals
Accreditation and Regulation
Costs and Billing
Hospital Errors
Indigent Care
Ambulances and Other Emergency Medical Services
Investigating Other Care Providers
Veterans Administration Hospitals
Nursing Homes
Mental Health Institutions
Home Health Care Companies
Physicians, Nurses and Other Health Care Workers
Investigating Suppliers and Services
Health Maintenance Organizations
Medical Research and Journals
Pharmaceutical Companies
Pharmacies
Medical Device Companies
Medical Laboratories
Blood Banks
Part IV. Investigating Issues
Chapter 17. Investigating Energy and Utilities
Investigating Utilities
State Regulation
Federal Energy Regulation
Gas and Electric Utilities
Nuclear Power
Water Utilities
Communication Utilities
Cable Utilities
Chapter 18. Investigating the Environment
Investigating the Environment
Regulation: The Environmental Protection Agency
Other Federal Agencies
Using the Toxic Release Inventory
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Soil Pollution and Hazardous Waste
Chapter 19. Investigating Transportation
Investigating Land Transportation
Cars
Car Inspections and Driving Records
Drunk Drivers
Motorcycles and All-Terrain Vehicles
Trucks and Buses
Taxis and Limousine Services
Bridges and Roads
Railroads
Hazardous Waste
Mass Transit
Investigating Aviation
Pilots and Flight Crews
Air Controllers and Ground Crews
Airlines
Security
Commuter, Cargo Planes and Government Flights
Using Air Databases
Airports
Investigating Water Transportation
Commercial Shipping
Coast Guard
Regulatory Agencies
Chapter 20. Investigating Real Estate
The Document Trail: Finding Real Estate Records
Ownership
Government Documents
Liens
Mortgage Documents
Issues in Real Estate Investigations
Property Values and Tax Assessment
Landlords and Tenants
Development, Zoning and Rezoning
New Developments
Low-Income Housing
Chapter 21. Investigating the World of the Disadvantaged
Investigating the Issues
Special Challenges
Financial Exploitation
Employment
Children and Families
Homelessness
Health Care
Investigating the Programs
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Child-Support Enforcement
Food Stamps
Other Child and Family Nutrition Programs
Other Assistance Programs
Welfare Reform