Better Watchdog Workshop

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Better Watchdog Workshop
Tacoma, Wash. — April 16, 2007

Host: The News Tribune

IRE thanks the Chicago Tribune Foundation, the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation and the Las Vegas Sun, Barbara J. Greenspun, publisher for helping underwrite this event.

Schedule

9-9:45 a.m. Welcome. What is investigative journalism? How to do it on a daily, weekly and long-term basis. What resources to use. The importance of knowing and using freedom of information laws.

9:50-10:40 a.m. The art of finding and cultivating sources. How to get the best information and interviews through source development to the interviewing techniques.

10:45-11:25 a.m. Paper and database trails. Documents and data you need to know about and get.

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Making effective use of the Internet for investigations. From better search techniques to the "Invisible Web". Find out everything you are missing.

12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch on your own

1:15-2:05 p.m. Dissecting profit and nonprofit businesses: Using regulations and licensing documents to dig deeper and find great stories.

2:10-3 p.m. The right to records and meetings. How to use federal and state laws. How to write an open records request. How to appeal and challenge denials. How to keep a steady flow of information and ideas coming in.

3:05-3:35 p.m. Managing and juggling. Putting it all together. How to cover a beat and still produce investigative stories. How to manage your day. How reporters and managers can collaborate.

3:40-4:10 p.m.
Following the money trail in elections. How to uncover the stories by looking at contributions, expenditures, committees and nonprofit groups and all the financial loopholes.

4:15-4:45 p.m. Brief overview of computer-assisted reporting. Examples of blending databases into investigations. What to ask for in electronic files and how to ask for them.

4:50-5:15 p.m. Questions and answers. Review of follow-up resources.

Schedule
9-9:45 a.m.	Welcome. What is investigative journalism? How to do it on a daily, weekly and long-term basis. What resources to use. The importance of knowing and using freedom of information laws.
9:50-10:40 a.m.	The art of finding and cultivating sources. How to get the best information and interviews through source development to the interviewing techniques.
10:45-11:25 a.m.	Paper and database trails. Documents and data you need to know about and get.
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.	Making effective use of the Internet for investigations. From better search techniques to the "Invisible Web". Find out everything you are missing.
12:15-1:15 p.m.	Lunch on your own
1:15-2:05 p.m.	Dissecting profit and nonprofit businesses: Using regulations and licensing documents to dig deeper and find great stories.
2:10-3 p.m.	The right to records and meetings. How to use federal and state laws. How to write an open records request. How to appeal and challenge denials. How to keep a steady flow of information and ideas coming in.
3:05-3:35 p.m.	Managing and juggling. Putting it all together. How to cover a beat and still produce investigative stories. How to manage your day. How reporters and managers can collaborate.
3:40-4:10 p.m.	Following the money trail in elections. How to uncover the stories by looking at contributions, expenditures, committees and nonprofit groups and all the financial loopholes.
4:15-4:45 p.m.	Brief overview of computer-assisted reporting. Examples of blending databases into investigations. What to ask for in electronic files and how to ask for them.
4:50-5:15 p.m.	Questions and answers. Review of follow-up resources.