Better Watchdog Workshop

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Watchdog Workshop
San Francisco, Calif. — Jan. 19, 2008
Hosted by KQED in association with National Federation of Community Broadcasters

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

Preliminary 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. Examples of what small- to medium-sized news organizations are doing in investigative reporting .
David Donald, IRE and NICAR

9:50-10:40 a.m. Paper and database trails. Documents and data you need to know about and get.
David Milliron, Caspio

10:45-11:20 a.m. Making effective use of the Internet for investigations. From better search techniques to the invisible Web.
David Donald, IRE and NICAR

11:25 a.m.-12:15 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.
Terry Francke, Californians Aware

David Milliron, Caspio

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

1:15-2:05 p.m.
The art of finding and cultivating sources. From backgrounding and source development to interviewing techniques.
David Cay Johnston, The New York Times

2:10-3 p.m. Dissecting profit and nonprofit businesses. Using regulations and licensing to dig deeper.
Mary Fricker, Chauncey Bailey Project

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. Filing information requests early and often.
David Donald, IRE and NICAR

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.
Judy Lin, Sacramento Bee

4:15-4:45 p.m.
Brief overview of computer-assisted reporting. Examples of blending databases into investigations, plus what to ask for in electronic files and how to ask for them.
David Donald, IRE and NICAR

4:50-5:15 p.m. Questions and answers. Review of follow-up resources.
Chauncey Baily Project members, Chauncey Bailey Project

Preliminary 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. Examples of what small- to medium-sized news organizations are doing in investigative reporting . David Donald, IRE and NICAR
9:50-10:40 a.m.	Paper and database trails. Documents and data you need to know about and get. David Milliron, Caspio
10:45-11:20 a.m.	Making effective use of the Internet for investigations. From better search techniques to the invisible Web. David Donald, IRE and NICAR
11:25 a.m.-12:15 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. Terry Francke, Californians Aware David Milliron, Caspio
12:15-1:15 p.m.	Lunch on your own
1:15-2:05 p.m.	The art of finding and cultivating sources. From backgrounding and source development to interviewing techniques. David Cay Johnston, The New York Times
2:10-3 p.m.	Dissecting profit and nonprofit businesses. Using regulations and licensing to dig deeper. Mary Fricker, Chauncey Bailey Project
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. Filing information requests early and often. David Donald, IRE and NICAR
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. Judy Lin, Sacramento Bee
4:15-4:45 p.m.	Brief overview of computer-assisted reporting. Examples of blending databases into investigations, plus what to ask for in electronic files and how to ask for them. David Donald, IRE and NICAR
4:50-5:15 p.m.	Questions and answers. Review of follow-up resources. Chauncey Baily Project members, Chauncey Bailey Project