Below is a sample schedule for a "Better Watchdog Workshop." In some cases, the workshops may be extended to Sunday for special sessions for students or for hands-on training in computer-assisted reporting.

Sample Schedule
9-9:45 a.m.	Welcome. An introduction about how to excellent investigative journalism with limited time and resources on a daily, weekly and long-term basis. Learn about what resources to use, the importance of knowing and using Freedom of Information laws, plus examples of what small- to medium-sized news organizations are doing in investigative reporting.
9:50-10:40 a.m.	The art of finding and cultivating sources. How to develop reliable sources and better interviewing techniques.
10:45-11:25 a.m.	Paper and database trails. How to find and get documents and data you need for any beat or topic.
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.	Making effective use of the Internet for investigations. How to search better, save time, and get information from the invisible Web.
12:15-1:15 p.m.	Lunch on your own
1:15-2:05 p.m.	Dissecting profit and nonprofit businesses. Using documents on finances, licensing and inspections to dig deeper.
2:10-3 p.m.	The right to records and open meetings. How to use federal and state laws. write an open records request, and appeal or challenge denials.
3:05-3:35 p.m.	Managing and juggling. Putting it all together to cover a beat and still produce investigative stories. How to manage your day, how reporters and managers can collaborate, and the importance of filing information requests early and often.
3:40-4:10 p.m.	Following the money trail in elections. How to uncover the stories by looking at contributions, expenditures, committees, 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, plus 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.