Investigative Reporting and Accountability Coverage

Journalists have historically held institutions accountable through the daily monitoring of beat reporting and deep digging of investigative reporting. Center faculty are exploring ways to preserve and protect this critical function of journalism, through new coursework, a professional training conference and through interviews and lectures with investigative reporters.

New Courses, Spring 2010:

• PPS 196S.12: Narrative Journalism in the Digital Age, taught by Phil Bennett
  Course Summary: Is the Internet killing journalism’s “great stories”? For decades long-form journalism has distinguished elite publications, attracted great writers and produced stories that deepen readers’ understanding of issues. The course examines journalism storytelling and the impact of new technologies in print, on television and online. In an age of “viral” images, will narrative journalism lose its power? Do different forms of storytelling influence what kind of issues and subjects receive attention? Students will produce original journalism during the term.
• PPS 196S.10: Muckraking to Data Mining: Reporting that made a difference, taught by Sarah Cohen
  Course Summary: Investigative reporting has prompted a president to resign, new consumer safety laws and the release of wronged prisoners. This class traces the evolution of investigative reporting through the lens of the stories which changed public policy. Relying largely on fresh reading of the original works, the class will follow the changing methods and mores of investigative and watchdog reporting.

IRE Watchdog Workshops
The DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy is also pleased to host the Investigative Reporters and Editors Watchdog Workshop, on November 7 & 8. Information and registration can be found here:
http://www.ire.org/training/watchdog/RaleighDurham09.php

Rutherfurd Living History Program
Through the Rutherfurd Living History Program, Professor Phil Bennett is producing videotaped interviews with top investigative reporters. These interviews are available online:

• The Jay Rutherfurd Living History Program interview with Dana Priest, Pulitzer Prize-winning Investigative Reporter and Author, October 19, 2009
• The Jay Rutherfurd Living History Program interview with Seymour Hersh, Pulitzer Prize-winning Investigative Reporter and Author, October 12, 2009

Ewing Lecture on Ethics
The 2009-2010 James D. Ewing Lecture on Ethics in Journalism, also focused on investigative reporting:

• Dana Priest, Pulitzer Prize-winning Investigative Reporter and Author, gave the Ewing lecture entitled: Adventures in Journalism: From Secret CIA Prisons to Walter Reed