Reference/Trade

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

Price: $59.95

Format:
Paperback 280 pp.
1 table and 39 black and white screen captures, 6" x 9"

ISBN-10:
0195421272

ISBN-13:
9780195421279

Copyright Year:
2006

Imprint: OUP Canada

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Digging Deeper

A Canadian Reporter's Research Guide

Robert Cribb, Dean Jobb, David McKie and Fred Vallance-Jones

Digging Deeper is a comprehensive manual of investigative techniques and a guide filled with practical tips on how to find information on the public record in Canada. Too often, journalists and other researchers take the lead from others, allowing governments, corporations, and other organizations to define the news, deciding what is newsworthy and how a story will be told. Digging Deeper shows how investigative journalists escape the 'handout mentality' by thinking independently and developing the research techniques necessary to produce investigative reports.

Award-winning investigative journalists discuss how to develop story ideas, how to develop research strategies, and how to pitch stories to editors and producers. Individual chapters offer practical tips on how to research individuals, businesses, and public institutions, including how to use freedom of information laws to access information on the public record. Following the paper trail may lead to other avenues for investigation: surveillance and undercover work. The chapter on interviewing explores who to prepare for interviews, techniques for gathering information from an interview, and how to deal with difficult or reluctant sources. Finding information is only half the battle. The authors also discuss how to effectively catalogue, index, and organize the vast amounts of information collected during the course of an investigation. They show how Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR) can be used to extend the reporter's research capabilities. And finally, the authors show how to bring it all together: how to use the results of research to write investigative pieces for print, radio, and television for maximum impact and audience interest.

Readership : Core text for upper level investigative journalism and research methods courses in journalism, communications, and media studies departments. Secondary market: Supplemental text for journalism courses that require knowledge of investigative techniques: broadcast/print/magazine reporting, radio/television documentary, advanced newspaper workshop, etc.

Preface
Part I: Getting Started
1. Introduction to Investigative Journalism
The Twelve Keys
Conclusion
2. The Nuts and Bolts of Investigations
What Makes a Good Investigative Story
Where Good Ideas Come From
Reviewing and Auditing the Idea
The Heart of the Investigation
Special Situations
Getting Help When You're Stuck
A Note on Ethics
Conclusion
Part II: The Key Primary Resources
3. Building a Foundation: Gathering Information Already Published or Broadcast
Traditional Sources
Electronic Sources
Conclusion
4. Using Public Records
Introduction
Where They Are
What They Say
What They Get
What They Do
Conclusion
5. Accessing Laws and Justice Systems
Researching Laws and Regulations
Finding and Using Court Records
Criminal Case Documents
Civil Case Documents
Publication Bans and Other Restrictions on Court Documents
Accessing Other Justice Records
Putting Justice Records to Work
6. Digging into the Past: Using Historical Resources
Historical Reference Tools
Library Resources
Using Archives
Part III: Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Specific Investigations
7. Researching and Finding People
Introduction
Online Backgrounding
The Public Records Checklist
Connecting the Dots
8. Getting People to Talk: The Art of the Interview
The Basic Interview
The Successful Investigative Interview
Recording the Answers
How to Get People to Talk to You
The Dilemma of 'Off the Record'
Interviewing Online
Working with Media-Relations People
A Final Note on Media Training
9. Following the Money: Seeing the Business Angle in Any Story
Introduction
Case Study: A Messenger on Blades
Getting the Numbers
Getting Information from Outside the Company
Conclusion
10. Getting Behind Closed Doors: Using the Information Laws
Introduction
The Laws
How to Make Your Request
The Challenges
What You Can Get
Conclusion
11. Computer-Assisted Reporting
Introduction
The Development of CAR
CAR Tools
How the Tools Are Used
CAR in Action: A Detailed Case Study
CAR as a Tool
Conclusion
Part IV: Putting It All to Work
12. Organizing, Writing, and Libel-proofing the Investigative Story
Preparing to Write, Right from the Start
Writing the Investigative Story
Writing for Broadcast
Libel-Proofing the Story
Appendix A: A Quick Guide to Spreadsheets
Definitions
What it Looks like
Appendix B: Database Managers
Definitions
Basic Operations
Other Important Database Skills
Appendix C: Finance Facts
Glossary of Key Financial Reporting Terms
Securities Regulators
Tips on Financial Statements
Quick Reference: What the Forms Tell You
Analysts as Journalistic Sources
Online Resources for Business Investigations
Endnotes
Index

There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.

Robert Cribb is at the Ryerson School of Journalism, Ryerson University and is an Investigative Reporter for the Toronto Star. Dean Jobb is in the School of Journalism, University of King's College. David McKie is in the School of Journalism, Carleton University and is a reporter for the CBC Investigative Unit. Fred Vallance-Jones is at the Ryerson School of Journalism, Ryerson University and is an Investigative Reporter for the Hamilton Spectator.

Making Sense in the Social Sciences - Margot Northey, Lorne Tepperman and Patrizia Albanese

Special Features

  • Introduces students to the surprising array of information available in Canada on the public record by accessing government reports, corporate filings, court records, media archives, and other sources
  • Offers practical tips on the most effective ways to find information, based on the authors' extensive experience as investigative reporters. This guide demonstrates how to access criminal records, tax returns, and other information considered confidential and shows how information gleaned from one source can become the key to accessing information from other sources
  • Uses case studies drawn from Canadian media to illustrate the investigative techniques that transform a reporter's hunch into headline news
  • Demystifies computer-assisted reporting (CAR) and explains how spreadsheets and databases can be used to mine data
  • Provides online web links to be updated annually and review questions providing an opportunity for students to solidify what they have learned from the book