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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.

Request Exam Copy Companion Site

Print Price: $99.99

Format:
Paperback
360 pp.
2 tables, 6" x 9"

ISBN-13:
9780199008490

Copyright Year:
2015

Imprint: OUP Canada


Digging Deeper

A Canadian Reporter's Research Guide, Third Edition

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

Now it its third edition, Digging Deeper continues to offer Canadian journalism students the tools they need to enter the fast-paced world of investigative reporting. Written by a team of award-winning journalists, this comprehensive guide outlines how to develop story ideas, conduct research, pitch stories, and turn raw information into compelling investigative reports for print, radio, television, and the Web.

Readership : University- and college-level courses in journalism, investigative journalism, and reporting.

Reviews

  • "This book does a very good job of introducing students (and working journalists) to the fundamentals of journalistic research. . . . I tell students that Digging Deeper is a book they should own and keep on their desk wherever they go."
    --Paul Benedetti, Western University

  • "Digging Deeper is very useful because it is designed for Canadian journalists. . . . I like the focus on investigative reporting - both simple and highly technical - as well as the Canadian laws and regulations that students need to know."
    --Gillian Steward, Mount Royal University

Acknowledgements
Part One: Getting Started
1. An Introduction to Investigative Journalism
2. The Nuts and Bolts of Investigations
Part Two: The Key Primary Resources
3. Building a Foundation: Gathering Information Already Published or Broadcast
4. Using Public Records
5. Accessing Laws and Justice System Records
6. Digging into the Past: Using Historical Resources
Part Three: Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Special Investigations
7. Researching and Finding People
8. Getting People to Talk: The Art of the Interview
9. Following the Money: Seeing the Business Angle in Any Story
10. Getting Behind Closed Doors: Using the Information Laws
11. Data Journalism
Part Four: Putting It All to Work
12. Organizing, Writing, and Libel-Proofing the Investigative Story
Appendix A: Finance Facts
Notes
Index

Companion Website:
List of online resources
Additional appendices:
- Appendix A: Quick Guide to Spreadsheets
- Appendix B: Database Managers
- Appendix C: Visualizing Data with Google Fusion Tables and Tableau Public
- Appendix D: Finance Facts (also found in the text)
Case studies:
- All case studies found in the text, plus an additional case "Cooking the Books"
E-Book (ISBN 9780199008506):
· Available through CourseSmart.com

Robert Cribb is an award-winning investigative reporter at the Toronto Star. In addition to actively working in the field, he is also a journalism instructor at Ryerson University.

Dean Jobb is a former reporter, editor, and columnist for the Halifax Herald and teaches investigative reporting and editing at the University of King's College School of Journalism.

David McKie is an award-winning journalist with the CBC News Investigative Unit. He is a specialist in data reporting and teaches investigative journalism at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication.

Fred Vallance-Jones is one of Canada's foremost experts on data reporting and was formerly an award-winning special reports writer for the Hamilton Spectator. Previously an instructor in Ryerson's journalism department, he now teaches journalism at the University of King's College School of Journalism.

Investigative Reporting in Canada - Dr. Maxine Ruvinsky
Behind the Headlines - Cecil Rosner
Reporting for the Media - John R. Bender, Lucinda D. Davenport, Michael W. Drager, Fred Fedler, Maxine Ruvinsky and Charles Hays
Computer-Assisted Reporting - Fred Vallance-Jones and David McKie

Special Features

  • The only Canadian text of its kind, providing students with a relevant and engaging introduction to investigative journalism in this country.
  • Coverage of the public record introduces students to the surprising amount of information available through government reports, corporate filings, court records, media archives, and other sources.
  • Practical tips on finding and assessing information through documents such as criminal records, tax returns, and other official information. Students will also learn how information gleaned from one source can become the key to accessing information from other sources.
  • Engaging case studies - including three case studies new to this edition - use examples drawn from Canadian media to illustrate the investigative techniques that transform a reporter's hunch into headline news.
  • A focus on independent thinking shows students how to escape the "spin cycle" by deciding for themselves what is newsworthy and finding their own sources of information.
New to this Edition
  • A fully revised chapter on data journalism reflects the most current tools and research strategies available to reporters, including spreadsheets, database managers, mapping programs, cloud-based visualizations, and more. (Ch. 11)
  • Expanded coverage of technology throughout includes a revised preface exploring the evolution of journalism since the first edition of Digging Deeper published almost 10 years ago, as well as discussions of emerging trends in social media, judging the reliability of online sources, and social networking search tools.
  • New exercises and case study discussion questions give students the opportunity to practice and apply the techniques they have learned in each chapter.
  • In-text icons directing to the companion website highlight additional online resources relating to the chapter material.