Summary

Synopsis

Discover how to apply basic investigative reporting techniques to your business needs and purposes. Learn to break down investigative skills and tools into a simple process. Gain tips and hints on how to creatively implement the every day research tools already at your disposal.

Objectives

• Quickly map a research strategy
• Know where to look and what questions to ask
• Build, develop, and successfully tap into an information source network
• Assess, analyze and verify the data you gather for accuracy and credibility
• Develop an action plan once you have assessed the results of your investigation

Outline

• Introduction
• Overview
• Objectives
• Investigative Basics
• What are the “Five W’s”?
• News Value and You
• Strategic Planning
• The Law and You
• The Tools of the Trade
• Introduction
• Implementing the Internet
• Tweaking your Telephone Skills
• Getting the Picture: Cameras
• Open Your Senses
• Checkpoint I
• Sources: Your Information Network
• Tap into Your Network
• Protect your Sources
• Freeing Speech
• Finding New Sources
• Newspapers
• Annual Reports
• Special Techniques
• Digging up Dirt
• Judgments and Executions
• Title Searches
• Credibility and Analysis
• Weighing the Facts
• Final Checkpoint