Investigative Reporting by Spark, David;

Hosszú leírás:

This important book defines what investigative reporting is and what qualities it requires. Drawing on the experience of many well-known journalists in the field, the author identifies the skills, common factors and special circumstances involved in a wide variety of investigations. It examines how opportunities for investigations can be found and pursued, how informants can be persuaded to yield needed information and how and where this information can be checked. It also stresses the dangers and legal constraints that have to be contended with and shows real life examples such as the Cook Report formula, the Jonathan Aitken investigation and the Birmingham Six story.


David Spark, himself a freelance writer of wide experience, examines how opportunities for investigations can be found and pursued, how informants can be persuaded to yield needed information and how and where this information can be checked. He also stresses the dangers and legal constraints that have to be contended with and shows investigators at work in two classic inquiries:
· The mysterious weekend spent in Paris by Jonathan Aitken, then Minister of Defence Procurement
· The career of masterspy Kim Philby

Investigative Reporting looks at such fields for inquiry as company frauds (including those of Robert Maxwell), consumer complaints, crime, police malpractice, the intelligence services, local government and corruption in Parliament and in overseas and international bodies.

The author believes that the conclusions that emerge from this far-reaching survey are of value not only in investigative journalism, but to practitioners in all branches of reporting.


'A sensible and well-researched handbook which breaks new ground and pretty well covers the waterfront.'
David Leigh, British Journalism Review

Tartalomjegyzék:

What is investigative reporting?

The making of an investigative reporter

Insight and the development of techniques

Finding the stories

Pursuing inquiries I: Doing it right

Pursuing inquiries II: Getting it right

Finding the people

Dealing with documents

Getting people to talk

Writing it: problems and pitfalls

Two classic investigations

Looking into companies

The Maxwell investigations

Social and consumer affairs

Crime

Trail of the bent coppers

Security and intelligence

Investigating local government

Sleaze

Cruelty and corruption

Investigating abroad

Books for further reading

People who helped with this book

Council information open to public view

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