The campaign finance story:Putting it all togetherThe campaign finance story:Putting it all together
David DonaldDavid Donald
Training DirectorTraining Director
Investigative Reporters & EditorsInvestigative Reporters & Editors
SummarySummary
Basic toolsBasic tools
Basic documents and dataBasic documents and data
Sourcing, interviewingSourcing, interviewing
Selling, writing and editing the storySelling, writing and editing the story
Taking it back to the newsroomTaking it back to the newsroom
Basic ToolsBasic Tools
Online - The Web, commercial databasesOnline - The Web, commercial databases
Documents and data in-houseDocuments and data in-house
Books from the professionBooks from the profession
The SpreadsheetThe Spreadsheet
The Database ManagerThe Database Manager
Kinds of storiesKinds of stories
Contributor and special interest influenceContributor and special interest influence
Candidate expenditure trendsCandidate expenditure trends
Breaking – or bending – the rulesBreaking – or bending – the rules
Routine checks of filingsRoutine checks of filings
Coordination among candidates and partylevelsCoordination among candidates and partylevels
The incremental investigationThe incremental investigation
Add two or three of your own ideasAdd two or three of your own ideas
Getting startedGetting started
Always think and then communicate (atthe appropriate time) minimum storypromises to editorsAlways think and then communicate (atthe appropriate time) minimum storypromises to editors
Look to add context for other stories tobuild editor enthusiasmLook to add context for other stories tobuild editor enthusiasm
Comparisons and trends are almostalways storiesComparisons and trends are almostalways stories
Think incremental at firstThink incremental at first
The Paul Williams WayThe Paul Williams Way
Conception of investigation:Conception of investigation:
One-time tipsOne-time tips
Regular source cultivationRegular source cultivation
ClipsClips
Angles after the one-time storyAngles after the one-time story
Looking: Walk-arounds, drive-aroundsLooking: Walk-arounds, drive-arounds
-- Investigative Reporting and Editing by Paul Williams, Prentice-Hall, 1978-- Investigative Reporting and Editing by Paul Williams, Prentice-Hall, 1978
The Paul Williams WayThe Paul Williams Way
Feasibility:Feasibility:
Obstacles – skills, time, cooperation?Obstacles – skills, time, cooperation?
Resources - document availability,reporter availability?Resources - document availability,reporter availability?
Competition?Competition?
The Paul Williams WayThe Paul Williams Way
Go-No Go?:Go-No Go?:
Minimal storyMinimal story
Base-building, research list for standards(Knight Center has given you much ofthis.)Base-building, research list for standards(Knight Center has given you much ofthis.)
The Paul Williams WayThe Paul Williams Way
Planning:Planning:
FilesFiles
DutiesDuties
ScheduleSchedule
FOI and Open Records NeedsFOI and Open Records Needs
The Paul Williams WayThe Paul Williams Way
Original Research:Original Research:
Paper and data trailsPaper and data trails
People trailsPeople trails
Re-evaluation: How often?Re-evaluation: How often?
Analysis of gapsAnalysis of gaps
The Paul Williams WayThe Paul Williams Way
Writing and Re-Writing:Writing and Re-Writing:
OutlineOutline
ChronologyChronology
Appropriate leadsAppropriate leads
GraphicsGraphics
PublicationPublication
Follow-up planFollow-up plan
DocumentsDocuments
FEC records and databasesFEC records and databases
IRS political nonprofits (527s) recordsIRS political nonprofits (527s) records
State and local campaign finance recordsand databasesState and local campaign finance recordsand databases
Federal, state and local contract recordsand databasesFederal, state and local contract recordsand databases
Incorporation recordsIncorporation records
Court recordsCourt records
Sourcing, InterviewingSourcing, Interviewing
Making timeMaking time
Doing your research on the personDoing your research on the person
Making the ground rules clearMaking the ground rules clear
Let them talkLet them talk
Scripting the interviewScripting the interview
Writing and editing the story Writing and editing the story
AccuracyAccuracy
HumansHumans
Use of graphicsUse of graphics
Use of chronologiesUse of chronologies
The screenplay: Tension and resolutionThe screenplay: Tension and resolution
Getting editor buy inGetting editor buy in
Again, always think minimum storyAgain, always think minimum story
Know your editor and manage up byanticipating responses and needsKnow your editor and manage up byanticipating responses and needs
If you have to use the buzz words, usethemIf you have to use the buzz words, usethem
Believe in coaching and journalism as acooperative endeavorBelieve in coaching and journalism as acooperative endeavor
Promise yourself nowPromise yourself now
List three small tasks to accomplish onMondayList three small tasks to accomplish onMonday
List an objective for the first week backList an objective for the first week back
Write one goal from the seminarWrite one goal from the seminar
Agree to remind each other of theobjective at the end of the weekAgree to remind each other of theobjective at the end of the week
Agree to remind each other of the goal twoweeks laterAgree to remind each other of the goal twoweeks later