A young throw-back journalist tackling the news biz
College Media
Veteran journalists, timeless advice
This weekend, I took part in an investigative journalism workshop set up through the UNC journalism school. In attendance:
- Alan Judd, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Joe Neff, News and Observer
- Marti Maguire, News and Observer
- Paul O’Connor, Winston-Salem Journal
First off, I have to put the link to a story Judd did last year on mental health in Georgia. It is phenomenal.
I won’t pretend that I came away from the weekend with a whole new outlook on journalism or investigative reporting. But it was really cool to talk to people doing the type of work I’d like to be doing in a decade or so. And they had a lot of good advice.
I also won’t pretend I can convey their wisdom better than they can.
Top quotes from the weekend:
Judd
“He’s just a beat reporter with an eye for wrongdoing.” On a reporter who was especially good at investigations on his beat. The opposite? “They’re more interested in pleasing their sources than really digging down.”
“They redacted names in a story I wrote. I guess that passes for FBI humor.” On a request for an FBI file.
“There’s a way things are supposed to be and the way things are. The story is in the tension between the two.”
Neff
“You’ve got to keep the dog off the sofa.” Neff via Pat Stith. It refers to continually challenging and pressing for public records from government officials. Can’t let them get used to getting away with things.
“Does it actually take you three months to get these e-mails? Maybe we should write a story about this…”
“It’s a mindset. It’s going out and finding things people don’t want put in the paper and putting it there.” On what makes an investigative journalist.
“I generally don’t like anecdotal ledes. I’d rather just indict somebody in the first paragraph.”
O’Connor
“Anywhere else, we’d just be considered rude.” The legislative press corps motto.
“Get the reputation of somebody who can’t be messed with and eventually you won’t be messed with.”
© 2008 dunn, reporter. 
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