8. Now that you have read the first chapter of “Chasing the Truth,” revisit your response to the warm-up. What did you learn about investigative journalism that you didn’t know? Why is it important? Would you want to be an investigative journalist? Why, or why not?
9. Make a prediction: After finishing the first chapter, how do you think Jodi and Megan will continue their investigation? What are some major steps they will need to take?
10. Finally, based on what you just read, what questions do you have for the authors? (We hope to feature video versions of some of them on our Jan. 27 panel, so if you’d like to ask yours that way, follow Step 2, below.)
Going Further | Plan an Investigative Project
Now that you’ve read Chapter 1, you probably realize that an investigative journalist is likely to spend considerably more time reporting a story than writing it up. Asking the right questions, finding sources who are willing to speak on the record, identifying clear evidence, and checking and double-checking all the facts takes time.
Using your own curiosity, some of the techniques you read about in “Chasing the Truth” and the advice from Megan and Jodi you’ll hear in our “Live Panel for Students: How Investigative Journalism Works,” think about what an investigative journalism project of your own could look like.
Before the Panel
Step 1: Brainstorm your topic.
On your own or with a classmate or small group, brainstorm a list of possible issues, large or small, you’d like to investigate. Keep in mind that you’re likely to have more success investigating topics in your school or community than chasing a national or international story. Why are you interested in these subjects? Why are they relevant or important?
Our related Student Opinion question, “What Do You Want to Investigate?,” can help you get started, and offers this advice:
Think about the problems or injustices in your community or school. Consider questions you or others have about how local systems work — or don’t. Think about big investigative pieces you have read in national news outlets, and “localize” them: How does that same issue look in your area? (To help you brainstorm, you might scroll through this list of investigative pieces that have won Pulitzer Prizes or through this list of “21 Excellent Stories of Student Journalism Against the Odds.”)
When you have some ideas, we encourage you to post them and read what other students from around the world have to say in the comments section of our forum. Or, proceed to Step 2 to make a video.
