With all the pressing demands on the already wearied industry, investigative journalism is not always on the radar.
This does not have to be the case, according to Lisa Carricaburu, an assistant managing editor at The Salt Lake Tribune.
Carricaburu, presenting to the APSE West Region annual meeting this month in Los Angeles, gave tips for ways to make investigative journalism work at individual newspapers and across the board.
“This is what we do that no one else does and something that can really keep us going,” Carricaburu said.
Carricaburu talked about ways to manage a project to supplement a presentation by Antelope Valley Press sports editor Toby Carrig and Los Angeles Times investigative reporter Lance Pugmire on why investigative journalism is necessary.
During the nearly 45-minute presentation, discussion began with time constraints, diminishing resources and daily demands not related to long-term projects that journalists face. As a way to combat these pressures, Carricaburu gave a simple answer: focus.
When choosing to partake in an investigation, the most important question to ask is, “Do readers care?” Beat writers and reporters who are out in the field are the best resources to find a topic that will have an impact on its audience.
After finding a project to tackle, the biggest step is assembling a team that will be able to produce quality content. Defining the project initially will give the team focus and help guide the direction it takes.
Carricaburu emphasized the importance of meetings and communication for the team. She said it keeps the project on track and helps explore all angles and questions that arise. Another important aspect is developing a back-out schedule in which specific deadlines are set for each part of the project.
Even with careful scheduling, the project needs to be monitored so that it does not lose focus. Carricaburu suggested setting up at least three meetings – an initial meeting to define the project, a follow-up meeting to formalize and a third meeting for finalization – to make sure the team knows exactly what to expect.
Mapping the progress through charts and schedules also can be beneficial, according to Carricaburu. She suggested using Web sites like IRE.org, PMI.org and Poynter.org.
Even after the reporting is completed, managing the project is not over. Carricaburu emphasized the need for time to edit everything from the stories to graphics and design to multimedia elements.
Once published, Carricaburu said the most important step is to promote the project. If the project is important enough to be completed, it is important enough to be marketed.
One way to get the project to the widest audience, according to Carricaburu, is to get media partners involved by having reporters offer their expertise on the project to other outlets. Social networking and promoting online and in print can also get the word out to readers.
Managers also need to be aware of when is the best time to publish the project online. While there is not a solid rule, it is something that the team should discuss in order for the project to have the biggest impact.
After the project is complete, Carricaburu said it is important to follow up with readers to find out how they reacted and if more reporting is necessary. Also, debrief with the team in order to find out what worked and what did not work in order to strengthen the next project.
“Don’t be discouraged by a lack of resources,” Carricaburu said. “Just do (investigative reporting) and keep it on track.”
