A free press, free to investigate and report on responsibly, compelling stories, is essential to a democracy. A 10-slide presentation details where to get ideas, how to go about an investigation, gather data, and assure the accuracy of information gathered. Using an Investigative Reporting Planner, class members then work independently to research and write an investigative article about a topic they find intriguing.

Concepts

investigative journalism, journalism, journalism ethics, facts, news reporting

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Have groups investigate and report to the whole class what they learned about the work of Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, David Halberstam, Bob Woodward, and Carl Bernstein
• Brainstorm with the class possible topics for their investigative articles

Classroom Considerations

• The first lesson of two in an investigative journalism unit

Pros

• Includes a link to both free and restricted academic research resources and databases

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.3 SL.11-12.1.a SL.11-12.3