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Driving Impact With Investigative Reporting
Driving Impact With Investigative Reporting
Foundation
Paul Miller Fellows, 2019
Driving Impact With
Investigative Reporting
June 3, 2019
Mark Greenblatt
Sr. National Investigative
Correspondent, Newsy &
Scripps Washington Bureau
@greenblattmark
Behind the story: Case Cleared
Get Organized: Develop a FOIA Tracker
Transforming “no” to “yes” to receive data...
*Most cities initially denied our request, or asked for too much money. In Los Angeles County….
*We routinely pushed back, citing other agencies in the same state-- making sure to tell
agencies about what both larger and smaller entities charged for the same request.
Document records
Data records requests Talking to real people
requests
*Get off the phone. We made time for face to face meetings with sources
despite the cost of a trip to Austin.
*Network. We asked everyone: Who else knows about this? Who else
should we talk to?
*Find common ground. In this case we connected with a key source because
of past reports in Texas and a love of the Boston Red Sox.
*BE HONEST: When we almost lost the interview, in four hours of
conversation, our key message was: you’re right to be nervous. They will
likely attack you. Now, let’s talk in real ways about how that will play out…
Landing the Chief, on camera
*Before asking for an interview, we asked the Austin police to check our math.
Their first response was in writing- confirming accuracy.
*For more than a month later, Austin police ignored multiple requests for an
interview. We went up the chain. (sharing initial written response from police).
*Within days, the interview with the chief was on.
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Podcasts: A Chance To Tell The Story Behind the Story
Responsible Reporting Steps While Under Fire,
Or Under Threat From Those You’re Reporting On