Question 1

You can be confident that you have hit on a good idea for an investigative project if __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  People are hurt by the problem 
B)  No one else but you knows about the problem 
C)  A problem is complicated 
D)  People don't want to talk about the problem 
A)  People are hurt by the problem 
B)  No one else but you knows about the problem 
C)  A problem is complicated 
D)  People don't want to talk about the problem A

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of how you can find an investigative idea simply by being observant?

Accepted Answer

A)  You receive a stack of documents in the mail, and when you read through them you realize that a government official is taking bribes. 
B)  You get a press release that tells you about a government inquiry into how your college spends money. 
C)  A friend who works for a local politician tells you about someone who is on the take. 
D)  You notice that professors who have tenure seem to cancel classes more often than the newer professors. 
A)  You receive a stack of documents in the mail, and when you read through them you realize that a government official is taking bribes. 
B)  You get a press release that tells you about a government inquiry into how your college spends money. 
C)  A friend who works for a local politician tells you about someone who is on the take. 
D)  You notice that professors who have tenure seem to cancel classes more often than the newer professors. D

Question 3

Why are news briefs great places to find investigative ideas?

Accepted Answer

A)  They quickly tell you just about everything you need to know about an issue. 
B)  They tend to be about topics relevant to your readers. 
C)  They raise more questions than they answer. 
D)  They often touch on controversial subjects. 
A)  They quickly tell you just about everything you need to know about an issue. 
B)  They tend to be about topics relevant to your readers. 
C)  They raise more questions than they answer. 
D)  They often touch on controversial subjects. C

Question 4

Ideas for investigative stories are all around us and are easy to spot.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What does it mean when a reporter reads a story that makes her raise her eyebrows?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does it mean when a reporter...

Question 6

Government officials and corporations sometimes try to bury important information by making it sound dull.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

When can a daily story suggest a widespread problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  If it gets widespread coverage on television and radio 
B)  If you realize what is being reported might not be a one-time occurrence 
C)  If multiple government agencies respond to the problem 
D)  If you realize that the problem is widely known. 
A)  If it gets widespread coverage on television and radio 
B)  If you realize what is being reported might not be a one-time occurrence 
C)  If multiple government agencies respond to the problem 
D)  If you realize that the problem is widely known.

Question 8

How is a tip different from gossip? And how can either be useful for investigative reporting?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How is a tip different from gossip?...

Question 9

You can get ideas for good investigative stories by reading long, boring reports.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Annie Lang theorized that we process, analyze and keep only information that meets our personal goals or that is new and different. How can that apply to investigative reporting?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Annie Lang theorized that we process, analyze...

Question 11

Name an example of an investigation that can be done in just about any college campus.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Name an example of an investigation that...

Question 12

You have to look for investigative stories because you don't want to do one that has already been done.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following is a reason a problem is worth investigating

Accepted Answer

A)  It is timely. 
B)  It angers people. 
C)  It affects you personally. 
D)  It is controversial. 
A)  It is timely. 
B)  It angers people. 
C)  It affects you personally. 
D)  It is controversial.

Question 14

How can unrelated events form the basis for an investigative project?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can unrelated events form the basis...

Question 15

Why might a problem be worth investigating even if it no longer causes any harm?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why might a problem be worth investigating...

Question 16

What kind of investigation might you do in a university cafeteria?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kind of investigation might you do...

Question 17

Investigative reporter Morton Mintz broke the thalidomide scandal after reading the fine print on a bottle of medication.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What might you find when you read the fine print in documents and reports?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What might you find when you read...

Question 19

You don't just stumble onto investigative stories. So how might you find a story as you go about your daily routine?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You don't just stumble onto investigative stories....

Question 20

Why can replicating an investigation someone else has done be a valid investigative project?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why can replicating an investigation someone else...

You can be confident that you have hit on a good idea for an investigative project if __________.

Which of the following is an example of how you can find an investigative idea simply by being observant?

Why are news briefs great places to find investigative ideas?

Ideas for investigative stories are all around us and are easy to spot.

What does it mean when a reporter reads a story that makes her raise her eyebrows?

Government officials and corporations sometimes try to bury important information by making it sound dull.

When can a daily story suggest a widespread problem?

How is a tip different from gossip? And how can either be useful for investigative reporting?

You can get ideas for good investigative stories by reading long, boring reports.

Annie Lang theorized that we process, analyze and keep only information that meets our personal goals or that is new and different. How can that apply to investigative reporting?

Name an example of an investigation that can be done in just about any college campus.

You have to look for investigative stories because you don't want to do one that has already been done.

Which of the following is a reason a problem is worth investigating

How can unrelated events form the basis for an investigative project?

Why might a problem be worth investigating even if it no longer causes any harm?

What kind of investigation might you do in a university cafeteria?

Investigative reporter Morton Mintz broke the thalidomide scandal after reading the fine print on a bottle of medication.

What might you find when you read the fine print in documents and reports?

You don't just stumble onto investigative stories. So how might you find a story as you go about your daily routine?

Why can replicating an investigation someone else has done be a valid investigative project?

What Is Investigative Reporting

Setting up the Investigation

Finding Human Sources

Documenting the Investigation

Public Records

The Interview Process

Finding and Using Data

Building Your Own Database

Analyzing a Big Story

Writing the Story

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Bulletproofing the Investigation

Pitching the Story

Filters

Exam 2: Finding the Story

You can be confident that you have hit on a good idea for an investigative project if __________.

Which of the following is an example of how you can find an investigative idea simply by being observant?

Why are news briefs great places to find investigative ideas?

Ideas for investigative stories are all around us and are easy to spot.

What does it mean when a reporter reads a story that makes her raise her eyebrows?

Government officials and corporations sometimes try to bury important information by making it sound dull.

When can a daily story suggest a widespread problem?

How is a tip different from gossip? And how can either be useful for investigative reporting?

You can get ideas for good investigative stories by reading long, boring reports.

Annie Lang theorized that we process, analyze and keep only information that meets our personal goals or that is new and different. How can that apply to investigative reporting?

Name an example of an investigation that can be done in just about any college campus.

You have to look for investigative stories because you don't want to do one that has already been done.

Which of the following is a reason a problem is worth investigating

How can unrelated events form the basis for an investigative project?

Why might a problem be worth investigating even if it no longer causes any harm?

What kind of investigation might you do in a university cafeteria?

Investigative reporter Morton Mintz broke the thalidomide scandal after reading the fine print on a bottle of medication.

What might you find when you read the fine print in documents and reports?

You don't just stumble onto investigative stories. So how might you find a story as you go about your daily routine?

Why can replicating an investigation someone else has done be a valid investigative project?

What Is Investigative Reporting

Setting up the Investigation

Finding Human Sources

Documenting the Investigation

Public Records

The Interview Process

Finding and Using Data

Building Your Own Database

Analyzing a Big Story

Writing the Story

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Bulletproofing the Investigation

Pitching the Story

Filters