Journalists learn how to dig deep

GLORIA ROMANO/LATINO REPORTER DIGITAL STAFF
David Donald, IRE's traning director, offers tips
on how to do better investigative reporting

By Gloria Romano
Latino Reporter Digital Staff

“Call it investigative reporting, watchdog journalism or enterprise reporting, it’s not about what we call it, but about what you do,” said David Donald, training director for the Investigative Reporters and Editors this morning at the Better Watchdog Journalism workshop.

According to Donald, the goal of IRE is to help reporters become better at investigating and interviewing their subjects. “The idea behind this is that all reporters should go deeper with their stories,” said Donald. “All reporters can do this work, but the watchdog function is to be the eyes and ears for people.”

Donald says the web is a basic reporter’s tool today. “Journalists should use the online world to find tips, to see what is going on out there, and use it effectively,” he said. Another tip he offered is to keep up on what is happening on journalism. “Have books from the professionals that you cover,” he said. “You need to know their specialty and keep up with what they are covering.”

Donald also advised journalists to learn how to use spreadsheets. “The good stories are deeper in the numbers,’’ he said.

Josh Frank, a Sun-Sentinal intern and an attendee at the workshop said he was looking forward to picking up a lot of good information.

“It will help me to better myself as a journalist.” Frank said. “I will be getting interesting links and information that will save me time when I do my stories.”