Getting this party started
The brown bag lunch today was about investigative reporting, which has a very loose definition according to DMN investigative reporter Doug Swanson, who gave the talk. He discussed his involvement in three different stories:
1) A case of many doctors in Texas maintaining certification despite enormous problems that included drugs, sex with patients and total ineptitude.
2) A story about a “non-profit” foster care center outside Houston whose managers were making millions as children in their care died.
3) The recent TYC stories about the disgusting abuses in delinquent centers across the state.
He talked about having the “ah-ha, something isn’t right here” moments, and the occasions when he has to tell his editors he’s been working for weeks on something that is actually nothing (“the trick to that is, always have another story ready to give the editor… ‘this isn’t working, but this one looks promising.’”
Mr. Swanson told us about backgrounding everyone to cover yourself and to benefit the story. He said 990 forms and Inspector General offices are endless sources for stories. He mentioned some of the stumbles he’s had a long the way (believing a boy he shouldn’t have, mis-hearing the cost of a fire truck).
Then, because all the interns missed school so much, we were asked if we had done our homework for the Web critique session tomorrow afternoon. Answers ranged from nodding heads to “homework?!” It was a familiar response to a question I only thought I wouldn’t ever hear again.