Deck 3: Setting up the Investigation

Question 1

A story premise is a conclusion you make after gathering your information.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The most interesting stories have to do with people.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Most reporters work better on their own than they do on a team.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A good team leader is someone who thrives on leadership.

Question 5

If you are going to accuse someone in an investigative story, it is helpful to first post it on a social networking site or forum.

Question 6

When comedian Sinbad checked his Wikipedia entry in 2007, he found:

A) That he had won the Lotto.
B) That he was dead.
C) That he had had a criminal record.
D) That he was married.

Question 7

Which of the following is part of any good action plan for an investigative project?

A) Compile a list of people you need to interview.
B) Consider how to use hidden cameras to prove your premise.
C) Consider ways to find sources who will leak you sealed court records.
D) Compile a list of publications who might take your story.

Question 8

When you come upon difficult terminology in your preliminary research, you should do which of the following?

A) Make sure you understand it because it will help you in interviews.
B) Ignore it because it will only make your story tedious.
C) Make sure you include it in your story.
D) Ignore it because it will make you seem pompous in interviews.

Question 9

Before you use information from a blog for publication, you should do which of the following?

A) Google the name of the blogger to see what else he or she has done.
B) See if you can find the blogger through Facebook or MySpace.
C) Double check the information with at least one reputable source.
D) See if any other publications have cited the blogger as a source.

Question 10

You can best manage conflicts among team members if:

A) People know that they will get a lower grade if they voice disagreements
B) All people work on their own until you are ready to write the story
C) They see conflicts as an inevitable part of the process
D) You appoint a strong and forceful team leader

Question 11

Why must you use Wikipedia only as a starting point in your investigation?

Question 12

What is "old fashioned" reporting?

Question 13

Why should you consider science or technology a "foreign language" when you do investigative reporting?

Question 14

What is a listserv and how could it be useful for investigative reporting?

Question 15

What key pieces of information should you get from your preliminary research?

Question 16

Why do you need to search for the same terms in multiple news databases when you do preliminary research?

Question 17

What types of people should you look for when you do preliminary research?

Question 18

Why is the writing process the trickiest stage of a team-reporting project?

Question 19

What's a wiki and how can it be useful in an investigative project?

Question 20

Why is a news angle important in an investigative project that might take months to do?