Business journalists as investigators | Raquel Rutledge
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Business Journalists as Investigators Raquel Rutledge Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Reynolds Business Journalism Week Jan. 2, 2014
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Raquel Rutledge, an investigative reporter from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, welcomed the 2014 Reynolds Week fellows with a discussion on finding and working great investigative stories. Rutledge won the silver award in 2011's Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Journalism. “A Case of Shattered Trust” by Raquel Rutledge and Rick Barrett of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel received the silver award of $2,000. The series revealed how a firm with a decade of serious regulatory violations of sanitary conditions was allowed to operate while the Food and Drug Administration did nothing. As a result of the stories, the FDA revealed the name of the bacterium that it found in the manufacturer’s contaminated alcohol wipes. Following a permanent federal injunction against the firm, the product is no longer manufactured.
Transcript of Business journalists as investigators | Raquel Rutledge
Business Journalists as Investigators
Raquel Rutledge
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Reynolds Business Journalism Week
Jan. 2, 2014
Where to look?
• Tips from sources, beats, obscure pubs
Where to look?
• Tips from sources, beats, obscure pubs • Make it easy for readers and
whistleblowers to send in leads
Where to look?
• Tips from sources, beats, obscure pubs • Make it easy for readers and
whistleblowers to send in leads • Play off breaking news events
When to bite
• Assess scope of problem - How many might be affected?
When to bite
• Assess scope of problem - How many might be affected? • Is there a local angle? Broader potential?
When to bite
• Assess scope of problem - How many might be affected? • Is there a local angle? Broader potential? • What data are available?
When to bite
• Assess scope of problem - How many might be affected? • Is there a local angle? Broader potential? • What data are available? • Outrage factor. Do any of the facts make
your jaw drop? Is it surprising?
When to bite
• Assess scope of problem - How many might be affected? • Is there a local angle? Broader potential? • What data are available? • Outrage factor. Do any of the facts make
your jaw drop? Is it surprising? • Can you prove it with documents and
people on the record?
“Shattered Trust”
2011 Barlett & Steele Awards video
“Shattered Trust”
• Started with small story about lawsuit involving a company near Milwaukee
“Shattered Trust”
• Started with small story about lawsuit involving a company near Milwaukee
• Had many insiders telling of filthy conditions. Caution: employees sometimes carry baggage
“Shattered Trust”
• Started with small story about lawsuit involving a company near Milwaukee
• Had many insiders telling of filthy conditions. Caution: employees sometimes carry baggage
• Accountability angle with FDA. Got decade worth of inspection data. Used names
“Shattered Trust”
• Started with small story about lawsuit involving a company near Milwaukee
• Had many insiders telling of filthy conditions. Caution: employees sometimes carry baggage.
• Accountability angle with FDA. Got decade's worth of inspection data. Used names
• Married investigative with narrative
Cashing in on Kids: The story behind the story
