Reporting 101

What sets investigative reporting apart from day-to-day reporting? "It is the reporting, through one's own work product and initiative, matters of importance which some persons or organizations wish to keep secret." But there also is a broader view of what type of story is considered "investigative." Being an investigative reporter means being proactive rather than reactive, whether or not this entails digging up something secret. Essentially, investigative reporting means digging beneath the surface and telling your audience what is really going on by emphasizing the "how" and the "why" and not simply the "who," "what," "when," and "where.

Investigative journalism is without question the news media’s most precious asset. It is society’s watchdog, playing a vital role in a free and democratic society. And while journalistic sleuths cannot be expected to expose every scandal, their very presence keeps government officials, corporate CEOs, powerful individuals and unsavory characters glancing warily over their shoulders.
But the chatter in the nation’s newsrooms is that this kind of journalism is hobbling along on crutches and that investigative reporters are a dying breed. Fewer and fewer journalists are being given the time and the tools to dig for meaningful, newsworthy stories. Instead, they are being sent on assignments that are often trivial, flashy and stupid. And then they go a step further by trying to make them sound important.
There are a host of excuses for the lamentable condition that investigative journalism finds itself in today. The most common is the expense and time involved in doing investigations. Sadly, when confronted with a probe that offers a degree of difficulty, most newspaper editors and TV news producers fold. Instead, they settle on the safe, secure route and stick with the regurgitated and the mundane. This intransigent attitude really has more to do with laziness and lack of motivation on the part of editors, producers and reporters. It takes tremendous effort to get an investigation under way. It means developing solid sources and contacts, and convincing them to trust you with any information they supply. Then there are seemingly endless pitfalls: slammed doors, threats of libel, and dead ends. It’s enough to chill a seasoned veteran. So without the backing of the bosses, it’s often not worth the fight. Instead, it seems that the news media is content to grab on to the reins of these government investigators, taking interest only when the official report is about to be released publicly. Then all the stops are pulled out and packs of journalists are unleashed with one objective in mind–get the report leaked to them in advance so they can boast they got it first. What a journalistic coup! There is nothing more disingenuous than seeing stories dressed up as investigative reporting that are based solely on leaked government reports.
Still, as thorough as these government investigators might be, this is certainly no cause for journalists to sit back and lackadaisically wait for the next release. There are plenty of important stories that these straitlaced gumshoes overlook or would never even tackle. These stories showcase investigative journalism at its best, and they were uncovered through the dogged efforts of reporters who see their work as more than just a job. To them, it’s a calling. But stories of this caliber are few and far between.
If editors simply allowed their reporters to stop hopping from one mundane event to the next in homogeneous packs and let them roam untethered, politicians and bureaucrats would be reluctant to pull these kinds of bogus PR stunts. Yet in the real world of newspapers and TV news, image is paramount. Editors and news directors want their men and women up front reporting live and first. It gives their news outlet currency. I maintain that if they really want to make an impact and gain notoriety and respect, they should let a few of their scribes loose to dig out more noteworthy stories.
There are a number of factors that go into the making of a good investigative reporter. The main two are motivation and a finely honed sixth sense that beeps when you’re onto a good story and buzzes when the lies start flying. Another important attribute is the ability to listen hard to what people are saying and not dismiss them outright because their claims sound farfetched. So often few have latched onto incredible stories that other reporters had tossed off as too unbelievable to be true. Well, they turned out to be true, and they made for amazing headlines and riveting documentaries.
Nothing annoys me more than hearing a reporter state with know-it-all arrogance that because the police arrested a suspect, he must be guilty. Most reporters bought the police news releases hook, line and sinker. They never thought for a moment there might be another side to the story–the side of the accused. All they had to do was seek and listen. I’ve learned one important fact about listening, and that is whatever you’re told, it either has the ring of truth or the static of lies. All it takes is a little time and effort to get at the truth.

Get out your pencils........

By Edward HusarHerald-Whig Staff Writer

Jeff Jansen, executive director, told the Quincy Civic Center Authority's governing board Wednesday that he has received many inquiries asking if the center would consider offering indoor soccer again.

K&L Arena's sparkling new facility at the north end of Quincy drew many teams that previously played at the Oakley-Lindsay Center, prompting the OLC to cancel its own fall and winter soccer seasons because of a lack of participation. The OLC first introduced its indoor soccer leagues in 1996.

Jansen said he plans to explore what it would cost to buy a new playing surface for the larger, original field at the OLC that would be as good, if not better, than the playing surface used at K&L Arena's two fields.

Civic Center Authority members say they would want assurances that indoor soccer would be profitable before they sink any money into such a venture.

"We're basically out of the soccer business now," said board member Tony Sassen. "For us to go back into it," he said, it had better be worth the effort and cost.

Board member Hubert Staff agreed.

"Before we make any real investment, we want to make sure we have a business model that shows there is actually money to be made," he said.

Jansen said he received calls from several representatives of a local soccer organization who expressed a desire to play indoors at the OLC next fall. He said 15 to 20 other people also called in the past month to say they want to bring their teams back to the OLC.

The playing surface on the original field, Jansen said, is now about nine years old and in need of replacement. A slightly smaller field to the north was added about three years ago, and that surface is still in pretty good shape, he said.

Charlie Doan asked if Jansen could estimate what it would cost to buy a new playing surface for the larger field.

Jansen said he hasn't yet investigated the matter in depth, but he thinks a high-qualify playing field would cost somewhere between $30,000 and $50,000.

"I don't know all the answers right now, but I want to make sure that the board is aware that there's been a lot of phone calls," Jansen said.

He plans to bring better cost estimates to the board's March meeting. Jansen said decisions will have to be made fairly quickly, because the board needs to have its 2006-07 budget nailed down by April.

Emergency Mayor

2/23 - UPDATE:

In other action, the council tabled for two weeks a proposed ordinance spelling out the mayor's powers during a civil emergency. Alderman Richard Reis, D-7, asked that a special committee be appointed to review proposed changes in the ordinance before it is brought back to the council for a third and final reading.

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Mayor John Spring says he plans to make "refinements" to a proposed ordinance that spells out the mayor's special powers during a civil emergency.

Some community members are concerned that the ordinance, which had a second reading Monday night, goes too far in giving the mayor emergency powers. Spring said changes will be introduced next week to help ease those concerns, including references to commandeering private property for public use.

Under the ordinance, the mayor would have authority to declare a civil emergency, which would include any type of natural disaster or man-made calamity, such as a flood, tornado, earthquake or explosion, or a riot or unlawful assembly characterized by the use or threat of violence.

In the event of a civil emergency, the mayor would have power to impose a curfew or take other steps to protect the safety and welfare of the community.

The original ordinance said the mayor would have the power to close all liquor stores and taverns; discontinue the sale of beer by any wholesaler or retailer; halt the sale of gasoline and firearms or ammunition; commandeer property for public use related to emergency services — as long as the owners can apply for compensation afterward; and issue other orders necessary to protect life and property.

Nicotine Nazis

Comparing violent racists to Nazis is appropriate for obvious reasons. And when it comes to those carrying out the current war on smokers, no other group matches their tactics, approaches and arguments as well as the Nazis. It’s a damn near perfect fit.

The anti-smokers, of course, bristle at the comparison, quickly pointing out that they are not rounding up smokers and sending them to death camps. Hitler never did that to smokers either. He simply vilified them, taxed them, lied about them, restricted advertising of tobacco, and forbade smoking in public places. Comparing Hitler’s treatment of those he murdered to smokers would be absurd. Comparing Hitler’s treatment of smokers to the behavior of today's anti-smokers is a perfect apples to apples comparison.

Today’s tobacco nannies demand that no one ever smoke in any room they might enter someday. They claim hurricane force winds are necessary to clear smoke from a room. Adolph forbade anyone smoking in any room he might ever enter.

Under the control of the Nazis, smoking was banned in streetcars, and many cities instituted bans, including bans in privately owned buildings like bars and restaurants. Sound familiar?

Smoke This !!!

Mark Aleman is the President of the Great River Restaurant Association, and he owns two Quincy restaurants: Tony's Old Place and The Ritz. And he doesn't smoke.

"Let the customers decide, because they are ultimately the ones that tell us what they want. We went from our Garden Room, which seats 60 people--that was our smoking section, in 1991. We're now down to our lounge, which seats 10."

A statewide proposal banning smoking in restaurants, bars, and all other public places is once again working its way up the legislative ladder.

Amy Looten of the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce says the issue goes well beyond smoking.

"We are opposed to the government feeling that they have the right to make a business decision for a private business owner," she said.

Looten and Aleman agree that the ban raises other issues: What's the definition of a public place? Who would enforce a smoking law?

And they also wonder: If the proposal passes, will bars and restaurants lose valuable customers who smoke to places right across the river.

"Many of the small businesses operate on a very small profit margin," said Looten. "10% could really hurt."

"Just as we had the Atkins phase, and everybody started having Atkins-type dishes, we respond to what our customers ask for," said Aleman.

A statewide public smoking ban is currently under consideration in the Illinois House.

May not Have a Choice.....

Could Illinois become the latest state in the country to ban smoking in most public places?
Lawmakers are in the early stages of banning smoking in places like restaurants and bars.
This looks to be an issue that divides many people.
We checked in with one local business tonight to get its thoughts on the issue.
Smoking or non? You might have a choice now, but that may not be the case much longer. An Illinois House health care committee has approved a bill banning smoking in public places. And some aren't too happy about it.

Illinois is not alone. As of January 2004, five states including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, and New York have passed laws prohibiting smoking in almost all workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Supporters say smokers shouldn't inflict their smoke on employees and other customers. But opponents say customers should be the ones to decide by choosing whether to go to places that allow smoking. Some bars and restaurants have outside patios for smokers, but Richard McCauslin doesn't think businesses should have to resort to that.
We also talked with some supporters of the ban who say they're concerned about children's exposure to secondhand smoke. One customer who had asthma says she always sits in the non-smoking section, but the smoke still gets to her. Regardless of what lawmakers decide, Manager Cathy Miller doesn't think a ban would hurt business.
A few months ago, state lawmakers decided to let individual cities decide whether to ban smoking...a move that Chicago has taken advantage of.
Opponents say the state should give that process more time.
The smoke-free legislation now heads to Illinois' full House.

Smoking or Non-Smoking ??

the Coalition for a Smoke Free Quincy is working to educate local residents about the health risks involved with secondhand smoke and eventually hope to lobby for a smokefree ordinance targeting Quincy restaurants.

The coalition has the support of the Adams County Board of Health and the Adams County Medical Society, although the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors does not support a government-mandated smoking ban.

"We're doing assessments to see what the residents feel like," said Ellen Vonderheide, coordinator of Planned Approach to Community Health and a member of the coalition. "We'll have the results back from that shortly after the first of the year. We're looking at putting some petitions together to have citizens sign, to see the interest for a smokefree ordinance. But (pushing for an ordinance) is a little bit down the road yet."

She says about 30 people are actively involved in the coalition's efforts, and she's received numerous calls of support from community members, although she understands that some smokers and businesses object to smoking bans.

"The goal is not to infringe on the rights of anybody, but to protect the rights of non-smokers so they are not exposed to the secondhand smoke and all the health risks that secondhand smoke can represent," Vonderheide said.

"The goal is not to infringe on the rights of anybody, but to protect the rights of non-smokers ??????

More Taxpayers $$$ wasted.....

Quincy's City Hall could get a 1-point-6-million-dollar face lift. City officials say the money would pay to replace parts of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, the windows and the electrical system. They say the money saved in energy costs will pay for the project within 16 years. The Missouri Company that put in the bid guaranteed its work according to Director of Administrative Services Ken Cantrell. "Ken Cantrell/Director of Administrative services: They're going to guarantee these savings and in fact they told us in the meeting if for some reason we don't save that much money they're gonna make up the difference. So that's a win win situation is the way I see it. ." The city's finance committee and city hall committee are studying the proposal before taking the proposal to the full city council.

Didn't we just spend a wad of money on this place >>>