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Inside Investigation
Module 2, Activity 3.9 - News Magazines
Student Page
(teacher lesson for this lesson)

Introduction:

Investigative journalism can be a very tricky business. Journalists must strike the delicate balance between finding out the truth for the public and abiding by journalistic ethics. In this lesson, you will review feature characteristics and ethics while learning about investigative journalism.

Activities:

Task One - The Features of Investigative Journalism
Investigative journalism allows journalists to become detectives as well as reporters. News magazines allow journalists to share important information with the public.

View an example of a news magazine:
1. the fifth estate
2. W-Five

After you have watched one of these news magazines, discuss what you think the role of investigative journalism is in our society.

Investigative journalism brings important issues to the public's attention.
News magazines are feature stories that have been written for television. Review the characteristics of features, and answer the following questions:

1. What is the most challenging part about creating/researching a feature story?
2. What would be the most challenging part of the television feature?
3. Are news magazines an essential part of the media or are they simply another form of entertainment?
An important part of reporting is making sure you have all the facts. Writing and filming a feature means spending a great deal of time researching and prioritizing. files
Task Two - The Principles of Investigative Journalism
Investigative journalists are often researching a controversial issue or a public injustice. They have the power to bring the media into peoples' lives and publically expose corruption and failure. For this reason, investigative journalists have a very strict set of principles they must follow.
Objectives:

You will be able to
- identify conventions of feature stories
- identify the conventions of the electronic media
- understand the legal limitations on the media

Resources:

- case studies
- internet access

Read the Canadian Association of Journalists Statement of Principles for Investigative Journalism. While you are reading, try to answer the following question:

Why is it necessary to have a document which specifically addresses the principles for investigative journalism?

After you have finished reading, spend some time discussing the need to regulate the methods journalists can use to obtain information.

Task Three - Principles in Action
Using the Principles for Investigative Journalism complete the following activity:

1. Get into approximately five groups.
2. Take a case study from your teacher.
3. Using the principles you have just finished reading, decide as a group what your responsibility as journalists would be in the situation you have been given.
4. Appoint a reporter for your group
4. Have your reporter present your case study to the class.
5. Give your group's solution to the problem and reasons for your choices.

After each of the case studies has been discussed, decide as a class why a document like the Principles for Investigative Journalism is necessary.
balance Remember:
Journalists must make decisions every day that require them to balance the facts of the story with what is right.
 
   

Last Updated
May 25, 2005

 
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