Fraud Conference Investigative Reporting IIA Fraud... · Microsoft PowerPoint - Fraud Conference...

Data, documents and sourcesHow investigative reporters go about finding and telling stories

Mike Baker | The Seattle Times

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Using data to find stories

▫ Inspection data▫ Regulatory data▫ Professional licensing data▫ Consumer complaint data▫ Extensive data about government operations

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Crunching data to verify a story

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QUESTIONS?

▫ Government records are public records.▫ Records include emails, financial documents,

databases, disciplinary files, videos, text messages, calendars of public officials…

▫ Anyone can request them▫ State agencies are required to respond in 5 days

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Getting the documents: public records

▫ Lawsuits▫ Consumer complaints▫ Regulatory proceedings▫ L&I or OSHA labor issues▫ Correspondence with government▫ Audits of government contractors▫ Political activity and lobbying▫ SEC filings

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Getting the documents: private companies

▫ https://info.kingcounty.gov/health/ehs/foodsafety/inspections/search.aspx

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Using data to find the records

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Using data to find the records

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QUESTIONS?

▫ Lawsuits▫ Public records▫ Company directories▫ Showing up at events▫ LinkedIn▫ Cold-calling

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Sources: How we find them

▫ Meet in person▫ Burner phones▫ PGP email▫ Records through mail▫ Signal app

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Sources: How we protect them

▫ You may be able to help us understand industry trends▫ You may know of industry problems we should be

aware of▫ If we’re writing about you, please don’t ignore me

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When we call you

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When you talk to me

PublicationI call You help

▫ I’m working on a story.

▫ Here’s the gist of it.

▫ I talk to experts▫ I get a better

understanding of the issues

▫ I learn context

▫ Your organization is well-represented in the story

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When you ignore me

PublicationI call You ignore me

▫ I’m working on a story.

▫ Here’s the gist of it.

▫ ??????????????? ▫ Your organization complains that it’s not the full story

Questions?

Mike Baker, The Seattle Timesmbaker@seattletimes.com

206-464-2729Also available on Signal app at same number