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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 [email protected]
206-464-2729Also available on Signal app at same number
