Watchdog Journalism

Over the past few years, I have taken several different journalism classes. The one subject I always seem to remember is watchdog journalism. I can recall chapters in every book I've read on journalism completely dedicated to it, as well as mentions of it scattered throughout the remainder of the books. Obviously, it's important. So what exactly is Watchdog Journalism?


According to Wikipedia, Watchdog journalism "is a type of investigative journalism . . . Forms of activist journalism aimed at holding accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life." While that is the technical definition, I think it's basically looking out for the little guy; keeping the government in check; making sure the average, every day citizen doesn't get scammed. 


In almost every lecture we've had in class, journalist's obligation to find and tell the truth has been discussed. This is a major player in watchdog journalism. Journalists set out to find the truth on certain situations and stories. They investigate, sometimes undercover, and report on what they find. 


There are some risks to watchdog journalism. There is always the chance that the journalist may uncover something that may not completely be accurate. In order to be truly effective, watchdog journalists need to check out all their facts before displaying them to the public. This takes time, and in a world where everyone wants news fast, some journalists fail to do this.  The example used in class talked about the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Had the person who got the leak that said Richard Jewell possibly planted the bomb checked more into the story, all the controversary may have been avoided. 


There were 3 types of watchdog journalism discussed in class; Original investigative reporting, interpretive investigative reporting, and reporting on investigations. 


Original investigative reporting is when the reporter actually uncovers and reports on things that the public previously did not know. 


The second type is interpretive investigative reporting. This is where an idea that has been carefully analyzed is developed into an investigative report, trying to piece together all of the pieces. 


Finally, there is reporting on investigations. This type of investigative reporting is developed from leaks of information from an investigative that is already going on. 


Overall, the public needs watchdog journalism. While it may uncover some untimely and sticky facts, it is what keeps the public informed.


For more information on watchdog journalism, click on these links for stories and videos:


How to do watchdog Journalism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxf90TXThY8


Watchdog team wins award:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbKqwSTD00g


Misc 
http://johntedesco.net/blog/tag/watchdog-journalism/