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May242006

Our Commitment to Watchdog Journalism

Filed under General by nick pappas at 2:25 pm

OK, let’s have a quick showing of hands. How many of you noticed anything different about last Wednesday’s Telegraph?

Actually, that’s probably not a fair question, given that Wednesday represented the third of pretty much four consecutive days of extensive flood coverage.

The reason I ask is that weeks before the first drop of rain fell in the area, we decided to do something here that we hadn’t done during my nearly two decades at The Telegraph:

We declared Tuesday, May 16, a holiday of sorts and sent 19 reporters, editors and photographers to an all-day training session at The Boston Globe. In fact, had it not been for the flooding, we would have sent 23 staff members to the workshop. To put that into some perspective, that’s only a few people short of half our entire newsroom.

(And, for the record, we still believe we put out a pretty damn good newspaper that day, not to mention our frequent updates on our Web site.)

What could possibly have been so important that we would put ourselves in such a challenging situation?

Watchdog journalism. That’s right. Watchdog journalism.

Last Tuesday, the New England Associated Press News Executives Association sponsored a Better Watchdog Workshop by Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the craft of investigative reporting. It’s mission statement: "to foster excellence in investigative journalism, which is essential to a free society."

Among the topics covered were: "The art of finding and cultivating sources," "Paper and database trails," "Making effective use of the Internet for investigations," "Dissecting profit and nonprofit businesses," "The right to records and meetings," "Managing and juggling" and "Following the money trail in elections." In short, a veritable smorgasbord of journalistic delights.

What is watchdog journalism? I’ve read numerous definitions over the years, but here are perhaps my two favorites, both of which came out of a watchdog reporting seminar last spring at the Poynter Insitutute in St. Petersburg, Fla.:

  • "Watchdog journalism is looking out for the civic interests of our readers by pursuing an aggressive and independent agenda of stories — both in words and visually, in print and online — that uncovers problems in the community and offers solutions."

Or more simply:

  • "Watchdog journalism is being a private eye for the public good."

I couldn’t have said it any better myself.

Since being named editor last summer, I’ve made no bones about making watchdog journalism a priority here at The Telegraph. That’s one of the reasons why we hired nationally recognized investigative reporter Bill Dedman to be our managing editor/readership last September.

In fact, in the story announcing his hiring, this is what I said: "Bill’s rich background in investigative reporting will be absolutely critical as we move to strengthen The Telegraph’s reputation as a community watchdog."

That’s why we’ve been so aggressive in our coverage of the city’s property tax assessments. That’s why we chose to shed some light on the city paying out $9 million in overtime last year. That’s why we’ve been an active participant in the national observance of Sunshine Week — and I’ve eagerly volunteered to serve as New Hampshire coordinator — for the past two years.

Yes, we took some major risks in emptying out a good chunk of the newsroom last Tuesday — and during an important, developing news story at that.

But I am confident that decision will make us a better newspaper — and more responsive to your needs — today, tomorrow and into the future.

And that’s good news for both of us.

Viewing 4 Comments

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    Nick,


    I endorse your commitment to making watchdog journalism a priority. That's as it should be.


    However, there is one subject that almost inevitably leads to tension between publisher and editor.


    What happens if and when you and Terry Williams are at opposite poles on a major civic issue that involves the City of Nashua, or the Greater Nashua region?


    Publishers very often are "boosterish" about the city and region they cover. A new stadium, buying the water works, building an arts center, tax assessments, clearing a path for a superhighway to increase commerce.


    On the other hand, news editors very often are skeptical about the same issues, and ask hard questions that the boosters would prefer not be asked.


    Publishers very often meet and greet those who have power and influence in a city/region. But editors don't, or should do so cautiously.


    So what happens when the irresistable force meets the immovable object?


    And, of course, it's not a level playing field. Ultimately, the publisher has the power.


    Just curious.

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    Kirby:


    You've drawn up an interesting hypothetical that lays out the inherent conflict between publisher and editor -- whether here at The Telegraph or at any other newspaper in the country. Still, having worked with Terry for nearly 25 years -- first at The Sun of Lowell, Mass., and then here -- I can assure you that's not something that keeps me awake nights. Terry started his career as a reporter, and his route to the publisher's office went directly through the newsroom. As such, he has a first-hand understanding of the invisible barrier that separates the publisher's office from the newsroom. In other words, based on our history together, the next time Terry exerts influence to spike a news story will be the first time. Hope this helps to put your mind at ease.

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    Nick,


    When I read yesterday's Telegraph, I was again reminded of why I am still addicted to the pleasures of reading an acutal newspaper, as opposed to persusing the Web version. Not that there's any thing wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld would say.


    The careful newspaper reader gains added value from the news, in my opinion. He can see how editors choose to give some stories more importance than others. He can happen on a story by chance, and be drawn into it, and learn something new. That's much harder to do on the Web.


    Finally, powerful, insightful, and sometimes ironic connections can be made that provide great insight.


    So, yesterday I read Hattie Bernstein's important article about how "a growing number of area residents, many of them elderly or disabled, are having difficulty getting rides to routine medical appointments."


    I hadn't really thought about this before, and was once again dismayed at how this richest country in the world let's down its most vulnerable citizens by not providing much needed social services.


    Then I read the editorial about Carmella LaSpada, Chuck Hagel, and the $1.5 million Moment of Remembrance.


    In the span of 6 pages, a story and an editorial collided, and the reader, who has been thinking about the story, now encounters an editorial that correctly points out how over a million dollars has been wasted on a foolish folly, courtesy of a U.S. senator.


    That brought me back to the moving front-page photo by Don Himsel, of Mary Alice Fullerton coming to the aid of Arthur Burke, who needed a ride to a medical appointment.


    A $1.5 million boondoggle and a man who depends on the kindness of strangers to see a doctor.


    Thanks for continuing to actually print copies of the papers. It helps me think.

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    Dear Nick,

    Thanks for your watchdog approach to your paper's journalistic endevours.


    I would like to see more stories with benevolent, helpfull investigations which would make the Telegraph an advocate for helpless people in seemingly hopeless situations.


    Taking and emphasizing the side of the underdog, would be more of a public service than to spend too many words in an attempt to make balanced views.


    Looking forward to reading more articles containing Watchdog Journalism.


    Richard Tuniewicz

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