Unmasking Truth: Investigative Journalism

Introduction (Slide 1: Unmasking Truth)

"Good morning/afternoon, class! Today, we're going to dive into a fascinating and incredibly important topic: investigative journalism. We're going to explore what it is, why it matters, and look at some incredible real-world examples of how it has literally changed the world."

Warm-Up: News Detective (Slide 2: Warm-Up: News Detective)

"To get us started, I'd like you to put on your 'news detective' hats. I'm handing out a Warm-Up: News Detective worksheet. Please take about 3-4 minutes to think about a news story you've heard recently. What made it interesting or important to you? Did it make you want to dig deeper into the issue? Write down your thoughts, then we'll share a few as a class."

(Pause for 3-4 minutes while students write. Circulate the room.)

"Alright, who would like to share a news story that caught their attention? What made it stand out? Did anyone feel like there was more to the story than what was initially reported?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion, drawing connections to the idea of 'digging deeper' into news.)

What is Investigative Journalism? (Slide 3: What is Investigative Journalism?)

"Excellent. That idea of 'digging deeper' is exactly what we're talking about today. When we think of news, we often think of daily reports: what happened yesterday, what's happening now. But investigative journalism is different. It's not just reporting the daily news; it's about uncovering the news."

"As you can see on the slide, investigative journalism involves deep research into a single topic. It's not a quick story; it's often months, sometimes years, of work. The goal is often to expose hidden truths or wrongdoing, things that people in power might not want the public to know. And the reason for all this hard work is to serve the public interest—to inform citizens and hold powerful institutions accountable."

"This kind of journalism often involves risk and persistence. Journalists might face threats, legal battles, or incredible pressure. So, based on this, why do you think this kind of journalism is so incredibly important for our society? Turn and talk to a partner for 30 seconds, then we'll hear some ideas."

(Allow students to discuss, then call on a few to share.)

Real-World Examples & Discussion (Slides 4, 5, 6: Case Study 1, 2, 3)

"You've hit on some really important points. To truly understand its impact, let's look at some powerful real-world examples."

Case Study 1: Watergate Scandal (Slide 4)

"Our first example is the famous Watergate Scandal. This happened in the 1970s, and it involved two reporters from The Washington Post, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. They uncovered a massive political scandal involving the highest office in the country."

"What they uncovered was a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, which they linked back to President Nixon's re-election campaign and ultimately to the President himself."

"How did they do it? They didn't just report on the break-in; they pursued leads relentlessly, interviewed countless sources, many of whom had to remain anonymous. It was dangerous, secretive work."

"The impact was monumental. Their reporting eventually led to President Nixon's resignation and fundamentally changed how Americans viewed the presidency and the power of the press. Imagine being one of those reporters—what challenges do you think they faced in such a high-stakes investigation?"

(Allow for a brief response or two.)

Case Study 2: The Spotlight Team (Slide 5)

"Next, let's look at a more recent, but equally impactful, example: The Spotlight Team from The Boston Globe in the early 2000s."

"What they uncovered was a widespread pattern of child abuse and its systematic cover-up within the Catholic Church, not just in Boston but far beyond."

"How did they do it? A dedicated team of journalists spent months meticulously reviewing court documents, police reports, and interviewing dozens of victims and witnesses."

"The impact of their work was profound. It sparked global awareness, led to legal reforms, and, most importantly, gave a voice to countless survivors who had been silenced for years. How did this story, once it came to light, make a difference in the lives of many people?"

(Allow for a brief response or two.)

Case Study 3: Ida B. Wells (Slide 6)

"For our third example, we're going back in time to a truly pioneering journalist: Ida B. Wells."

"In the late 1800s and early 1900s, what she uncovered was the brutal truth and injustices behind lynching in the American South. This was a time of extreme racial violence and discrimination."

"How did she do it? She traveled extensively, often at great personal risk, gathered facts, compiled statistics, and published powerful reports, even after her own newspaper office was destroyed."

"Her impact was immense. She tirelessly raised national and international awareness, advocating for civil rights and anti-lynching laws, laying groundwork for future civil rights movements. What does Ida B. Wells' work tell us about the courage required in investigative journalism, especially when reporting on sensitive and dangerous topics?"

(Allow for a brief response or two.)

Essay Planning & Drafting (Slide 7: Your Turn: Essay Draft)

"These examples show the incredible power and importance of investigative journalism. Now, it's your turn to synthesize what we've learned."

"I'm going to hand out the Worksheet: Investigative Journalism Essay Planner. Your task is to draft an essay for the following prompt: 'What is investigative journalism? Give three real-world examples and explain their significance.'"

"You can use the examples we discussed today (Watergate, Spotlight, Ida B. Wells) or, if you know of others, you are welcome to use those too! The planner will help you organize your introduction, main body paragraphs for each example, and your conclusion."

(Distribute the worksheet. Give clear instructions to start with the planning section and then move to drafting. Circulate and provide support.)

Cool-Down: My Investigative Idea (Slide 8: Cool-Down: My Investigative Idea)

"Alright class, we're nearing the end of our lesson today. Before you go, I want to hear your final thoughts on investigative journalism."

"I'm handing out a Cool-Down: My Investigative Idea worksheet. Please take a few minutes to answer these two questions: 'What is one thing you learned about investigative journalism today?' and 'If you could investigate any issue, what would it be and why?'"

"This will help me understand what you found most interesting and what sparks your own curiosity. When you're done, please hand it in as your exit ticket."

(Collect cool-downs as students finish.)

"Thank you everyone, for your excellent participation today!"

News Detective Warm-Up

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about a news story you've heard recently. It could be something on TV, online, in a podcast, or from talking with family and friends.

1. What was the news story about?
   
   
   
   
   
2. What made this story interesting or important to you?
   
   
   
   
   
3. Did anything about the story make you want to look further into more news stories like it? Why or why not and explain your reasons.

Investigative Journalism Essay Planner

Essay Prompt: "What is investigative journalism? Give three real-world examples and explain their significance."

I. Introduction

• Hook: Start with an interesting fact, question, or statement about news or truth-seeking.
  
  
  
  
• Background: Briefly explain what journalism is in general.
  
  
  
  
• Thesis Statement: State your main argument – what investigative journalism is and why it matters, mentioning you will provide examples.
  
  
  
  
  
  

II. Body Paragraph 1: Defining Investigative Journalism

• Topic Sentence: What is investigative journalism?
  
  
  
  
• Key Characteristics: Explain its core features (e.g., deep research, exposing wrongdoing, public interest).
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Importance: Briefly state why these characteristics make it important.
  
  
  
  

III. Body Paragraph 2: Real-World Example 1

• Topic Sentence: Introduce your first real-world example of investigative journalism.
  
  
  
  
• The Story: Briefly describe what the journalists investigated and what they uncovered.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Significance/Impact: Explain why this particular story was important and what its impact was on society.
  
  
  
  
  
  

IV. Body Paragraph 3: Real-World Example 2

• Topic Sentence: Introduce your second real-world example.
  
  
  
  
• The Story: Briefly describe what was investigated and uncovered.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Significance/Impact: Explain its importance and societal impact.
  
  
  
  
  
  

V. Body Paragraph 4: Real-World Example 3

• Topic Sentence: Introduce your third real-world example.
  
  
  
  
• The Story: Briefly describe what was investigated and uncovered.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Significance/Impact: Explain its importance and societal impact.
  
  
  
  
  
  

VI. Conclusion

• Restate Thesis: Rephrase your main argument about investigative journalism and its importance.
  
  
  
  
• Summarize Main Points: Briefly recap your three examples and their collective impact.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Final Thought: End with a strong statement about the enduring value or future of investigative journalism.

Cool-Down: My Investigative Idea

Instructions: Please answer the following questions to reflect on what we learned today about investigative journalism.

1. What is one new or interesting thing you learned about investigative journalism today?
   
   
   
   
   
2. If you could be an investigative journalist and uncover a hidden truth or wrongdoing, what issue or topic would you choose to investigate, and why is it important to you?