Democracy’s Detectives: The Economics Of Investigative Journalism
by James T. Hamilton /
2016 / English / PDF
20.6 MB Download
In democratic societies, investigative journalism holds
government and private institutions accountable to the public.
From firings and resignations to changes in budgets and laws, the
impact of this reporting can be significant―but so too are the
costs. As newspapers confront shrinking subscriptions and
advertising revenue, who is footing the bill for journalists to
carry out their essential work?
In democratic societies, investigative journalism holds
government and private institutions accountable to the public.
From firings and resignations to changes in budgets and laws, the
impact of this reporting can be significant―but so too are the
costs. As newspapers confront shrinking subscriptions and
advertising revenue, who is footing the bill for journalists to
carry out their essential work?Democracy’s Detectives
Democracy’s Detectives
puts investigative journalism under a magnifying glass to clarify
the challenges and opportunities facing news organizations today.
Drawing on a painstakingly assembled data set of thousands of
investigations by U.S. journalists, James T. Hamilton deploys
economic theories of markets and incentives to reach conclusions
about the types of investigative stories that get prioritized and
funded.
puts investigative journalism under a magnifying glass to clarify
the challenges and opportunities facing news organizations today.
Drawing on a painstakingly assembled data set of thousands of
investigations by U.S. journalists, James T. Hamilton deploys
economic theories of markets and incentives to reach conclusions
about the types of investigative stories that get prioritized and
funded.
Hamilton chronicles a remarkable record of investigative
journalism’s real-world impact, showing how a single dollar
invested in a story can generate hundreds of dollars in social
benefits. An in-depth case study of Pulitzer Prize–winning
reporter Pat Stith of
Hamilton chronicles a remarkable record of investigative
journalism’s real-world impact, showing how a single dollar
invested in a story can generate hundreds of dollars in social
benefits. An in-depth case study of Pulitzer Prize–winning
reporter Pat Stith ofThe News and Observer
The News and Observer in Raleigh,
NC, who pursued over 150 investigations that led to the passage
of dozens of state laws, illustrates the wide-ranging impact one
intrepid journalist can have. Important stories are going untold
as news outlets increasingly shy away from the expense of
watchdog reporting, Hamilton warns, but technology may hold an
answer. Computational journalism―making novel use of digital
records and data-mining algorithms―promises to lower the costs of
discovering stories and increase demand among readers.
in Raleigh,
NC, who pursued over 150 investigations that led to the passage
of dozens of state laws, illustrates the wide-ranging impact one
intrepid journalist can have. Important stories are going untold
as news outlets increasingly shy away from the expense of
watchdog reporting, Hamilton warns, but technology may hold an
answer. Computational journalism―making novel use of digital
records and data-mining algorithms―promises to lower the costs of
discovering stories and increase demand among readers.