4100A – 5508A – Professional Practices – Specialized Media
Investigative Journalism Project
Fall 2020
Mondays
11:35 am – 2:25 pm
Usually held in Richcraft Hall Room 3224, but virtual this term

David McKie
Office hours:
Tuesdays – 9:00 – 11:00 am
Thursdays 12:00-2:00 pm
or by appointment
Phone 613-290-7380
Email:

David, Fred Vallance-Jones, Rob Cribb and Dean  Jobb are co-authors of
Digging Deeper Third EditionYour Right To Privacy: Minimize Your Digital Footprint

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will give students the skills:

• to identify issues for investigation and in-depth research within a defined topic;
• to conduct that research;
• to find stories in the data and information;
• to discover information and data, assemble and present the data in an engaging and informative format, including online graphics packages;
• to conduct interviews and follow-up research;
• to write and build online stories using multiple media formats, choosing and using the best format for each element in each story;
• to produce finished packages of information on the selected subjects;
• to produce a guide to help non-journalists replicate the projects in their own communities.

The course, to be delivered synchronously using Zoom, will teach you how to take a deep dive into an investigative project, from pitch to final project and potential follow-up.

You will have the option of working as part of a national investigative project under the leadership of the Institute for Investigative Journalism at Concordia University in Montreal. Details about the partnership for the latest project will be explained during the first class. Much of the material produced by this multi-school collaboration during 2020-21 will be published in late October 2021.

For those who would rather pursue a more independent path, you will have the option to stick to the same them of the institute’s investigation, which would still allow you to tap into the research of other students across the country.

And for those who want to do something entirely different, you will have the option to explore ideas with the guidance of the group and instructor. Pitches must be accepted BEFORE work can begin. Pursuing more of an independent path separate from the institutes’s investigation or general topic will allow you to pursue a story you’ve always wanted to explore but never had the time. This course is also designed to give you that option, too.

A story package on each of these issues suitable for publication in the National Observer and/or Capital Current will be prepared by members of the class working in groups by the end of the fall term.

The course will operate like a project, with each group pitching their ideas on how to approach the issue, doing the research, deciding on story elements and producing the finished package. As part of that process each group will submit weekly progress reports to be reviewed with the instructor to ensure you stay on target to produce finished story packages suitable for publication by early December at the end of the term.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND READING

Digging Deeper 3rd Edition

Optional: Your Right To Privacy: Minimize Your Digital Footprint

Canadian Press Style Guide: An Overview

ASSIGNMENTS

During the year each student will complete seven assignments. Most will involve group work and be graded as a group, unless indicated otherwise below. The assignments are:

1 – Week three – A group presentation about your topic – 15 per cent of your final grade

2 – Week six – A group story pitch of your topic to a story meeting – all members of group participate in the pitch – 15 per cent of your final grade

3 – Individual story work during term – broken down by who does what within each group – 20 per cent of your final grade (individual)

4 – Week 13 – Overall final story package – 15 per cent of your final grade

5 – Weekly group project updates – from week seven to week thirteen indicating progress and status of major elements of the story package – 10 per cent of your final grade

6 – Week 13 – A group template that others can use to replicate what you did – how we did this project and how you can do it too – 10 per cent of your final grade

7 – Professionalism – 10 per cent of your final grade (individual)

8 – Week 13 – Project critique – completed at the end of the term outlining in your opinion what worked, what didn’t work and what should be done differently if we teach the course again – 5 per cent of your final grade (individual)

The specific details for each assignment can be found on the week-by-week section of the CU Learn page for the course, or my WordPress site.

That is also the place to find details about what we are doing in class each week of the term.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH STUDENTS

All communications with the class will be done virtually, the old-fashion way — phone, or email using the gmail address (davidmckiec@gmail.com) located at the top of the syllabus. Email and Google drive are the methods we will use to exchange information about pitches, progress reports and stories.

You must check the syllabus regularly to stay on top of what is happening in the class from week to week,  as class plans may change to reflect project developments during the term, or the availability of guest speakers etc.

DEADLINES

The specific deadlines for each assignment are outlined in assignment notes posted within the weekly description of course content and at the top of this syllabus.

All written assignments should be completed in MS Word format in 12-point type, double-spaced. Finished material or links to material should be e-mailed to me by the deadlines noted on the syllabus. Marked assignments will be returned promptly with my comments. Please keep an electronic copy of each finished assignment you submit and also keep copies of the returned, graded assignments.

You are responsible for filing all your assignments on time. It is not acceptable to have others file assignments for you. A missed deadline can mean you failed the assignment.

GRADING

There is no final exam in this course.The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

Assignment	Percentage
Group presentation on your topic	15
Group story pitch of your project	15
Individual story work during the term	20
Final story package	15
Weekly group project updates from week six	10
Professionalism	10
Group project template for outsiders	10
Final project critique	5
Total	100

The normal journalistic standards will apply to all assignments. Work must be submitted on time with penalties for missing deadlines. Assignments should be clear, concise, engaging and interesting, with special emphasis on originality and innovative ways of telling stories for a general audience.  Written stories should comply with Canadian Press style. Style errors in your copy will result in a lower grade.

The grade for professionalism will reflect participation in class discussions, in-class exercises, your work habits and how you present yourself as a journalist.

GRADING DETAILS

For undergraduate students: The passing grade for this course is a grade of C

Questions or appeals about your grade on assignments or other graded components of the course should be raised with the instructor no later than seven business days after the grade has been issued, as explained in the university’s undergraduate academic regulations (2.7 and 2.8). Your final course grade is based on grades earned throughout the term on the assignments and other graded components listed in the syllabus. This means requests to raise an overall course grade at the end of the term or year cannot be considered.

Standing in a course is determined by the course instructor subject to the approval of the faculty dean. This means that grades submitted by an instructor may be subject to revision. No grades are final until they have been approved by the dean.

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For graduate students: The passing grade for this course is a grade of B minus

Informal questions or appeals about your grade on assignments or other graded components of the course should be raised with the instructor no later than seven business days after the grade has been issued.

For information about the formal grade review process, please see the graduate regulations: http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradregulations/administrationoftheregulations/#15

Standing in a course is determined by the course instructor subject to the approval of the faculty dean. This means that grades submitted by an instructor may be subject to revision. No grades are final until they have been approved by the dean.

GRADING CRITERIA

Professionalism matters here, as it will throughout your careers. This is a professional school, so you will be expected to meet professional standards in both assignments and conduct.

Regarding assignments, meeting professional standards means completing them according to the criteria outlined in class and in the course outline, as well as submitting them on time. If you are unclear about the requirements for any assignment, it is your responsibility to ask the instructor for clarification well before the assignment is due.

Assignments will be graded for both their journalistic and production values. Marks for journalistic values will be based on the strength or newsworthiness of the story idea; the difficulties overcome in gathering the necessary research, interviews, photos and other elements critical to the story; the depth of the research, the strength and relevance of the audio clips, photos and other elements to the focus of the report; and the accuracy of all the details. Marks for presentation will be for adherence to the style and format for assignments outlined in class; the organization of the material; the clarity and effectiveness of the storytelling; the creative use of photos, sound, audio interviews and other interactive elements. Where the relative quality of reporting and presentation vary significantly, separate grades will be indicated and the final grade for the assignment will be an average of the two.

Letter grades will be awarded to each assignment within the following range:

An A-range grade will be awarded to excellent work. Generally, that means stories or story packages which are newsworthy, complete, clear, well-written, original, multi-sourced, use compelling interview clips, photos and other interactive elements and are ready for publication without little or no editing.

A B-range grade will be awarded to solid work. That means stories or story packages which may include good reporting and research, interesting interview quotes/clips, strong photos, appropriate audio material etc. but may be lacking in one or more of the elements required for A-range work listed above.

Grades of C or D will be awarded to sub-standard work — stories that are missing several of the elements listed above.

An F may be given to stories that are late; contain significant errors of fact; misspell the name of a person or a place; fail to meet the requirements of the assignment; or seriously violate the School’s Ethics and Professional Standards.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

This course abides by Carleton University’s Academic Integrity Policy. Acts of academic dishonesty include, but are not restricted to, plagiarism and unauthorized resubmission of work, and will be dealt with accordingly. Plagiarism is a serious offence, which cannot be resolved directly between the student and the course instructor. Penalties are not trivial. They can include a final grade of “F” for the course.

• Do not, under any circumstances, present someone else’s work as your own.
• Do not download and/or copy any files, stories, photos, audio or video you find online or elsewhere and use them as your own.
• Do not fabricate sources of information.
• Do not invent facts.
• Do not interview relatives, friends or acquaintances unless you have permission from the instructor.

For undergraduate students: Undergraduate Calendar section 12.0 Academic Integrity http://calendar.carleton.ca/undergrad/regulations/academicregulationsoftheuniversity/ or http://carleton.ca/senate/wp-content/uploads/Academic-Integrity-Policy1.pdf. If an academic offence is suspected, it will be referred to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs. The Associate Dean of the faculty will conduct a rigorous investigation, including an interview with the student, when an instructor suspects a piece of work has been plagiarized.

For graduate students: General Regulations, Section 19, of the Graduate Calendar http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradregulations/. If an academic offence is suspected, it will be referred to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.

ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

This is a professional school, and you’ll be held to professional standards in both assignments and conduct. As a student of journalism, you must read and adhere to the School’s policies.

2. Our ethics policy sets out the rules of behaviour that you, as students and journalists, are expected to follow as you carry out your assignments for this course. One of the rules, for example, makes clear that you must not interview relatives or friends for your story, except in rare and special circumstances and with the advance permission of the instructor.
3. Our publishing policy requires certain authorizations before journalistic coursework can be published outside of the class. In addition, your sources must understand that any assignments they are associated with may be published outside of class.
4. Our policy on electronic media usage requires that you follow copyright regulations with respect to your use of all materials culled from the Internet. For example, you cannot use any pictures you find online in your assignments unless you get written permission from the copyright holder to use them and submit it to the instructor.

Undergraduates can find all three policies on this page https://carleton.ca/sjc/journalism/undergraduate-studies/resources-current-undergraduate-students/

Graduates can find all three policies here https://carleton.ca/sjc/journalism/graduate-studies/resources-current-students/

You are expected to be familiar with these policies and apply them to your work. Failure to abide by them will adversely affect your standing in the course.

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. You must attend at least 9 (nine) classes in order to pass the course. If you miss more than three classes, (not including an apprenticeship) it’s an automatic fail. If you’re absent for medical reasons, you must provide the appropriate medical documentation.

You are expected to arrive promptly, not five or 10 minutes late, and not to leave class for extended breaks or to take calls. When you’re late or away, you miss material that has to be repeated. If you have a valid reason for missing a class, advise me before by e-mail, not through a friend or classmate, just as you would an employer.

Academic Advice: For undergraduate students: If you have questions about the journalism program, degree requirements, your standing in the program or your academic audit, you should contact your Undergraduate Administrator Joan Thompson at or Undergraduate Supervisor Randy Boswell at 

For graduate students: If you have questions about the journalism program, degree requirements, your standing in the program or your academic audit, you should contact your Graduate Administrator Jana Lynde-Smith at   or Graduate Supervisor Janice Tibbetts at

Apprenticeships – It’s possible you will have an apprenticeship this term. BJ3/MJ1 students may miss no more than one week of journalism courses (and in-class assignments) per academic year while on an apprenticeship. BJ4/MJ2 students may miss no more than two weeks. Please consult with me before you schedule a placement.

Deadlines – As a journalist you can’t miss them. As a journalism student, you’re not allowed to, either: a missed deadline means you fail the assignment. Exemptions due to personal illness, family tragedy or other exceptional circumstances must be arranged ahead of time whenever possible and be supported by documentation.

Electronics – Phones, tablets, laptops—please keep them muted, closed and out of sight while class is in session. Staying focused on what’s going on in the classroom will help you learn—but don’t just take my word for it. During our virtual meetings, the temptation may be greater to tune out. Please resist the temptation to do so. Read this: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1469787417721382

You’ll have breaks during our class time to step away from your computer.

Intellectual property – Classroom teaching and learning activities, including lectures, discussions, presentations, etc., by both instructors and students, are copy protected and remain the intellectual property of their respective author(s). All course materials, including PowerPoint presentations, video tutorials, outlines, and other materials, are also protected by copyright and remain the intellectual property of their respective author(s). Students registered in the course may take notes and make copies of course materials for their own educational use only. Students are not permitted to reproduce or distribute lecture notes and course materials publicly for commercial or non-commercial purposes without express written consent from the copyright holder(s).

REQUESTS FOR ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION

You may need special arrangements to meet your academic obligations during the term. For an accommodation request, the processes are as follows:

Pregnancy obligation – Please contact your instructor with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. For more details https://carleton.ca/equity/accommodation/pregnancy-accommodation-form/

Religious obligation – Please contact your instructor with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. For more details https://carleton.ca/equity/accommodation/religious-observances/

Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities – If you have a documented disability requiring academic accommodations in this course, please contact the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) at 613-520-6608 or for a formal evaluation or contact your PMC coordinator to send your instructor your Letter of Accommodation at the beginning of the term. You must also contact the PMC no later than two weeks before the first in-class scheduled test or exam requiring accommodation (if applicable). After requesting accommodation from PMC, meet with your instructor as soon as possible to ensure accommodation arrangements are made. For more: https://carleton.ca/pmc/

Survivors of Sexual Violence – As a community, Carleton University is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working and living environment where sexual violence will not be tolerated, and is survivors are supported through academic accommodations as per Carleton’s Sexual Violence Policy. For more information about the services available at the university and to obtain information about sexual violence and/or support: https://carleton.ca/sexual-violence-support/

Accommodation for Student Activities – Carleton University recognizes the substantial benefits, both to the individual student and for the university, that result from a student participating in activities beyond the classroom experience. Reasonable accommodation must be provided to students who compete or perform at the national or international level. Please contact your instructor with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. https://carleton.ca/senate/wp-content/uploads/Accommodation-for-Student-Activities-1.pdf

For more information on academic accommodation, please contact the departmental administrator or visit https://students.carleton.ca/course-outline/

Who I am:

I am an Ottawa-based, award-winning journalist who spent 26 years honing his skills at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as an investigative producer.

I am now the National Observer’s deputy managing editor.

I teach at the schools of journalism at Carleton University, the University of King’s College, and Ryerson University, and have co-authored three journalism textbooks and two user guides on freedom-of-information laws and privacy, respectively.

In addition to my teaching, I’m a data-journalism trainer who has conducted workshops for the Canadian Association of Journalists, the U.S.-based National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations. I also continue to offer data-journalism training to the CBC.

I have a Bachelor of Journalism degree and a Master of Journalism degree from Carleton.

You can find more information about me on my online cv.

A DISCLAIMER

Every effort will be made to adhere to the weekly schedule outlined on the course page in CU Learn and my WordPress site. However, as this course is part of a collaboration among journalism programs at several universities, there may be juggling or changes to the weekly schedule as the year progresses to reflect the need for common work at specific points during the term.

Investigative Journalism Examples

Award Winners

Investigative – Dan McArthur Award
CBC News: Canada’s Broken School Violence Reporting System
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5l6HcNONfc&feature=youtu.be

2019 Canadian Association Data Journalism Award winner
Institute for Investigative Journalism and media partners
Tainted Water
IIJ / Toronto Star / Global News / Le Devoir / Regina Leader-Post / National Observer

2019 Canadian Association of Journalists Student Award of Excellence
RSJ Doc / Ryerson University
Trafficked
Sarah Chew, Katie Swyers, Martha Currie, Stephanie Liu

2019 Philip Meyer Award winner
Ahead of the Fire
https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2019/07/22/wildfire-risks-more-than-500-spots-have-greater-hazard-than-paradise/1434502001/
The Arizona Republic and the USA TODAY Network

General investigations

Allergan breast implants linked to rare cancer pulled in global recall
https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2019/07/24/allergan-breast-implants-linked-to-rare-cancer-pulled-in-global-recall.html#:~:text=Allergan%20has%20announced%20a%20global,a%20rare%20form%20of%20cancer.&text=The%20company%20pointed%20to%20the,did%20not%20warrant%20a%20ban.

Biocell breast implants at centre of ‘biggest controversy in plastic surgery’
https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2018/11/26/biocell-breast-implants-at-centre-of-biggest-controversy-in-plastic-surgery.html

‘We’re guinea pigs’: Canada’s oversight process for implanted medical devices stuns suffering patients
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/implanted-files-medical-devices-icij-1.4909196

Jacques Marcoux and Katie Nicholson (CBC Manitoba)
https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform-custom/deadly-force

Week one – September 14

Thanksgiving

Week six – Oct 19

Class recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duU6h9K6z8k&feature=youtu.be

Creating annotations  in DocumentCloud

Your formal pitch will be due.

Assignment – Presentation in this class of planned story concept and elements and proposed stories if more than one is contemplated.

Week seven – Oct 26

Reading week