Expanding the Impact of Investigative Journalism
Collaborations
Successful collaborations give more life to investigative stories. Choosing the right collaborators broadens the audience, increases the impact of important findings, and expands the reach of important reporting.
Running Out of Options
Working with competing news organizations can sound counter-intuitive, but they can elevate stories toward a larger impact. In our most recent investigation, we collaborated with the Colorado Sun, an innovative online news organization. Our joint series prompted an investigation by the Colorado Ombudsman, coverage by other news organizations, and bi-partisan lawmakers to call for change in the subsequent legislative session. Successful collaborations use different story-telling techniques on different platforms to give users a unique experience on each medium.
Local Collaborations
Collaborations with local news organizations like Rocky Mountain PBS have given 9NEWS a new audience and an expanded reach. Investigations including "Losing Ground" and "Untreated", along with "Citation Nation" and "Marijuana Potency," two projects that also included a partnership with USA Today. Our first major collaboration with a local news organization, "Failed to Death" with the Denver Post, resulted in Colorado creating a new state-wide child abuse hotline.
National Collaborations
Large data sets and expanded news gathering access across the country give local stories a national impact. I have lead numerous investigations with Gannett, USA Today and TEGNA including "Dishonor Roll" a nationwide examination of misbehaving teachers led to 9NEWS and other stations producing numerous local stories in Denver and at stations across the country; we worked together to investigate police spying on citizens; we expanded an Atlanta investigation "Lost on the Line" to a look at limitations of relying on cell tower technology in emergencies across the country including Colorado; and numerous stations worked on an investigation into the dangers of gas pipes. The key to successful collaborations is unique data that allows different news organizations the opportunity to find unique stories in their markets.
