The Journalism of Outrage: Investigative Reporting and Agenda Building in America

This is an overview of investigative reporting and what it means in American society that will help students of journalism and media better understand why it's so essential to dig deeper than the surface of events. People do bad things. Things don't always work right, be they the machinery of government, public and private agencies, schools, hospitals - you name it. And unfortunately, some of the only times those in positions of power look up from their desks (or their play) is when a journalist lays the problem on the table - with all the raw data clearly visible. But outrage can get out of control. And this book comes at the question of pointed journalistic investigation with the unspoken assumption that digging is okay and should be tolerated in the interest of the public good. Many agree with this, but the numbers are rapidly decreasing as journalists of the late Twentieth Century have abused their privilege. This book is excellent reading and study material, but should be taken with a side helping of media law, some snippets of journalism ethics studies (which are increasing, thankfully) and some common sense.