BOOK REVIEW: INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM BY WILLIAM C. GAINES

I would best describe William C. Gaines’ Investigative Journalism as a hand book for aspiring and practicing investigative journalists. It can safely be described as a comprehensive exploration of the workings of the practice of investigative journalism and a step by step guide to a successful practice, beyond the intrinsic.

Gaines has called the craft many things including unique. In his definitions, he has said that it “has its roots in good literature and story-telling skills”, that it “grew to be thought of as an independent overseer of government” and as “public service”.

In this book, we encounter investigative journalists as role models in the journalism career. They are strategists, researchers, leaders, students, pushovers, to mention a few. As Gaines says, “their craft goes beyond matters in the public domain”; they expose the rot of the powerful in a bid to protect the powerless while putting their own lives and careers on the line. Like police investigation, investigative journalists develop their own information through investigative research, conduct their own investigations, then report on their findings.

In the example of  “Mayor Mixes Public and Private Business”, what we see is a very detailed tuition on how to follow leads, do research and overcome road blockages in the pursuit of an investigative story.  Lori Benton did not stop at the greatest hurdles. And even when she came face to face with whom can be called the super powers, she found ways to reach the facts she was determined to get.

Reading Gaines’ book, I couldn’t help reminiscing about Ghana’s Ace investigative journalist, Anas A. Anas. We are given three reasons why investigative journalists tell their stories: for the exposure of rot in society, for commercial purposes and even for selfish purposes. We are told that investigative journalists everywhere are aware that “A job well done will result in public approval.” We are not there when Anas is working; but we can identify the techniques discussed in the book in his work: Initiative, transcending the system blockages, exposing rot, cleaning the corrupt system as Benton sought to do and not giving it up, et cetera.

Gains teaches methods to collect evidence: surveillance, photos, surveys, interviews, documentary evidence, etc. By comparison, Anas must be using a lot of surveillance and survey. With his use of secret cameras, doing interviews under cover, et cetera, his methods are significantly different from what we see in Investigative Journalism, however, the two still maintain significant similarities.

We also learn in Investigative Journalism that journalists use different means to broadcast their investigative pieces, the best of them being the internet as a platform, since it provides the most space, though no lesser competition. We encounter a series of investigations in a published book by Alan Johnston titled Kidnapped. Though this doesn’t fit perfectly into the definitions of investigative journalism, by its nature, we can point to it and perhaps say “That’s what Gaines is talking about”.

We learn that Investigative reporters serve as mentors in news rooms. They are held in high esteem. “Sometimes, they are normal reporters who have worked for long and impressively. They usually never go back to normal reporting.’ In Gaines’ own words.

Investigative reporters are not exempted from the laws surrounding dealing with information and people. Laws such as trespass, theft, libel, bribery and extortion etc. may only be escaped when the journalist publishes a successful story. Otherwise, the laws are applied fully where a journalist is found meddling in the private business of their subjects.

We encounter an axiom among investigative reporters that “is not likely to be challenged”: it says that there are more stories to be done than there are time and reporters to do them. This is indeed true. However, it is important for journalists to appreciate their role in curbing this problem. Indeed if every journalist would employ investigative techniques in their reportage, though not all stories may be covered, we will be many steps ahead of where we are today.

Indeed, Gaines covers investigative techniques that can be employed successfully in almost all the various segments of society: governments, corporate organisations, individuals, etc. He takes the reader through how to following a tip, follow up on a breaking story, looking for subjects for planned projects, choose relevant stories of interest, et cetera.

Gaines’ Investigative Journalism tackles all aspects of the profession in a detailed step by step manner that makes it easy for both beginners and experienced professional to easily understand the intricacies of it. It has been called one of the best hand books for investigative journalists; and that cannot be doubted.