@bizjournalism
Two Minute Tips
Chapter 9: Investigative Quiz
Test your knowledge of the investigative chapter material!
1 / 10
What does PACER stand for?
Answer can be found on page 99.
Correct! The PACER website, provided by the federal judiciary, costs money, but it’s an excellent resource for looking into federal court cases.
2 / 10
Which of the following websites would be useful when looking for information that has been buried in SEC filings?
Answer can be found on page 100.
Correct! All of these websites are helpful resources for journalists, but Footnoted specifically tracks SEC filings and highlights buried nuggets of corporate news.
3 / 10
When localizing an investigative story, you should:
Answer can be found on page 97.
Correct! Localizing an investigative business story – assuming it isn’t a piece that starts and ends in your backyard – often involves picking some broader national or even international subject and then finding a hook close to home.
4 / 10
Which of the following has free resources for journalists that want to learn new software?
Answer can be found on page 101.
Correct!
5 / 10
True or false: You don’t have to specialize in investigative reporting to come across a great investigative story.
The great thing about investigative business reporting is that any reporter has the capacity to do it. Read more on page 94.
Correct! The great thing about investigative business reporting is that any reporter has the capacity to do it. Some of the best investigative journalism has been done by beat reporters, who in the course of their routine beat work ran across a document or a source that opened a door to an important story.
6 / 10
A ________ is when the government makes an arrangement where they agree not to indict a corporation if the company pays penalties, cooperatives, or makes certain changes.
Answer can be found on page 103.
7 / 10
True or false: The desire to paint things as much as possible in terms of good versus bad, rather than highlighting the moral complexities that often exist, is a mistake in investigative reporting.
Reality rarely comes in just black and white. A reporter should always seek out information that could challenge or modify the story’s basic theme. Read more on page 102.
Correct! Reality rarely comes in just black and white. A reporter should always seek out information that could challenge or modify the story’s basic theme.
8 / 10
Why is the Wayback Machine website useful?
Correct! This can be useful in seeing what information a company or entity used to have on its website – and possibly removed in hopes that nobody would find it.
9 / 10
On which organization’s website can you find the EDGAR database?
Correct! In addition to containing the EDGAR database, the main webpage for the SEC contains lots of information on securities, laws, and regulations as well as enforcement cases brought by the agency.
10 / 10
Contacting a subject for their side of the story early on serves which purpose?
Answer can be found on page 102.
Correct! Whatever path you take on reporting the story, it’s vital to keep testing your main premises early and often.
Your score is
The average score is 80%
Restart quiz
Get Two Minute Tips For Business Journalism Delivered To Your Email Every Tuesday
Every Tuesday we send out a quick-read email with tips for business journalism. Sign up now and get one Tuesday.
