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Beginning with America’s first newspaper, investigative reporting has provided journalism with its most significant achievements and challenging controversies. Yet it was an ill-defined practice until the 1960s when it emerged as a potent voice in newspapers and on television news programs. In The Evolution of American Investigative Journalism, James L. Aucoin provides readers with the first comprehensive history of investigative journalism, including a thorough account of the founding and achievements of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE). Aucoin begins by discussing in detail the tradition of investigative journalism from the colonial era through the golden age of muckraking in the 1900s, and into the 1960s. Subsequent chapters examine the genre’s critical period from 1960 to 1975 and the founding of IRE by a group of journalists in the 1970s to promote investigative journalism and training methods. Through the organization’s efforts, investigative journalism has evolved into a distinct practice, with defined standards and values. Aucoin applies the social-moral development theory of Alasdair MacIntyre—who has explored the function, development, and value of social practices—to explain how IRE contributed to the evolution of American investigative journalism. Also included is a thorough account of IRE’s role in the controversial Arizona Project. After Arizona Republic reporter Don Bolles (a founding member of IRE) was murdered while investigating land fraud, scores of reporters from around the country descended on the area to continue his work. The Arizona Project brought national attention and stature to the fledgling IRE and was integral to its continuing survival. Emerging investigative reporters and editors, as well as students and scholars of journalism history, will benefit from the detailed presentation and insightful discussion provided in this book.
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The Evolution of American Investigative Journalism The Evolution of American Investigative Journalism James L. Aucoin University of Missouri Press Columbia and London Copyright © 2005 by The Curators of the University of Missouri University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri 65201 Printed and bound in the United States of America All rights reserved 5 4 3 2 1 09 08 07 06 05 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Aucoin, James, 1952– The evolution of American investigative journalism / James L. Aucoin. p. cm. Summary: “History of American investigative journalism and the founding of the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE). Discusses the murder of investigative reporter Don Bolles and IRE's subsequent controversial Arizona Project. Applies the socialmoral development theory of Alasdair MacIntyre to explain how the IRE contributed to the evolution of American investigative journalism” — Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8262-1615-1 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8262-1615-3 (alk. paper) 1. Investigative reporting— United States. 2. Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. 3. Bolles, Don. I. Title. PN4888.I56A83 2006 070.4'3'0973 — dc22 2005022114 ™ This paper meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, Z39.48, 1984. Designer: Jennifer Cropp Typesetter: Phoenix Type, Inc. Printer and binder: Thomson-Shore, Inc. Typefaces: Minion and Goudy The University of Missouri Press offers its grateful acknowledgment to an anonymous donor whose generous grant in support of the publication of outstanding dissertations has assisted us with this volume. This book is dedicated to Professor Edmund B. Lambeth and to my wife, Peggy A. Hansen Contents Acknowledgments Introduction