The Evolution of American Investigative Journalism [Paperback]

James L. Aucoin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 082621746X | ISBN-13: 978-0826217462 | Publication Date: January 31, 2007 | Edition: 1

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).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Evolution of American Investigative Journalism is well researched, soundly grounded in theory, well organized, and compellingly written. Most important, it is historiography that exemplifies excellent story telling.”—Fred Blevens, coauthor of The Twilight of Press Freedom: The Rise of People’s Journalism 

“Little has been written about twentieth-century investigative reporting other than the turn-of-the century muckrakers and, to a lesser degree, the literary journalism that became popular in the 1960s. Therefore, this much needed text fills a historical hole of significant proportion, and it brings as much attention to media function as it does to media history.”—Lloyd Chiasson, author and editor of Three Centuries of American Media

About the Author

James L. Aucoin is Associate Professor of Communications at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. He is the author of Water in Nebraska: Uses, Politics, Policies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University of Missouri; 1 edition (January 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082621746X
• ISBN-13: 978-0826217462
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,532,612 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first history of the medium, April 27, 2006

By 

D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California B... (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Evolution of American Investigative Journalism (Hardcover)

Investigative reporting has proved a challenge from America's first newspaper publication, but was a subtle practice until the 1960s when it became a vital issue. THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM offers the first history of the medium, surveying how such journalism took place from colonial to modern times, considering its rise to its critical position during the 1960s and 70s, and the founding of an investigative journalist group in the 70s to promote active investigative process. Social and newspaper history combine in a fine study of freedom of speech rights and journalistic effort.