Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism

Columbia University Journalism School is pleased to announce the formation of the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism, dedicated to training students interested in pursuing distinguished careers in investigative journalism. Candidates for the Master of Science degree are able to pursue this specialization, which is platform-neutral and is taken in addition to the traditional M.S. concentrations of broadcast, newspaper, magazine, and new media.

In order to graduate with a specialization in investigative journalism, students must apply to the center as part of their application for admission to the school, and then take all four courses offered by the Stabile Center (see below). Applicants will be eligible for scholarships designated specifically for investigative journalism. The specialization is open to 15 students per year. To apply, go to our online application, check “Yes” for the Stabile Center Investigative Journalism specialization, and complete Essay Three.

Course Requirements for Specialization in Investigative Journalism in Master of Science Program

Computer-Assisted Reporting

Students learn to use spreadsheet and database software to analyze information--essential skills for any investigative reporter. The emphasis is on using computers to find and interpret government documents, scientific and technical publications, budgets, census data and polling results, and to report the information in a clear, concise form easily understood by the public.

Investigative Techniques

The techniques of the investigative reporter are changing, requiring a mix of high-tech records research, old-fashioned shoe leather, and a sharp instinct for recognizing corruption, conflict of interest and hypocrisy. This course equips students with that mix of skills. They learn how to find and describe the residence of any person in the United States from computer records, to document business affiliations, to pinpoint useful material in complex lawsuits and extract investigative leads or evidence from government data on pollution, industrial safety, child abuse, tax-exempt charities, campaign contributors, firearms dealers, corporate executives and convicted felons. Using court records, developing sources, and examining advanced interview techniques, the course covers note-taking and record-keeping. Skepticism, factual accuracy, and teamwork are stressed. The instructor guides students through a first and second draft of three investigative assignments, and one final investigative story of publishable quality.

The Investigative Journalism Seminar

Investigative journalism is becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. No longer is it confined to reporting on corruption and uncovering scandal. The six-credit seminar will expose students to the variety of ways in which different subjects – ranging from politics to business, from the media to international affairs, from crime to race and social issues – can be investigated.

The class will study techniques for developing story ideas and pursuing investigations. It will learn from the research and reporting methods used by the best investigative journalists from the muckrakers’ era to the present. Students will also examine the applicability of research methods from the social sciences to the work that investigative reporters do. The minefields that journalists encounter in the course of their research and reporting, including unreliable methods and sources, will be tackled. Speakers, including leading investigative journalists, will be invited to share their experiences; so will experts and social scientists.

During the term, the students will be divided into groups, each of which will undertake an investigative project. They will take turns critiquing and fact-checking each other’s work. Students’ projects will be mounted on the Web, so that they will learn how to present investigative reports in a multimedia format. Whenever possible, arrangements will be made to air or print the reports in mainstream media outlets.

The Stabile Colloquia

All students pursuing the specialization in investigative journalism will be required to participate in a special meetings with the Stabile Professor and Director. Two or three times each semester, students will be introduced to the nation’s top current leaders in investigative reporting, who will discuss their techniques and walk students through one of their most recent investigative projects.

The Stabile M.A. Fellowship Program

The Stabile Center offers two fellowships each year. They are available to students who complete the M.S. degree in May, have been accepted into the M.A. program for September, and plan to pursue a career in investigative journalism. The fellowship may be used during the summer between the two programs, and to help fund the Masters Thesis. Fellows will study directly with the Stabile Professor of Investigative Journalism and work on a serious investigative project for their master’s thesis.

To apply for the fellowships go to the online application and follow the “Applying for Financial Aid” instructions.