Sports Journalism

Detailing the painstaking work of investigative journalists and offering case studies as examples, the “Investigative Journalism That Inspired Change” series is both educational and eye-opening. Each of the four titles has some overlapping information: a definition of investigative journalism and the differences between investigative journalism and conventional journalism; the qualities of an investigative journalist; the 5 Ws of news reporting and the process involved in following a story; sources of information and the need to protect sources; the investigative journalist’s code of ethics; the use of scientific evidence and data analysis involved in an investigation; determining the best medium to share findings; and the importance of investigative journalism to report abuse of power, unsolved crimes and general wrongdoing. Some of the work of investigative journalists can have a global impact and drive changes in policy. Three case studies are provided in each title, and what is most impressive about them is the tenacity and perseverance of the journalists whose thorough investigations have often taken years. Many of the investigative journalists featured have won awards for their work which has been presented in books, documentaries and newspaper and magazine articles, to name a few. Text boxes provide quotes as well as additional information, while colour photographs, charts and graphs reinforce the text. A table of contents, a glossary, an index, and a list of books and websites for further study are included

Sports journalists have tackled such topics as drug abuse among athletes, unfair practices to determine Olympic host cities and the high death rates of racehorses. In Sports Journalism, readers will learn about Andrew Jennings’s 13-year investigation into FIFA executives who accepted bribes, mismanaged funds, rigged voting and illegally sold World Cup tickets. During the course of his research, Jennings received threats, was assaulted and banished from FIFA events. The evidence he gathered led to 42 people and three companies being charged with bribery, racketeering, money laundering, forgery and tax evasion and the resignation or firing of many FIFA officials. Following the death of 28-year-old NHL hockey player Derek Boogaard, investigative journalist John Branch studied the effects of on-ice fighting among hockey players. His research concluded that the NHL’s culture of violence contributed to Boogaard’s condition, specifically chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repeated blows to the head, and to his painkiller addiction and subsequent death. Branch also discovered that, in one three-month period, eight different NHL doctors prescribed 11 different painkillers to Boogaard. The final case study in this title documents the investigation into the abuse of female gymnasts by their coaches and USA Gymnastics’ (USAG) ignoring their complaints and allowing the abuse to continue for years. As a result of reading the article entitled “Out of Balance”, published by IndyStar, a former gymnast came forward with allegations of abuse against the team doctor for USAG. The doctor was later tried, convicted and sentenced to 175 years in prison.

The stories in the “Investigative Journalism That Inspired Change” series are powerful, thought-provoking and illuminating, emphasizing the important role that investigative journalists play in bringing important issues to light.