Associated Press Associated Press Reporting Reporting HandbookHandbook

The Tools of Investigative The Tools of Investigative WorkWork

Chapter 19Chapter 19

AP and InvestigationsAP and Investigations

AP used to do the breaking news and AP used to do the breaking news and features, but left the investigative pieces to features, but left the investigative pieces to the newspapers and television networks.the newspapers and television networks.

In recent years, the AP has looked into In recent years, the AP has looked into several issues, including safety at several issues, including safety at amusement parks and child labor in the amusement parks and child labor in the fashion industry.fashion industry.

There is a greater emphasis on looking into There is a greater emphasis on looking into political, economic and social injustice.political, economic and social injustice.

Investigative reporting is “a label Investigative reporting is “a label for that front-page for that front-page disclosuredisclosure kind kind of story.” of story.”

Lou Boccardi, president APLou Boccardi, president AP

Meticulous with sourcesMeticulous with sources Careful with reportingCareful with reporting Fearless about asking unpleasant Fearless about asking unpleasant

questionsquestions Ability to organize complicated Ability to organize complicated

storiesstories A willingness to do hard workA willingness to do hard work

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Investigations: A Mental Patient’s Investigations: A Mental Patient’s DeathDeath

Chapter 20Chapter 20

““Somebody Help Me … I’m Somebody Help Me … I’m Dying”Dying”

By BILL BASKERVILLBy BILL BASKERVILLAssociated Press WriterAssociated Press Writer

Read the first part of the story: Page 175Read the first part of the story: Page 175 The stage has been setThe stage has been set The plot of the story has been revealedThe plot of the story has been revealed We know she diesWe know she dies We don’t know how. We wonder “Why?”We don’t know how. We wonder “Why?” We leave her with her arms and legs We leave her with her arms and legs

strapped downstrapped down

We learn about Gloria “Sissie” HuntleyWe learn about Gloria “Sissie” Huntley Childhood love for animals – sets them freeChildhood love for animals – sets them free Early teen years, she was a runawayEarly teen years, she was a runaway In Central State Hospital at age 13In Central State Hospital at age 13 She couldn’t read well enough to hold a She couldn’t read well enough to hold a

jobjob Gloria ran away again. Wound up in a Gloria ran away again. Wound up in a

Mental HospitalMental Hospital She ran away to North Carolina and was in She ran away to North Carolina and was in

a mental hospital therea mental hospital there Returned to CSH and diagnosed Returned to CSH and diagnosed

psychoticpsychotic

She went to to maximum security She went to to maximum security Forensic Unit after attacking two staff Forensic Unit after attacking two staff members at Centralmembers at Central

Then we learn about the institutionThen we learn about the institution The institution is 127-years oldThe institution is 127-years old Once called Once called Central Lunatic Asylum Use of restraintsUse of restraints U.S. Justice Department investigatingU.S. Justice Department investigating Derrick Wilson dies in restraintsDerrick Wilson dies in restraints Huntley had asthma, epilepsy and bad Huntley had asthma, epilepsy and bad

heartheart

Doctor warned of her conditionDoctor warned of her condition Staff became menacing toward her when Staff became menacing toward her when

he asked them to be more nurturing. he asked them to be more nurturing. They resented having to give her special They resented having to give her special treatmenttreatment

She was sent to a part of the hospital She was sent to a part of the hospital where mental patients charged with where mental patients charged with crimes are keptcrimes are kept

““One day I will get my life togetter (sic). One day I will get my life togetter (sic). I hope you can see that before it is too I hope you can see that before it is too late.”late.”

Central State Hospital’s use of restraint Central State Hospital’s use of restraint was determined to be excessivewas determined to be excessive

Associated Press reports about Associated Press reports about Huntley’s case prompted CSH to Huntley’s case prompted CSH to stop using restraints as part of its stop using restraints as part of its treatment regimentreatment regimen

Huntley had been left alone for Huntley had been left alone for about 30 minutesabout 30 minutes

““Bluish tinge to entire face. No Bluish tinge to entire face. No pulse or BP … pupils fixed & dilated. pulse or BP … pupils fixed & dilated. Skin cold and clammy, body flacid … Skin cold and clammy, body flacid … No response to enterventions (sic).”No response to enterventions (sic).”

It was too lateIt was too late

Stuffed into a garbage bag was the Stuffed into a garbage bag was the sum of her life: a hospital-issued yellow sum of her life: a hospital-issued yellow pajama bottom; a pair of worn-out gray pajama bottom; a pair of worn-out gray pants with holes in them; a yellow T-pants with holes in them; a yellow T-shirt; a blue jacket; romance novels; a shirt; a blue jacket; romance novels; a partially used tube of toothpaste and partially used tube of toothpaste and other toiletries; coloring books that other toiletries; coloring books that perhaps bespoke ties with the happier perhaps bespoke ties with the happier days of childhood.days of childhood.

““O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to you from the bottom of my heart to assist me in this my hour of urgent assist me in this my hour of urgent need.”need.”

Bill BaskervillBill Baskervill

A voice on the phone:A voice on the phone: ““I’m calling from a phone booth on I’m calling from a phone booth on

Midlothian Turnpike. I have something Midlothian Turnpike. I have something very important to show you.”very important to show you.”

An eight-page memo: “Duty to Warn.”An eight-page memo: “Duty to Warn.” Baskervill was a 30-year veteran of APBaskervill was a 30-year veteran of AP The David Hackworth call (1992)The David Hackworth call (1992)

Baskervill was working in the Baskervill was working in the Richmond BureauRichmond Bureau

Sgt. Roberto Bryan at Fort Bragg Sgt. Roberto Bryan at Fort Bragg would talk to him. War Crimes in would talk to him. War Crimes in PanamaPanama

Taco Bell and bomb checksTaco Bell and bomb checks Talking to military commandersTalking to military commanders Accepted a job as news editorAccepted a job as news editor ““Worst mistake I ever made.”Worst mistake I ever made.” Four years was all he could take Four years was all he could take

and he returned to reportingand he returned to reporting

His work has won awards, changed His work has won awards, changed government and changed livesgovernment and changed lives

“ “ I get awards. I accept them to be polite. I get awards. I accept them to be polite. But I’m not in the business for awards.”But I’m not in the business for awards.”

““For me, the pleasure is in the reporting For me, the pleasure is in the reporting -- the raw journalism of doing these -- the raw journalism of doing these stories.”stories.”

His life has been his writing and he is His life has been his writing and he is most proud of his stories to help better most proud of his stories to help better treatment for the mentally illtreatment for the mentally ill

He investigated the death of Skander He investigated the death of Skander Najor, who died of an untreated illness at Najor, who died of an untreated illness at Northern Virginia Mental Health Northern Virginia Mental Health InstituteInstitute

Maura Patten, a patient at Maura Patten, a patient at Western State Hospital, who had Western State Hospital, who had severe respiratory disease and severe respiratory disease and complained that she was dying. complained that she was dying. Two days later she was deadTwo days later she was dead

Maura’s roommate Maura’s roommate They threw Baskervill out of the They threw Baskervill out of the

hospitalhospital ““It doesn’t bother me…”It doesn’t bother me…” ““I don’t think it’s a talent. It might I don’t think it’s a talent. It might

be a pathology,” he says and be a pathology,” he says and laughs.laughs.

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Investigations: All the Pretty Investigations: All the Pretty HorsesHorses

Chapter 21Chapter 21

Created to Save Horses, Created to Save Horses, Program Sends Them to Program Sends Them to

Their DoomTheir DoomBy MARTHA MENDOZABy MARTHA MENDOZAAssociated Press WriterAssociated Press Writer Horses being slaughtered, instead of Horses being slaughtered, instead of

protectedprotected Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management

employees were profitingemployees were profiting Public adoptionPublic adoption Being sold to slaughterhouses Being sold to slaughterhouses Healthy burros and horses, not lame or Healthy burros and horses, not lame or

oldold

The AP traced more than 57 BLM horses The AP traced more than 57 BLM horses sold to U.S. and Canadian sold to U.S. and Canadian slaughterhousesslaughterhouses

Meat was shipped to BelgiumMeat was shipped to Belgium AP found that 90 percent of the horses AP found that 90 percent of the horses

rounded up each year go to slaughter. rounded up each year go to slaughter. This is thousands of horsesThis is thousands of horses

Horse meat supplants suspicious beef Horse meat supplants suspicious beef “mad-cow” disease has many people “mad-cow” disease has many people fearfulfearful

Not all send their horses to slaughterNot all send their horses to slaughter The BLM has not submitted reports The BLM has not submitted reports

since 1992since 1992

An advisory council has not been An advisory council has not been convened.convened.

““They’re a wonderful part of They’re a wonderful part of America, and we’re here to America, and we’re here to protect them. Of course, we’ve got protect them. Of course, we’ve got a ways to go.” a ways to go.” Tom Pognacik, BLM Tom Pognacik, BLM director.director.

Martha MendozaMartha Mendoza Two weeks with AP, three weeks in Two weeks with AP, three weeks in

New Mexico. New Mexico. Animal Rights GroupAnimal Rights Group News conference fiasco. News conference fiasco.

Whistleblower was screaming Whistleblower was screaming Making callsMaking calls U.S. Attorney had investigated. U.S. Attorney had investigated.

There was evidence of wrongdoing, There was evidence of wrongdoing, but no charges were filedbut no charges were filed

Freedom of Information ActFreedom of Information Act Database of federal employeesDatabase of federal employees Barbara King, the AP’s director of Barbara King, the AP’s director of

editorial training, says it is not editorial training, says it is not surprising that Mendoza was able to surprising that Mendoza was able to pull off a project of this magnitudepull off a project of this magnitude

““She is exhaustive in finding all the She is exhaustive in finding all the sources she can in her reporting.”sources she can in her reporting.”

““To learn whether the program was To learn whether the program was working as mandated by Congress.”working as mandated by Congress.”

The story made an enormous The story made an enormous splash, but there was no legal splash, but there was no legal action.action.

The U.S. Senate investigatedThe U.S. Senate investigated The program director was replacedThe program director was replaced Adoption rules were rewrittenAdoption rules were rewritten The slaughterhouse was burned The slaughterhouse was burned

down by animal rights advocates.down by animal rights advocates. She moved onShe moved on It had all started with a news It had all started with a news

conference that had gone all wrong.conference that had gone all wrong.

Associated PressAssociated PressReporting Reporting HandbookHandbook

Investigations: Doctors and Investigations: Doctors and TobaccoTobacco

Chapter 22Chapter 22

Healers Raising the “Killer Healers Raising the “Killer Weed”Weed”

By ALLEN G. BREEDBy ALLEN G. BREEDAssociated Press WriterAssociated Press Writer Doctors profiting from tobaccoDoctors profiting from tobacco

None smokedNone smoked Positions of trustPositions of trust Family practice, psychiatry, Family practice, psychiatry,

oncologistsoncologists One-time regional director of the One-time regional director of the

American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society Tobacco farming doctors advising Tobacco farming doctors advising

their patients not to use tobaccotheir patients not to use tobacco

760 doctors and health care workers 760 doctors and health care workers who own valuable federal tobacco-who own valuable federal tobacco-growing rightsgrowing rights

23 states23 states Doctors control production of more Doctors control production of more

than 7 million pounds of tobacco, than 7 million pounds of tobacco, enough to make 193 million packs of enough to make 193 million packs of cigarettes a yearcigarettes a year

$13 million in tobacco sales$13 million in tobacco sales ““I’m too greedy” -- $4,000 a year I’m too greedy” -- $4,000 a year

leasing his rights to grow tobaccoleasing his rights to grow tobacco ““maintain that part of my heritage.”maintain that part of my heritage.”

““If they’re stupid enough to If they’re stupid enough to smoke, that’s their business, I smoke, that’s their business, I suppose. I’ve never had time to suppose. I’ve never had time to feel guilty about something like feel guilty about something like that.”that.”

““I’m overweight, but I’m not I’m overweight, but I’m not blaming Heinz because they make blaming Heinz because they make ketchup with sugar in it.”ketchup with sugar in it.”

Allen BreedAllen Breed

Southeast regional reporter for APSoutheast regional reporter for AP Database of people who owned Database of people who owned

tobacco rightstobacco rights Match it against Kentucky doctorsMatch it against Kentucky doctors Agriculture Department released the Agriculture Department released the

databasedatabase Sorting out the namesSorting out the names

He is a bear on ACCURACYHe is a bear on ACCURACY Calling the doctors took a monthCalling the doctors took a month He asked the hard questionsHe asked the hard questions He questioned whether they took the He questioned whether they took the

“Hippocratic,” or hypocritical, oath“Hippocratic,” or hypocritical, oath They told the story – their quotesThey told the story – their quotes Some were petrifiedSome were petrified Is it worth it?Is it worth it? A new technique with every storyA new technique with every story Tax records and deeds can give you Tax records and deeds can give you

leadsleads

Reporting is “frustratingly Reporting is “frustratingly challenging. I hate being told that challenging. I hate being told that I can’t have access to something I can’t have access to something … I just like the challenge.”… I just like the challenge.”