School students to attend investigative reporting workshop

Nine top UNC journalism students will attend the school’s inaugural “Holding Power Accountable” workshop Aug. 22-24, in Oak Island, N.C. The workshop is intended to provide students with inspiration and coaching on investigative reporting.

Students at the weekend retreat will be paired with journalists who have a track record of causing positive changes in public policy through their reporting. The journalists will present examples of their work and offer students tips for interviewing, developing sources and keeping track of research. Students will have the opportunity to build mentoring relationships with working professionals.

Stephanie Bass, a communications strategist and writer, secured funding for the program through a national nonprofit board on which she served. Bass is a graduate of the school and was a reporter prior to working as a communications staffer and top policy aide for Gov. Jim Hunt. She is a member of the journalism school’s board of advisers and will take part in the workshop.

Professional journalists presenting during the program will include: Marti Maguire, News & Observer staff writer; Joe Neff, News & Observer staff writer and investigative reporter; Paul O’Connor, school lecturer and former Winston-Salem Journal editorial writer; and Alan Judd, Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigative reporter. Chris Roush, Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Scholar in Business Journalism in the school, also will present.

"Holding Power Accountable" will be held in the conference center at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly on Oak Island, N.C., which is about 2.5 hours east of Chapel Hill.