Course Description
David Fahrenthold shares the techniques of his trade, career advice and inspiration for the future of investigative journalism on a beat.
Like David says, "there is nothing in journalism that is as exhilarating as being lied to. That is the sound of after 50 feet of digging your shovel hits the top of the treasure chest."
This lively lecture contains many real life examples from David's work, from reporting on the "National Muskrat Skinning Championship" to crowdsourcing his investigation of the Trump Foundation on Twitter. You can also skip to the case studies for an in-depth look at his coverage of Trump business interests, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 2017.
Take this class whether you are a journalism student, a professional journalist or a member of the public curious to take a peek behind the scenes.
This video lecture is made possible in part by a grant from the News Integrity Initiative to "build enduring trust and mutual respect between newsrooms and the public through sustained listening, collaboration, and transparency."
The series was filmed in the Newmark J-School studio in New York.

Video lecturer
David Fahrenthold
Course curriculum
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1
1. Introduction
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Introduction
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2
2. The Trump Foundation
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Caucus Day in Iowa
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The filter was still running
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The lie that changed my life
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Twitter as a reporting tool
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"You're a nasty guy"
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Links
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3
3. Trust and transparency
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Let people see you work
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The generous playboy
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The notepads
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Trump and the orphans
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A $7 donation to the Boy Scouts
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Links
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4
4. Case Study: The portrait
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The portrait
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Links
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5
5. The Trump Organization
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Building a map
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From data to humans
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Trump International Hotel in DC
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Links
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6
6. Case study: The Saudi connection
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The Saudi connection
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Links
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7
7. How I got into journalism
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Writerly dreams
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The Harvard Crimson
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Learning from your "elders"
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8
8. The Washington Post
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Night cops
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Build your information filter
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The environment beat
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The National Muskrat Skinning Championships
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It's just you on the road
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Links
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9
9. Covering politics
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The weirdness of bureaucracy
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National Raisin Reserve
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The 2016 campaign
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Links
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10
10. Lessons for the future
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It's not the writing, it's the reporting
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Six lessons
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Survey: Did you like this lecture?
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Reviews
Introductory title is very good, simple and clear
Rose Njoroge
I enjoyed the introductory videos. It helped me connect with the tutor
I enjoyed the introductory videos. It helped me connect with the tutor
Read LessGreat information!
Harsha Nahata
Loved getting this insight into another reporter's trajectory and experiences.
Loved getting this insight into another reporter's trajectory and experiences.
Read LessLuca Peluzzi
Informative and useful to any journalist
Evelina Nedlund
This was a very helpful and informative course, and easy to navigate through each section. Very enjoyable!
This was a very helpful and informative course, and easy to navigate through each section. Very enjoyable!
Read LessShaukat Korai
Thought provoking
Lisa Sheridan
I loved the database concept he discussed. Eventually, random bits connect
I loved the database concept he discussed. Eventually, random bits connect
Read LessAllanis Menuci
Excellent, informative and interesting.
Jennifer Badders
This was an excellent, interesting and informative course. I enjoyed each section and found myself eager to tune back in after every section completed. The f...
Read MoreThis was an excellent, interesting and informative course. I enjoyed each section and found myself eager to tune back in after every section completed. The format made it easy to tune in when I was available. Great platform, and I hope to see more of these courses. Thanks, I learned a lot!
Read LessJohn Sok
David Fahrenthold’s workshop is far beyond generic good a...
Dee Dee (Deirtra) Thompson
I’m new to journalism and coming from an arts background. For me, the most inspiring takeaway was seeing how Fahrenthold relies on his creative roots in come...
Read MoreI’m new to journalism and coming from an arts background. For me, the most inspiring takeaway was seeing how Fahrenthold relies on his creative roots in comedy to ask, What if? Instead of dismissing absurdist possibilities, Fahrenthold–like the late, great Mark Lombardi–embraces and maps surreal connections in the Trump administration to source and deliver surprising information with immediate impact. Fahrenthold’s guidance is practical (cultivate a beat with a daily gleaning routine), personal (learn to tolerate awkwardness), and Promethean (create using what's readily available); I felt the urgent and exhilarating call-to-action that I’ve only experienced in person with a few gifted speakers. His hard-won and complex knowledge is accessible and illustrated with links to his stories and fascinating hand-written notes. For an aspiring journalist, he models a way of seeing and of being in the world that's hard to find in books, newsletters, or MOOC's. Thank you, Newmark J-School for this wonderful resource.
Read LessGreat practical insights
Kushlan Sugathapala
You learn a lot of things that you don't learn in more theoretical courses from academia. Working the angles, covering the more 'boring' sectors and coming u...
Read MoreYou learn a lot of things that you don't learn in more theoretical courses from academia. Working the angles, covering the more 'boring' sectors and coming up with interesting stories out of these areas.
Read LessAmy Tsui
Victor Leal
Introduction
psy Oly
The collective intelligence as source in reporting...amazing!
The collective intelligence as source in reporting...amazing!
Read LessAmanda Ferreira
Donald Takudzwa Nyarota
How I Got Into Journalism - Fahrenthold
Tripp Robbins
I'm a high school journalism teacher (and former journalist, 35 years ago), and I love this. I am going to try showing it to my students to see how it flies ...
Read MoreI'm a high school journalism teacher (and former journalist, 35 years ago), and I love this. I am going to try showing it to my students to see how it flies with them...we'll see! The short, bite-size chunks should make it nice to use with them, though. I am not giving it 5 stars because the visuals are pretty simple. I did like the part where it showed some of his notes from his Trump donations story, for example. More relevant, interesting visuals would be great.
Read LessGood - but can be improved!
Henna Choudhary
I believe this course was extremely thorough in execution and informative for those wishing to pursue investigative journalism; however, I believe several im...
Read MoreI believe this course was extremely thorough in execution and informative for those wishing to pursue investigative journalism; however, I believe several improvements can be made to make each lesson/segment more cohesive and captivate the viewer's attention.
Read LessThe Power of Investigative Journalism
Sinafi Omanga
The reason, impacts and the extent of stories that is not always on the surface of stories. A journalist has to dig it out and deconstruct it for the audienc...
Read MoreThe reason, impacts and the extent of stories that is not always on the surface of stories. A journalist has to dig it out and deconstruct it for the audience. Breaking down complexities and illuminating culprits hiding in dark corners. Amplifying the voices of the marginalised too.
Read LessGreat!
Leslie Ladowski
Very interesting. Good to share with my students.
Very interesting. Good to share with my students.
Read Less