Medill Investigative Labs – Medill – Achieving Academic Outcomes

In the Medill Investigative Labs, you learn to think, research and write like an investigative reporter and publish groundbreaking stories.

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About the specialization

Through the Medill Investigative Labs, you will learn by doing. Students collaborate with a team of peers, faculty and professionals to determine story topics, develop sources, research, interview, and then write stories that shed light on critical issues. Your work may be published in a variety of outlets, including The Washington Post or ProPublica. These published clips will form the foundation for your professional portfolio, demonstrating your real-world journalism experience.

Medill offers two investigative reporting options:

Medill Investigative Lab D.C.: Spend two quarters in Chicago learning critical reporting and writing skills, then head to Medill’s campus in Washington, D.C., to put your knowledge to work in the nation’s capitol. The Medill Investigative Lab D.C. is led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Debbie Cenziper. Stories have published in ProPublica and The Washington Post. Students interested in the D.C. Lab should have internship or professional journalism experience.
Medill Investigative Lab Chicago: Spend four quarters at Medill’s campus in Chicago, building reporting and writing experience. The spring and summer quarters will be spent reporting on investigations based in the city, regionally or nationally. The Medill Investigative Lab Chicago is led by Kari Lydersen. Students’ work has appeared in publications such as the Concord Monitor, LatinoNews.com and Great Lakes Now.

Why Medill Investigative Labs?

Investigative skills are crucial to covering any beat or topic. Professional journalists who succeed in investigative reporting win Pulitzer Prizes, change laws and improve people’s lives. You will work side-by-side with veteran journalists on investigations of national importance. The investigative skills you learn in either of the Labs will serve you well in your career no matter what area of journalism you pursue.

What will I learn?

Inside the classroom, you’ll examine investigative reporting within a framework of history, theory and ethics. This context will provide the background you need to pursue investigative stories that matter. You will learn how to find and research important investigative stories, particularly how to obtain public records through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and how to dig deep into data. You will develop skills in sourcing, interviewing and data visualization. You will learn in real-time, working side-by-side with award-winning investigative reporters. Outside the classroom, you’ll put your skills to work either pursuing stories in Washington, D.C., Chicago or elsewhere.

Watch an overview of Medill Investigative Lab D.C. below: