On Thursday, we embarked on one of the more interesting field trips to say the least as we visited the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's office.
Dr. Adams explained to us that a Medical Examiner is a doctor with a particular expertise in investigating violent, sudden and unexpected, suspicious, or unattended deaths.
Adams explained to us that the medical examiner's office are charged by the Florida Statute 406.11 and the different causes of death that is within their jurisdiction are as follows:
-Criminal Violence
-Accident, suicide or poison
-Suddenly, when in apparent good health
-Unattended by a practicing physician or other recognized practitioner
-In any prison or penal institution
-In any suspicious or unusual circumstances
-By criminal abortion
-By disease constituting a threat to public health
-By disease, injury, or toxic agent resulting from employment.
Dr. Adams also explained to us some of the records that are and aren't available although technologically they aren't as advanced as they want to be. An example of records that are available to the general public are autopsy report and the medical portion of the death certificate isn't allowed to be seen by the general public.
The most interesting part of the trip was when we were about to see the room where they perform the autopsy, we actually saw parts of a dead body in the room, though we weren't allowed to see the body due to legal issues, it was quite an interesting sight.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
News Channel 8 Visit
Two weeks ago, we embarked on our visit to the News Channel 8 news center to meet with Senior Investigative Reporter Steve Andrews.
Before I get into what we learned from Steve Andrews, I want to say that I was pretty amazed with the newsroom, the set and everything that made news channel 8 work. To be up close and personal at the newsroom was pretty gratifying.
Andrews showed us some of the investigative stories that he and his fellow partners put together throughout their tenure at news channel 8, the most intriguing being the abusive spending of tax payer's money by the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance.
This company was spending hard working people's money for themselves rather than helping needy people find necessary means of work. When Andrews was first beginning this story, he felt that there was something very suspicious about some of the information that he was given.
The main point for why Andrews has had a successful career comes down to three points: Be Persistent, Be Patient and Be Polite as it will go a long way for your career.
He went on a hunch and his hunch was right as he later realized that the tips he was given were false tips and from there he used those false tips to put the pieces together and put together a wonderful piece that got the attention of the public.
Before I get into what we learned from Steve Andrews, I want to say that I was pretty amazed with the newsroom, the set and everything that made news channel 8 work. To be up close and personal at the newsroom was pretty gratifying.
Andrews showed us some of the investigative stories that he and his fellow partners put together throughout their tenure at news channel 8, the most intriguing being the abusive spending of tax payer's money by the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance.
This company was spending hard working people's money for themselves rather than helping needy people find necessary means of work. When Andrews was first beginning this story, he felt that there was something very suspicious about some of the information that he was given.
The main point for why Andrews has had a successful career comes down to three points: Be Persistent, Be Patient and Be Polite as it will go a long way for your career.
He went on a hunch and his hunch was right as he later realized that the tips he was given were false tips and from there he used those false tips to put the pieces together and put together a wonderful piece that got the attention of the public.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
William March Visit
What do you get when you combine an old New York Times report, a determined investigative reporter, and public records? You have a compelling story that could have you in deep trouble with the law. That is exactly what happened in a story done by our latest visitor to our class, William “Windy” March, chief political reporter for the Tampa Tribune.
March explained to us that he works with public records on a daily basis and believes that he uses them more than the average reporter because of the fact that he covers politics.
He also explained to us that when he was starting out as a reporter that it was kind of difficult to find the records he needed because the technology back then wasn’t as advanced. Technological advances definitely helped him gather his information from public records much easier.
He gave us a better understanding about public records and how effective they are in an investigative story, especially with the technological advances.
March explained to us that when he was reading his daily New York Times, he came across a political story that dealt with people and organizations who gave money to political parties. These monies, “soft money”, is considered illegal because it is a non-limited amount of money that could be given to a political party and there is only a certain amount of money a person or organization is allowed to donate.
This would be the end of the story had he not come across Miami businessman Mark Jimenez who gave money to the Clinton/Gore re-election campaign. March had never heard of this man and felt that he should do some further investigation on this businessman.
What he found through public records was that Mark Jimenez was the owner of Future Tech and that his company was giving a thousand dollars to the campaign. What was more shocking was that his employees were also giving a thousand dollars. When March found this out, he quickly got the word out and Jimenez was arrested for money laundering.
March explains that with the help of public records, he wouldn’t have been able to find all the information needed to bring down a person doing an illegal act.
March explained to us that he works with public records on a daily basis and believes that he uses them more than the average reporter because of the fact that he covers politics.
He also explained to us that when he was starting out as a reporter that it was kind of difficult to find the records he needed because the technology back then wasn’t as advanced. Technological advances definitely helped him gather his information from public records much easier.
He gave us a better understanding about public records and how effective they are in an investigative story, especially with the technological advances.
March explained to us that when he was reading his daily New York Times, he came across a political story that dealt with people and organizations who gave money to political parties. These monies, “soft money”, is considered illegal because it is a non-limited amount of money that could be given to a political party and there is only a certain amount of money a person or organization is allowed to donate.
This would be the end of the story had he not come across Miami businessman Mark Jimenez who gave money to the Clinton/Gore re-election campaign. March had never heard of this man and felt that he should do some further investigation on this businessman.
What he found through public records was that Mark Jimenez was the owner of Future Tech and that his company was giving a thousand dollars to the campaign. What was more shocking was that his employees were also giving a thousand dollars. When March found this out, he quickly got the word out and Jimenez was arrested for money laundering.
March explains that with the help of public records, he wouldn’t have been able to find all the information needed to bring down a person doing an illegal act.
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