2021 Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 1-16
This study examines the role of newspaper desks in overcoming the difficulties of investigative reporting through the news production process. The subject of the analysis is the reporting by the Hokkaido Shimbun (newspaper) on secret funding to the Hokkaido Prefectural Police. The paper received the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association Prize in 2004 for its reporting. We focus on a desk editor's behavior in the news production process. Investigative reporting is characterized by high uncertainty, high costs and extensive time spent researching and reporting, compared to general coverage. Although some researchers and journalists point out that desk editor behavior is important in the investigative reporting process, preceding studies have only partially identified desk editor behavior. Therefore, this study focuses on desk editor behaviors such as approaching reporters, superiors, and other desk editors, based on interviews with reporters and the desk editor.
The findings are that the desk editor sets coverage vision and goals before the start of coverage. After that, the desk editor built a reporting team. During the reporting, the desk editor urged members to pursue investigative reporting and encouraged them to act autonomously. In addition, the desk editor was accountable to their superiors and other desk editors to discuss and encourage the reporting. Preceding studies do not indicate these behaviors, but it is implied that these behaviors are important for the reporters as they pursue the story.
