It’s been said that journalism is the first draft of history. We will be focusing on journalism that makes history. From its muckraking origins, to the golden age of Watergate, to the challenges of today, investigative journalism has worked to speak truth to power. This two-part lecture will review some of the history of investigative journalism in the United States, share some of the most famous cases that have literally shaped our nation and society, and discuss why investigative journalism is under threat today.

Kirstie Hettinga (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor of Communication at California Lutheran University. She teaches media writing, editing, and content creation and serves as the faculty adviser to Cal Lutheran’s award-winning student newspaper, The Echo. Her research addresses issues of accuracy and credibility in news media, as well as how students learn in student newsrooms. Her work has been published in Newspaper Research Journal, College Media Review, Journal of Media Ethics, and Journalism Practice. She received her doctorate degree from The Pennsylvia State University.