Group of authors: "The Journalism of Outrage: Investigative Reporting and Agenda Building in America" (The Guilford Press, 1991)

In 1991, when it was published, this book was described as the first competent, thorough and realistic analysis of the investigative journalism in the USA after Watergate. Through informative and analytical introduction and six authentic investigative stories accompanied by complete analysis of investigative process, the book aims to assess the actual impact of investigative journalism on the public as well as the political and business elites of the USA.

The book was co-written by a group of experienced scientists, journalists and authors, led by Northwestern University, Chicago, investigative journalism professor, David L. Protess. Written in a very interesting way, the book challenges the standard stereotype about witty and resourceful truth seekers confronting the political and business elites. Instead, it offers realistic image of an influence of investigative journalism on American society, giving examples of how this really work. Authors offer a clear picture of the situation, as an alternative to two dominant political attitudes on investigative journalism – the Republican one, which perceives it as an invasion on its business and political agenda, and the one often expressed by Democrats, which shows investigative journalism as mere cosmetic revealing of the symptoms, instead of dealing wit the illness it self.

Using interviews with over 800 American investigative reporters, the authors develop a new theory on influence of investigative journalism on plans and actions of political, business and other elites of the USA.