How the NY Times Made the Story: Covering the Trump University Settlement
The New York Times has honed a formidable reputation for in-depth investigative reporting. The editorial team worked hard to bring this story about the New York State Attorney General’s NY$25 million settlement with a group of business school students after a vocal campaign by President Donald Trump, calling into question the trustworthiness and integrity of Trump University. The story was a scoop for the paper, and it challenged the narrative that Trump was somehow expecting a victory. It also had an important political component: it allowed the paper’s editorial board to call for reforms to New York’s campaign finance and ethics laws in light of the emoluments clause, which bars conflicts of interest. Particularly laudable is the detailed, comprehensive approach undertaken by Benjamin Mueller in covering the story, providing a multi-dimensional perspective, and detailing the context surrounding the controversy.
Mueller has been cultivating his investigative skills for more than 15 years, previously taking an in-depth look at the scandal surrounding the 1986 bombing of a Miami Federal building. The Columbian University story, featuring former actor and writer Jack Keebler, in his 70s, reveals a similar level of depth and rigor in preparing an in-depth, investigative article. The author masterfully weaves together the political implications with the human face of the story, constructing a compelling, multi-faceted narrative that genuinely resonates with readers. The article delves into Keebler’s backstory and his experiences with beginner courses. It also helps to ameliorate the loss of credibility that investigative reporting has suffered due to fake news accusations by providing a contextual, investigative narrative that provides a multi-dimensional perspective.
The Columbia University story is an excellent example of investigative journalism. The author presents factual details in a concise and succinct manner, focusing on personal impact but also providing wider political and social issues. The author was able to convince Trump University students, whose parents or grandparents had paid an average of $30,000, to come forward, providing evidence of misleading advertising and failure to deliver promised services. The story could have been limited to a narrower focus, e.g., the specifics of the case regarding the false advertising and tuition fees, but the author expanded on the larger context by addressing the wider impacts of Trump’s election victory, such as the opacity surrounding private companies that advise Presidents, and the conflict between Trump’s role as a business owner and President. The author also teases a follow-up article, which suggests that the paper is unflinching in its pursuit of important stories regarding the Trump administration.
In summary, the New York Times story about the NY$25 million settlement between the New York State Attorney General and a group of business school students, some of whom had been misled, is an excellent example of investigative journalism. The article presents factual details in a succinct and concise manner, focusing on the personal impact surrounding the story while providing wider political and social issues. The author’s multi-dimensional approach and human touch subdue the impact of fake news and make the story genuinely credible. The author also addressed larger contexts, such as the opacity surrounding private companies and the conflict between Trump’s role as a businessman and President, which were crucial elements in contextualizing the story. The author’s diligence and persistence, along with the paper’s unflinching pursuit of important stories about the Trump administration, make this article pleasingly scathing, a true gem in investigative journalism.
Tags: investigative journalism, nytimes, benjamin mueller, donald trump, trump university, new york state attorney general, scathing, college research grants, trump administration, fake news, opacity.
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