Having looked at investigative reports recently I found the This American Life special on PSU to be an ideal example of a creative investigative report. Their hour long broadcast "#1 Party School" dealt with the issue of drinking at PSU and they made sure to examine the issue from many different perspectives. This move on their part not only made it an accessible report for people with different beliefs regarding drinking, but it also spread knowledge of different perspectives.
The report makes it very clear that there is a problem with some aspects of the drinking at Penn State. The report mentions that 1/4 of students have missed class or skipped homework because of drinking, student drinking often leads to vandalism and disorderly conduct on and around campus, and also the pleas of local residents that something be done. To top all there exigences off there is the issue of Joe Dado's death as a direct result of drinking. These blaring examples make it clear that there needs to be some sort of action taken to combat these undesirable consequesnces of drinking.
As previously mentioned, the report gives an almost 360˚perspective on the issue. The report includes interviews with State College residents, Gram Spanier, with frat members, underage drinkers, policy makers, etc. Each group of people is interviewed and many happily share their views on the topic. The perspectives vary from group to group. Many of the students, alum, and even some of the parents seem to have a very nonchalant view about drinking and how it might have negative impacts. A group of freshman interviewed before their outting to a frat proudl boast of how they "got slutty once [they] got to college." The effective use of interviews with college students and exploration of several parties and a bus full of drunks really paint a picture of college life for the audience. The report takes the audience in, no matter what their experience with drinking is, and shows them the reality at Penn State for college students, and (with the beginning scenes) of the sitaution for residents near frat row. These residents give an impression of stark contrast to the perspective of the college students, giving their opinions about the destructive and irritating nature of the drinking at PSU. The residents show interviewers the theft of a stop-sign by drunken students, the urination on private property by groups of girls that is commonplace, and countless other acts that become the norm on campus. These residents express their concerns with how this situation is becoming more and more commonplace on campus and how it effects their lives negatively. Both opinions are openly explored on the report giving it a very raw, and honest look at both sides of the issue. This exploration of both sides is important as it allows both sides of the audience to relate to their side and to feel like their perspective is being explored while at the same time raising awareness of how others migth view their behavior. In this aspect the report is able to incorporate a personal reach to both groups without leaving one or the other feeling attacked or as if their opinion is being or ignored. This plurality makes the report highly accessible to both groups.
The report leaves the reader with some of the new initiatives by policy makers and Penn State to combat drinking problems and underage drinking. Several ideas are discussed (bouncers at teh doors of frats, harsher measures for being caught drinking underage...) the question of these measures is left with the audience. The report closes with a sharp jolt into the reality that Gram Spanier and PSU have to deal with. They bring up the ever changing tide of students that come and go from PSU. Because of this fact each they they must "start again" with the new classes, making progress painfully slow. This is the end of the report and leaves the audience pondering the the complexities and challenges facing change in the drinking situation at PSU...
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