Beware of Dog

As the new watchdog content coach for the Delaware News Journal, Chris Coates is a man with a plan. At least, that’s what he describes as the most important factor in a successful investigative and watchdog piece.

Coates’ position is a unique newsroom addition inside Gannett, parent company of the News Journal. As part of Gannett’s “newsroom of the future” initiative, which launched last year, newsrooms have tightened staffs and revamped models in order to better serve their communities.

“I think Gannett has really doubled down on watchdog (journalism), it’s one of our pillars,” Coates said. “I think it’s vital to our industry to advocate for transparency in government and to help readers understand issues in government. It’s just basic, it’s the tenet of our industry and it’s important to uphold the first amendment. I think there’s no better avenue than watchdog journalism for that.”

Coates joined the News Journal in February after working at the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal since 2011. In his new role, Coates supervises a team of investigative reporters. He follows news trends and helps reporters mine and develop stories while working side by side with executive editors on projects with an investigative scope.

“It’s really about being organized and having a plan of attack, and staying on top of the various elements of print and digital packages,” Coates said.

But in a time when resources and staff are often limited the most difficult part of Coates’ job is finding the time and tools to create a successful investigative or watchdog piece.

However, he said, “Watchdog is sometimes confused with big projects, people think it’s this month long thing, and there are those…but, it’s really about being critical. That’s the most important thing in our industry…In our current climate it’s vital that we investigate wrongdoings and make ourselves relevant to readers.”

Coates said newsrooms don’t necessarily need a dedicated watchdog editor to have successful investigative pieces. In the end, he said it boils down to having a plan, conveying to reporters the importance of being critical of government and demanding context, more detail, and not accepting what people tell you.

Moving forward, Coates’ main goal is to uncover wrongdoings and maintain the News Journal’s standing in Delaware.

“We’re a statewide newspaper, a statewide news organization. I want to tackle these projects, keep our integrity, keep us moving forward with big projects…and change the world, I guess, not to be over the top,” he said. “Maybe that is over the top.”

But if Coates wants to change the world as a watchdog, perhaps adding “top dog” isn’t such a bad idea either.