Day two at journalism camp

Today I met with more amazing people in the industry. People from the New York Times, Democracy NOW, the Center for Responsive Politics, Mother Jones and more.
One of the biggest impact lectures was by Paul Hendrickson who told us to "turn over every stone." This means to talk to everyone and go the extra mile because it is when you dedicate more effort than you need to to a story that you get something amazing. He said there is an idea of "if you need it, it will come" sort of philosophy in journalism. I could relate to this. One example was when someone needed a human part to a boring crime story, a policeman came up in front of him and interviewed a man who had been robbed. He got exactly what he needed exactly when he needed it. This happens a lot. What Hendrickson said about his views on turning every stone were powerful. He said when he does not ask that extra source, doesn't ask that extra question, doesn't do that extra bit of background research and doesn't find out that little extra something -- those are the things he most regrets. Not turning every stone leaves him with the most regret of what he does because he knows he could have had a much better story with not so much extra work.
Another lecture had to do with computer assisted reporting which I think is absolutely imperative that investigative journalists know how to use. I was a little disappointed by this presenter, though the resources given to us were stellar.
Amy Goodman from Democracy NOW was definitely the stand-out though. Her views, though radical, are amazing. She, like almost every other reporter here, believe that "investigative reporting" and "advocate reporting" are synonymous. This astounds me. It throws ideals of objectivity to the wind and says "No, we need change." I'm not sure I'm ready to accept this yet since my journalism professors would cringe and shrivel like the Wicked Witch of the West if they heard this, I'm sure. It is an interesting stance.