The Heist: How to Produce an Award-Winning Investigative Series with Sally Herships
When the Center for Public Integrity decided to look into who was pulling the strings behind Trump's 2017 tax bill — one reporters would ultimately call a swindle that benefited only the wealthiest Americans — they turned to award-winning reporter Sally Herships. In this episode, Herships pulls back the covers on the making of The Heist, and in particular, an investigation of Trump's treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin -- the man once known as the "foreclosure king." If you've ever wanted to report, host, or produce a longform audio documentary series or an investigative piece, this is the episode for you. You'll learn several ways to add drama to a complex story; how to use scenes wisely and ethically to immerse listeners; tactics for persuading people to talk with you, even if they're scared to talk; how to make sure you have the facts; and when a red Porsche says something important about a character's personality — and about how power works in Washington. And you'll get to watch Elaine squirm in an awkward moment. Herships directs the audio journalism program at Columbia University and is the founder of Radio Bootcamp.
Sound Judgment · Sally Herships, Andrew Parella, Elaine Appleton Grant, Tina Bassir
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Show Notes
The episode discussed on today’s Sound Judgment:
- The Heist: https://apps.publicintegrity.org/theheist/
- Episode 2: Mnuchin's World was reported and hosted by Sally Herships. Our editor was Curtis Fox, with help from consulting editor Alison MacAdam and Center for Public Integrity’s Tax Project editor Allan Holmes. Production help from Lucas Brady Woods, Brett Forrest, Camille Petersen, and Ali Swenson. Theme music and original score by composer Nina Perry and performed by musicians Danny Keane, Dawne Adams, and Oli Langford. Engineer is Peregrine Andrews. The Heist is executive produced by Sally Herships and the Center for Public Integrity’s Mei Fong.
Sound Judgment episodes mentioned in today’s episode:
- Snap Judgment's Glynn Washington: Lessons from a Master Storyteller
- Bone Valley: How to Create a True Crime Podcast That Makes a Difference
- How to Pitch an Audio Documentary and the Unusual Origin of a This American Life Story with Katie Colaneri
- Emotional Bravery on Last Day with Stephanie Wittels Wachs
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About Sally Herships:
Sally Herships is an award-winning freelance audio journalist and Director of the Audio Program at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. Recently she covered the pandemic and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for NPR’s National Desk. She's a frequent contributor to the “Indicator," a daily economics podcast from NPR's Planet Money Team.
Her reporting has been included in multiple shows and outlets including the BBC, The New York Times, Morning Edition, All Things Considered, WNYC and Studio 360.
The Heist, an investigative series examining President Trump’s 2017 tax bill, which Sally hosted and co-Executive Produced, was honored as a finalist for the 2022 DuPont awards. The judges wrote: “A forensic review of the 2017 Tax bill, The Heist managed to be both an informative and wildly entertaining”
Connect with Sally on LinkedIn or Twitter or at https://www.sallyherships.com/
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Credits
Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC.
- Host: Elaine Appleton Grant
- Project Manager: Tina Bassir
- Sound Designer: Andrew Parrella
- Illustrator: Sarah Edgell
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Help us find and celebrate today’s best hosts
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Credits
Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC.
Host: Elaine Appleton Grant
Podcast Manager: Tina Bassir
Production Manager: Andrew Parrella
Audio Engineer: Kevin Kline
Production Assistant: Audrey Nelson