Investigative Journalism

Cherokee Ballard and Britten Follett spoke to future reporters about the significance of investigative reporting. Through sharing their story, they emphasized the importance of investigative reporting in the newsroom and the impacting change it has on the state and keeping people accountable.

“You’re getting the word out, you are getting the story out there to the point where perhaps it could help save another child’s life,” said Ballard. Both Ballard and Follett said that the impact of telling people’s stories and uncovering the truth could contribute to changing the way businesses are organized and matters are handled. The Project for Excellence in Journalism states that journalist’s role is to be a monitor of power. “Founders recognized this to be a rampart against despotism when they ensured an independent press; courts have affirmed it; citizens rely on it,” said PEJ.

Ballard and Follett presenting their package over Kelsey Briggs

Ballard and Follett both held jobs as reporters. Ballard worked for KOCO and KFOR totaling 25 years of broadcasting and Follett worked in Oklahoma broadcasting for five years. Through reporting, they both became involved in Kelsey Briggs’s story. She was a child living in an abusive home that was seldomly looked over by DHS. Although DHS was responsible for making visits to the home to check up on Briggs’s safety, Ballard and Britten say Briggs was not looked after closely enough. The in-depth coverage and outcome of the case, Kelsey Briggs has a law named after her. Kelsey’s Law changed how DHS and the courts handle and report these types of cases.

Follett said that when a reporter covers someone’s life like this, a reporters going to feel some connection to the person. Ballard and Follett both felt so deeply for this little two-year-old that they continue to write a book honoring her life even after they left the journalism field. Follett said that the Kelsey Briggs case completely changed her life and career. Ballard said that as a journalist, when you get awful but at the same time, ‘wow stories’ to cover, you become very attached to them.

Ballard and Follett have moved on from the journalism field and begun pursuing different careers outside of broadcasting. Ballard now works for Oklahoma Natural Gas Company and Follett works as a Marketing Manager for Follett International. “You have an opportunity to hold people accountable, and I do miss that element of it, but I am concerned because TV stations are cutting investigative units,” Follett said. PEJ said that because of more journalists having to cover many stories through different platforms, investigative journalism is diminishing. Will newsrooms have to be redefined for the future journalist?

(SOT: Kelsey Hightower)

Cherokee Ballard and Britten Follett express how investigative journalism plays a part in society.