Lectures

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  1. Pursuing Hidden Truths

  In our introductory lecture, we explore the craft of nonfiction storytelling through the lens of Gerald Posner's first book, on the subject of Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele. The discussion covers practical techniques including pursuing documents from unlikely, restricted, or deceptive sources, earning trust from reluctant witnesses, and allowing evidence—not assumptions—to drive the narrative. Key lessons emphasize choosing subjects you're passionate about rather than those you think will sell, maintaining journalistic neutrality while building source relationships, and recognizing that persistence combined with flexibility matters more than following a predetermined formula.
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  2. Reporting Systems

  In lecture two, we delve into the research and writing process behind "Warlords of Crime," a nonfiction investigation into the global heroin trade controlled by Chinese triads in the late 1980s. Gerald Posner recounts extensive fieldwork across 19 countries, including dangerous encounters with gang members, corrupt officials, and law enforcement, emphasizing how scenes, geography, and human voices became essential narrative tools for explaining a complex criminal system. The lecture addresses the ethical challenges of reporting on organized crime, the importance of incorporating authentic scenes to advance the story, and balancing the risks of investigative journalism with the responsibility to present material without sensationalism.
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  3. Challenging Conventional Narratives

  In lecture three, we examine the research and writing process behind "Case Closed," Gerald Posner’s bestselling investigation of the John F. Kennedy assassination. We explore the challenges of large-scale investigative reporting in a pre-digital era, from building custom research systems and uncovering hard-to-access documents to interviewing reluctant witnesses and evaluating conflicting accounts. Throughout, we focus on following evidence over popular appetite, creating your own research infrastructure when necessary, understanding your subject deeply before drawing conclusions, and preparing for the resistance that often accompanies challenging widely held beliefs.
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  4. Reconstructing Contested Events

  In lecture four, we study the process behind writing "Killing the Dream," an account of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, emphasizing the importance of passion-driven research and meticulous fact-gathering when tackling difficult historical subjects. We examine how Posner reconstructed the case from the ground up, navigating FBI files while accounting for institutional bias, and tackling various theories while maintaining objectivity despite emotional and political pressures. Key lessons include respecting predecessors' work while maintaining independent analysis, treating conspiracy theories as reporting problems to be verified or disproven, and accepting that truthful narratives may satisfy no one emotionally while still providing the most accurate historical account.
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  5. Building Narrative from Evidence

  In lecture five, we examine the research and writing process behind investigative nonfiction about powerful cultural institutions through the story of Motown Records. The lecture explores how extensive archival research, courthouse records, lawsuits, and depositions can uncover hidden business practices and reveal tensions between public narratives and private realities. We discuss how writers balance rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling, navigate sensitive source relationships, and maintain objectivity when investigating beloved subjects. Key lessons include following documents wherever they lead, protecting sources, and crafting narratives that combine commercial appeal with journalistic integrity.
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  6. Verification Under Pressure

  In lecture six, we analyze the research and writing process behind the book "Why America Slept," using the events leading up to 9/11. We explore the challenges of reporting on fast-moving, high-stakes subjects, balancing breaking news with deeper historical analysis, and navigating complex networks of institutions, documents, and confidential sources. Posner emphasizes the importance of rigorous verification, source protection, and ethical decision-making when reporting on matters of national security and public accountability. Key lessons include following documentary evidence, managing sensitive information responsibly, and building narratives that uncover systemic failures without sacrificing accuracy or nuance.
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  7. Investigating Opaque Institutions

  In lecture seven, Gerald Posner takes us through the five-year research and writing process behind "God’s Bankers," using the Vatican’s financial history as a case study in investigating opaque institutions. We explore the challenges of reporting on organizations with little obligation for transparency and how journalists reconstruct hidden narratives by following money trails through court records, international investigations, and archival sources rather than relying on official accounts. The lecture emphasizes persistence, credibility, and document-based reporting when navigating secrecy and powerful interests. Key lessons include building trust over time, uncovering stories through financial records, and turning complex, sensitive material into compelling narratives.
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  8. Following Money and Influence

  In our eighth and final lecture, we examine the writing process behind Pharma, using the pharmaceutical industry as a case study in reporting on powerful institutions. We explore how long-form investigative work traces complex histories through documents, financial records, and archival evidence rather than surface narratives, following the money to understand how science, regulation, and marketing intersect over time. Posner highlights the ethical challenges of reporting on high-stakes industries, including protecting confidential sources, handling sensitive information, and maintaining independence under pressure. Key lessons emphasize evidence-based storytelling, persistence in uncovering hidden systems, and balancing narrative impact with journalistic integrity.