Educator Resources
The educator resources created for Athlete A are self-paced lessons for students to learn about the profession and practice the skills of an investigative journalist, delve into one of three suggested investigations based on the documentary, and write an original article about their findings.
Educators: Begin with the Overview in the Introduction for Educators before assigning Lessons: The Investigations
Students: Begin with Lessons: The Investigations
Introduction for Educators
Lessons: The Investigations
Overview: What are the Investigations?
The investigations are self-paced student-facing lessons modeled on the process an investigative journalist may follow as they report on a story. Students begin by learning about the profession of an investigative journalist before delving into the three Investigations—the role of investigative journalism to uncover wrongdoing, the power of survivor stories to call attention to abuse and assault, and the importance of confronting corrupt and dysfunctional organizations and institutions. After completing all three investigations, students will choose one topic of interest and write a newspaper article no longer than 500 words in the style of an investigative journalist.
Starting Your Investigation
Students begin by familiarizing themselves with the history of investigative reporting in the United States and with the roles, practices, and professional ethics that an investigative reporter follows.
Materials/Documents/Evidence Needed:
- The materials can be printed or uploaded to a shared classroom drive
- Copy of Handout: What is Investigative Journalism?
- Copy of Making Change Happen: Survivor Stories
- Access to the internet and ability to watch one Ted Talk
Investigative Journalism and Accountability
Students will research The IndyStar investigation and reporting of Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics and identify how their investigation and publication supports the ideals of our democratic institutions.
Materials/Documents/Evidence Needed:
- Upload the articles in the lesson to shared classroom drive, or create PDFs
- Copy of Investigative Article Planner
- Equipment and internet access to view video clips
Dismantling Toxic Culture
Using USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee as a case study, students explore how individuals, institutions, and the law worked together to dismantle a toxic culture, confront impunity, and achieve justice.
Materials/Documents/Evidence Needed:
- Upload the articles in the lesson to a shared classroom drive, or create PDFs handouts
- Copy of Investigative Article Planner
- Equipment and internet access to view video clips
Making Change Happen: Survivor Stories
Students will identify how individual survivor stories in Athlete A were essential to holding perpetrators accountable, uncovering the truth, and upholding the law.
Materials/Documents/Evidence Needed:
- Upload the articles in the lesson to shared classroom drive, or share them as PDFs
- Copy of Investigative Article Planner
- Equipment and internet access to view video clips
Ending Your Investigation:
Students will synthesize their learning and demonstrate their understanding by writing a newspaper-style article based on one of the investigation topics.
Standards and Pacing
Standards
Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Themes: Abuse of power, corruption, rule of law, nationalism, courage, leadership, bystander behavior, competition, and personal and professional ethics.
Aligned Disciplines: Journalism, Media Studies, Health, Physical Education, Law, Sociology, Social Studies, and Gender Studies
Skills: Internet research, writing, media analysis
Length and Pacing
- Day One: Complete Starting Your Investigation. If time permits, begin exploring investigations.
- Day Two: Complete the three investigations including the Investigative Planner for each topic. Choose your article topic. Homework: Outline hypothesis for article, submit online.
- Day Three: Get hypothesis approved. Write article in Class – Homework: Complete article.
- (Optional) Day Four: Peer Review and revision of article.
STARTING YOUR INVESTIGATION
Student Introduction
Congratulations and welcome to the newsroom!
You have just been hired by a local newspaper to join their investigative reporting team. Today begins your orientation. Complete the following exercise for your first day on the job. Good luck!
Reflective writing
- Are you familiar with any investigative journalism stories?
- What do you think is the difference between investigative journalism and other types of journalism?
Read
Watch
TEDx talk by The IndyStar Journalist Marisa Kwiatkowski
on her investigation of Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics. (runtime: 10:00 min)
Handout
Complete the Athlete A TedTalk
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND ACCOUNTABILITY
“I view investigative journalism as shining a light on things when they’re not working the way they’re supposed to.”- Marisa Kwiatkowski, Investigative Journalist
Topic to Investigate
The role of investigative reporting to expose wrongdoing and hold individuals and institutions accountable.
Assignment
Develop an original hypothesis about how the The IndyStar’s investigation and report contributed to holding individuals and institutions accountable.
- Whose responsibility is it to reveal and address wrongdoing in our society?
- What are the ethical responsibilities of investigative journalists as they work to report a story?
- What is the relationship between investigative reporting and our democracy?
Questions to Ask
These are your starting questions to explore as you go through the suggested resources, and others you find on your own:
- What was the role of investigative journalism in exposing Larry Nassar, and revealing larger institutional failures at USA Gymnastics and beyond?
- Why was The IndyStar uniquely situated to report on USA gymnastics?
- How did the investigative reporting intersect with the internal institutional and legal investigations that were underway before the story made national news?
INVESTIGATION
1. Watch: Film Clips – Athlete A
- Clip One: The IndyStar (4:33 – 10:55, runtime: 6:22 minutes)
- Clip Two: The Investigation and Corroboration (16:10-17:38, runtime: 1:28 minutes)
- Clip Three: Accountability and Steve Penny (1:30:19-1:35:51, runtime: 5:32 minutes)
2. Read, Take Notes, Ask Questions
- “Out of Balance” Series from The IndyStar “How IndyStar Investigated USA Gymnastics.”
- “Meet Marisa Kwiatkowski, The Reporter Who Helped Expose Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics.”
3. Complete Investigative Article Planner
DISMANTLING A TOXIC CULTURE THROUGH THE LAW
“USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee did not provide a safe environment for me and my teammates and friends to train. We were subjected to Dr. Larry Nassar at every National Team Training camp, which occurred monthly at the Karolyi Ranch. Up until now, I was identified as “Athlete A” by USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee and Michigan State University. I want everyone to know that he did not do this to “Athlete A,” he did it to Maggie Nichols.”- Gina Nichols, reading Maggie Nichols’ impact statement at Larry Nassar’s trial
Topic to Investigate
How the institutional culture at USA Gymnastics failed to protect their athletes.
Assignment
Develop an original hypothesis and write an article about the toxic culture of USA Gymnastics and how it affected families and athletes based on the resources included in this investigation.
Questions to Ask
Keep these questions in mind as you watch the clips and read the articles:
- What policies were in place at USA Gymnastics to protect athletes from abuse?
- Were those policies sufficient and/or legal? Were they followed by staff?
- What cultural norms within the institution prevented individuals within it from acting to stop repeated abuse?
- What new policies have been enacted at USA Gymnastics to protect athletes? Are the new policies effective?
INVESTIGATION
1. Watch: Film Clips – Athlete A
- Clip One: “The only nice adult there” (18:24-21:46, runtime: 3:22 minutes)
- Clip Two: The Beginning of the Toxic Culture (26:30-28:50, runtime: 2:20 minutes)
- Clip Three: Preserving the Image (34:51-41:30, runtime: 7:19 minutes)
- Clip Four: Timeline of the Cover Up (1:12:50-1:18:40, runtime: 6:35 minutes)
2. Read, Take Notes, Ask Questions
- “USA Gymnastics’ Response to Indianapolis Star’s Report,” Published August 4, 2016.
- “Senate panel: Negligence by Olympic, USA Gymnastics officials enabled abuse by ex-team doctor Nassar,” July 30, 2019, The Washington Post
- “The Women Who Built The Case That Brought Down Larry Nassar,” August 27, 2019, HuffPost.
- Safe Sport Policy FAQs, 2019
- “Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect: State Statutes,” 2019, Child Welfare Information Gateway.
3. Complete Investigative Article Planner
MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: SURVIVOR STORIES
“One person alone can’t do this (spark the investigation). We need to help people understand that it takes a team and a community to respond – hundreds of people – to get survivors’ stories heard”- Rachael Denhollander, former gymnast, attorney, advocate, and author of What is a girl worth?
Topic to Investigate
The role of survivor stories in The IndyStar investigation and report, and their essential role in holding perpetrators accountable, uncovering the truth, and upholding the law
Assignment
Develop an original hypothesis and write an article on the role(s) of survivors’ stories in holding individuals accountable based on the resources included in this investigation.
Questions to Ask
Keep these questions in mind as you watch the clips and read the articles:
- What pressures did the individuals who survived abuse face as they decided whether or not to come forward with their stories? What were the consequences for those who did choose to come forward?
- Many of the survivors of Larry Nassar’s case were very young when they were abused. What are the specific complications around children and reporting sexual abuse?
- What factors determine the credibility and reliability of survivors’ stories?
- What long-term effects of abuse did the survivors in Athlete A experience? How did sharing their stories influence their healing and recovery process?
INVESTIGATION
1. Watch: Film Clips – Athlete A
- Clip One: “The only nice adult there” (18:24-21:46, runtime: 3:22 minutes)
- Clip Two: The Beginning of the Toxic Culture (26:30-28:50, runtime: 2:20 minutes)
- Clip Three: Preserving the Image (34:51-41:30, runtime: 7:19 minutes)
- Clip Four: Timeline of the Cover Up (1:12:50-1:18:40, runtime: 6:35 minutes)
2. Read, Take Notes, Ask Questions
- “Rachael Denhollander: When You Speak Out Against Your Own Community, You Lose Everything,” December 21, 2019, The Guardian.
- “She Warned MSU About Larry Nassar. Now She Wants To Fix The System That Silenced Her,” January 19, 2019, HuffPost.
- Reporting on Sexual Assault: A Guide for Journalists:
- Key Concepts for Thinking and Writing about Sexual Violence, pp 10-13
- Sexual Violence Prevention: Changing the Way We Tell the Story, pp 35-37
3. Complete Investigative Article Planner
ENDING YOUR INVESTIGATION
You have come to the end of your first investigative reporting exploration and are now poised to write your first article for your local newspaper.
Article Requirements:
- Your article must be typed and no longer than 500 words
- Start with clear hypothesis and write in the style of a newspaper article
- Focus on at least one of the investigation topics from Athlete A
- Cite all the resources and research used from the Athlete A website
- Follow the Excellent Column of Rubric
Investigative Journalism and Accountability:
Develop an original hypothesis based on the resources in this investigation and write an article identifying how the The IndyStar upheld democratic ideals. Consider these questions as you compose your article:
-
- Whose responsibility is it to reveal and address wrongdoing in our society
- What are the ethical responsibilities of investigative journalists as they work to report a story?
The Power of a Story to Make Change Happen:
Develop an original hypothesis based on the resources you were given and write an article on the role(s) survivors’ stories play in holding individuals accountable.
Dismantling Toxic Culture:
Develop an original hypothesis based on the resources you were given and write an article about the toxic culture of USA Gymnastics and how it affected families and athletes.