The Forensic Investigator episode explores relationship between law enforcement, journalists

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

The Details

What role do journalists play in cold case investigations?

That question and more are at the center of a recent episode of the Forensic Investigator Podcast, featuring Vault reporter Trisha Taurinskas.

Hosted by

Jim M Adcock, Ph.D., a forensic and criminal investigator with more than two decades of experience, the episode bridges the gap between law enforcement and the media.

It asks — and answers — the questions about journalists’ role in raising public awareness, generating new leads and pushing cases forward.

Taurinskas draws on her experience covering cold cases across the Upper Midwest, discussing the challenges of reporting on cases that have gone unsolved for decades, building relationships with victims' families and navigating the ethical responsibilities that come with telling their stories. She is an enterprise crime reporter for Forum Communications Co. and hosts The Vault podcast.

The conversation also explores the importance of trust between journalists and investigators, and the ways reporting can help keep cases alive long after official investigations are launched.

For families still searching for answers, that attention can be critical. It also raises an important task for journalists: How do you tell these stories in a way that serves the public while respecting the people at the center of them?

The conversation between Adcock and Taurinskas echoes the delicate relationship between law enforcement and the media — and how understanding one anothers’ roles and responsibilities can lead to greater outcomes for the public and victims.

The episode can be found on major podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

• Comments
• Share this article
• News Reporting
• News Reporting

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

What is this?

• Tags
• Tags
• COLD CASES
• TRUE CRIME
• VAULT - 2000-PRESENT
• UNSOLVED
• CRIME AND COURTS
• By
• Staff reports

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "staff." Often, the "staff" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

• Listen to this article
• Conversation
• What To Read Next
• The Vault

How the 'Saskatoon Lily' went from tiny town to Olympic record holder 21h ago By C.S. Hagen The Vault Officer death marked end of motorcycle patrol, founded to stop 'mania' of 20 mph speeders 2d ago By Maia Labbe The Vault Why 2 inmates received lethal injection after failed prison escape, murder 3d ago By C.S. Hagen Get Local Must Reads Prep Who is the next state champion?

Follow our Dakota Bowl live blog 4h ago By Forum staff North Dakota Audit raises concerns at North Dakota Veterans Home, including choking death caused by improper meal 22h ago By Sav Kelly North Dakota ND Development Fund pauses new financing to address audit; Commerce head takes back board seat 18h ago By Nathan Price / The Bismarck Tribune North Dakota North Dakota readies for public charter school applications in early December 1d ago By Robin Huebner