"This manual was designed in order to provide readers with an overview of state of the art practices in investigative journalism, with a focus on illicit financial flows and asset recovery. It has an introductory to intermediate level. It is the result of over three years of collaboration between Ci
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FAR and civil society organizations specialized in various fields of expertise relevant to the practice of journalism, beginning with the launch of our first training and mentoring program Investigate the Meditarranean in 2017. Our Introduction to Investigative Journalism manual aims to cover points that we have identified as being important for investigating grand corruption, financial crime and asset recovery, the main areas of investigative reporting useful for, namely: theoretical and research frameworks, investigative resources for deep web research, databases and access to information, as well as digital safety. Three supporting case-studies have been added as an illustration of the use of these tools and techniques, based on three investigative cross-border stories published by some of our trainees. This last part is designed to provide a “behind-the-scenes” overview of the investigative work of these three journalists that, we hope, will be useful for current and new early career investigative journalists." (About this manual, page 2)
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"Since 2014, “plot twist news” as a controversial news phenomenon has appeared extensively in Chinese digital communication. In the context of journalism, this refers to news facts provided in follow-up reporting that contradict the facts provided in the initial reporting. Based on interviews wi
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th 25 journalists who specialize in in-depth reporting in Beijing in 2017, this study suggests that the phenomenon of plot twist news in the Chinese context urges us to think about how “truth” is being interpreted by different social actors and how the different versions of narrated truth drive journalistic investigation. Built upon field theory, this article argues that the doxa and habitus of the journalism field are challenged by the audience in such a way that journalists try to respond to audience demands through reporting the truth." (Abstract)
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"Internet surveillance has become a crucial issue for journalism. The “Snowden moment” has shed light on the risks that journalists and their sources face while communicating online and has shown how journalists themselves can be targets of surveillance operations or other forms of malicious dig
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ital attacks from different actors. More recent revelations, such as those coming from the “Pegasus Project”, have underlined even more dangerous threats posed to the safety of journalists, increasingly targeted with spyware technology. Due to the sensitivity of their work and sources and given their strong “watchdog” role in democracies, investigative reporters are in a particularly dangerous position when it comes to the potential chilling effects of surveillance on their work of journalists. This paper analyzes investigative journalists’ views and self-reflections on the impacts of Internet surveillance on their work by means of in-depth qualitative interviews with reporters affiliated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and working in Italy, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. The paper touches on different angles of the Internet surveillance issue by analyzing journalists’ concerns about national and international surveillance players and the overall impact of surveillance on news work." (Abstract)
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"This 3rd edition maps the new world of Investigative Journalism, where technology and globalisation have connected and energized journalists, whistle-blowers and the latest players, with far-reaching consequences in politics and business worldwide. In this new edition, expert contributors demonstra
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te how crowdsourcing, big data, globalization of information and changes in media ownership and funding have escalated the impact of investigative journalists. The book includes case studies of investigative journalism from around the world including the exposure of EU corruption, destruction of the Malaysian environment, and investigations in China, Poland and Turkey. From Ibero-America to Nigeria, India to the Arab world, investigative journalists intensify their countries' evolution by inquisition and revelation. This new edition reveals how investigative journalism has gone digital and global." (Publisher description)
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"This handbook is broadly divided into three sections: this first focuses on understanding business and human rights, its themes and topics. The second part looks at the practicalities of reporting business and human rights stories: from finding ideas and spotting stories through to the process of r
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esearch and carrying out interviews. The third part looks at how you can tell business and human rights stories, and ‘sell’ them to your audience and editors. Whilst some media law is discussed, it is as general introductory information only and should not be construed as or relied upon as legal advice." (Page 8)
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"At the start of 2016, Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and Tempo Institute, the NGO arm of Tempo Media Group, shared the ambition to create a new generation of investigative reporters and promote a culture of accountability throughout Indonesia in the design of “Investigating with Tempo”. In this pro
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gramme, talented journalists from local media based outside the capital were selected for a six-month fellowship to research a topic that affects the lives of citizens and local communities. The fellowship worked towards publishing an in-depth investigative story in Tempo Magazine, mentored by senior journalists of the Tempo newsroom. During this time, the fellows received a living and travel allowance, which enabled them to fully focus on the issue that they were investigating [...] This book gives insight into how social change through independent journalism happens in practice. Tempo Institute has managed to create and foster a culture of investigative journalism, and their work resulted in stories that contributed to policy changes and positively impacted the lives of marginalized groups. Individual stories can have a societal impact, either in the form of provoking power-holders into action or by bringing issues into the public sphere that would otherwise not be talked about." (Foreword, page viii-ix)
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"This article details the role of collaborative journalism during the process of rebuilding investigative journalism at its core thus assuring enduring investment in its quality. We will start by characterizing the concepts of investigative journalism and collaborative journalism, using leading scho
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lars in both of these complementary areas; we will, then, identify the pressures that constrains investigative journalism, and analyse how journalistic collaboration has a potential for resistance that can protect both investigative journalism and the journalists who practice it. Our article path will be complemented with the case study of the "Daphne Project", the first project of the consortium "Forbidden Stories", the international platform created by Laurent Richard. This project will be characterized through a documentary analysis and with interviews we conducted with both its founder, Laurent Richard, and Mathew Caruana Galizia, the son of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese journalist murdered on October 16th 2017, during her investigations. The Daphne Project was created for the purpose of keeping alive stories of journalists who have been killed, imprisoned or, for some reason, were unable to pursue their investigations. Not only does collaborative journalism protect investigative journalism and investigative journalists, but cross-borders collaboration also allows "sharing the risk across a wide range of international players" (Sambrook, 2017). If the absolute exposure of the lonely investigative journalist turns him/her into a target in territories where freedom of speech is threatened, the murder of this Maltese journalist, followed by the murder of Slovakian Ján Kuciak, in 2018, placed Europe as an unlikely set on the risk map. While acknowledging the problems caused by international consortium of journalists, this research highlights, above all, how these partnerships, anchored in "radical sharing" (Guevara, 2016)1, are contributing to enhance investigative journalism." (Abstract)
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"Arab journalists operate in an entirely different environment from their counterparts elsewhere. They face not only censorship from state and society, but also the impossibility of obtaining even basic open source information. The need to present models that speak to all the contradictory aspects o
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f the Arab experience was at the forefront of our minds throughout the writing process. We do not want to separate investigative journalism from its essential task of holding the powerful to account. Nor do we want to lose its spirit in pernickety detail. But this handbook is less about the theory of investigative journalism and more an introduction intended to help you develop the conscious and considered tools and skills required by this very particular kind of journalism. In this handbook we are not looking to reduce investigative journalism to a set of strict pedagogical rules. We hope to equip journalists with the skills to do research, to think critically, to fact-check and to make good use of their common sense." (Pages 4-5)
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"Open-source intelligence gathering and analysis (OSINT) techniques are no longer predominantly the remit of private investigators and journalists. An estimated 80-90% of data analysed by intelligence agencies is also now derived from publicly available material. Additionally, the massive expansion
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of the internet and, in particular, social media platforms, have made OSINT increasingly accessible to civilians who simply want to trawl the Web for information on a specific individual, organisation or product. In May 2018, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was implemented in the UK through the new Data Protection Act, intended to secure personal data against unjustified collection, storage and exploitation. This document presents a preliminary literature review of work related to the GDPR and OSINT, which was collated as the basis for an as-yet-unpublished study evaluating the effects of the GDPR on OSINT capabilities in the UK. The literature reviewed is separated into the following six sections:‘What is OSINT?’,‘What are the risks and benefits of OSINT?’,‘What is the rationale for data protection legislation?’,‘What are the current legislative frameworks in the UK and Europe?’,‘What is the potential impact of the GDPR on OSINT?’, and ‘Have the views of civilian and commercial stakeholders been sought and why is this important?’. As OSINT tools and techniques are accessible to anyone, they have the unique capacity for being used to hold power to account. It is therefore important that new data protection legislation does not impede civilian OSINT capabilities." (Abstract)
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"Despite the growing scholarship on investigative journalism in Latin America, very few studies have addressed collaboration across newsrooms in the region. By analyzing the responses of 251 journalists who work for investigative units in Latin American news outlets, this study explores a) the reaso
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ns why Latin American journalists are increasingly seeking to participate in national and transnational collaborative enterprises, b) the challenges they identify, and c) the role digital technologies are playing in this trend of transnational collaboration. Using mixed methods, we found that collaborations occur to enhance the impact of investigative projects, to reach larger audiences, and to achieve a big-picture coverage. We also found that safety is an important motivation to work in conjunction with other newsrooms—by collaborating, journalists are able to strengthen security measures and challenge censorship. Yet, coordinating teams—especially at the transnational level—remains the biggest challenge to overcome. Digital technologies are significantly related to reporters’ likelihood of collaborating, but these technologies require other reporting skills to be useful for investigative journalism. Implications for research and practice are discussed." (Abstract)
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"Open-source intelligence (OSINT) gathering and analysis techniques are used by investigators from a variety of fields, owing to their accessibility and exceptional capacity for corroboration. It has previously been argued that proposed data protection legislation can chill the free press, but there
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have been no studies assessing the effect of such reforms on more general OSINT capabilities. European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was implemented in the UK through the 2018 Data Protection Act (DPA) to protect personal data against exploitation. This study surveyed 16 OSINT gathering and analysis practitioners across public and private sectors to determine firstly, what, if any impact the implementation of the GDPR/DPA have had on their ability to successfully operate as OSINT analysts and secondly, if they have noticed any subsequent changes in UK public perception around issues of the surveillance state and digital privacy. I argue that this initial survey shows that the GDPR is merely a first step in establishing societal expectations and regulations around digital privacy. While some changes to OSINT practice have been reported, to date few substantive changes to OSINT methods or analysis resulted or seemed poised to take effect, one year after the advent of the GDPR/DPA." (Abstract)
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"Hace doce años, un equipo de periodistas compartió el sueño de mejorar la investigación en Colombia y para cumplirlo definieron un plan de trabajo y se juntaron durante meses. Querían crear una red de periodistas de investigación y un espacio para intercambiar experiencias y conocimientos con
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otros colegas del país y del mundo. Este sueño los llevó a asociarse. Buscaron el apoyo de la Universidad Javeriana, tocaron a las puertas de cooperantes internacionales y realizaron un encuentro público de periodismo. También esa aspiración los llevó poco a poco a hacer investigación conjunta, a crear una asociación en la que participaran con decisión los periodistas de las regiones. Contactaron a investigadores de diversas zonas del mundo y los invitaron a comp artir sus métodos. Para fortalecer el periodismo en el país, empezaron a apoyar medios locales y capacitaron a los emprendedores que, en medio de los avatares de la industria informativa, venían desarrollando sus propios medios emergentes. Estos pioneros generaron intercambios de saberes, divulgaron el conocimiento, publicaron guías de investigación y bases de datos para su uso periodístico. Ese sueño que se empezó a materializar hace doce años se llama Consejo de Redacción, una organización que hoy está integrada por más de ciento veintiocho periodistas de veinte departamentos de Colombia. Este libro, escrito por sus protagonistas, cuenta cómo se conforma una organización periodística y demuestra de qué forma el trabajo en equipo, la solidaridad y la cooperación son valores imprescindibles para defender en nuestro país el derecho a investigar, hacer memoria y contar nuestra propia realidad." (Cubierta del libro)
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"This booklet contains a series of stories and essays on the impact and rationale behind the various PubLeaks platforms that Free Press Unlimited has helped set up over the years." (Publisher description)
"This publication has featured a great variety of investigative media, each of them with their unique history, spirit and organizational culture. And yet they have a lot in common: constantly being on their feet, exploring and trying out new ways to ensure their media stays viable; adhering to quali
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ty and ethical journalism, thereby building relationships of trust with their audiences; knowing who their audience is and building loyal communities; and integrating new digital technology and processes into their work where possible. This has led to another fundamental viability ingredient: a very strong brand that has made investigative journalism an integral part of their DNA. Analyze markets strategically: The The investigative media in this publication look at what their markets can offer, where the limitations are and how to deal with the biggest threats to their business-in terms of finances, legal threats and qualified staff. Integrate people dedicated to business: Rappler (Philippines), Atlatszo.hu (Hungary) and Tempo (Indonesia) are examples of media that all have staff who spend a large amount of their time, if not all of it, on ensuring their outlet stays financially afloat. Seek collaborations: Tempo has carried out joint investigations with other media in neighboring countries, Rappler has teamed up with a fact-checking agency, Agência Pública (Brazil) cooperates regularly with NGOs or international media and has a dedicated media relations officer. Cooperate with dedicated donors or sponsors that meet their standards: FrontPageAfrica (Liberia) managed to attract the biggest telecom operator in Liberia as an advertiser thanks to their quality reporting, Plaza Pública (Guatemala) is hosted by a university, Premium Times (Nigeria) has created a not-for-profit newsroom to attract funds from international donors. Invest in capacity building: Tempo, Rappler and Mada Masr (Egypt) are training their own staff in investigative reporting and journalism standards. Interact with their audience and experiment with new distribution channels: KRIK (Serbia) is using drawings instead of photos on their website, Mada Masr mixes their investigations with recipes, lifestyle pieces and sharp-tongued comics, and Agência Pública set up an interactive website to highlight the plight of those families that lost their home during the construction of the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Make tech an integral part of their work: Whether this is about research techniques or distribution methods. Rappler has been investigating online trolling, Mada Masr continues to distribute their reports via Facebook and VPN despite being blocked by the authorities. Interact with their audience and build a community that helps to investigate by providing information, protests when the media gets threatened, pays for its products or contributes financially through crowdfunding, such as is the case at Atlatszo.hu." (Synopsis, page 68)
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"This guide seeks to provide useful information from the world of journalism in order to stimulate and instruct the ever-growing number of citizen investigators — the ordinary citizens, members of nongovernmental organizations, and non-journalism professionals interested in using investigative tec
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hniques to uncover wrongdoing and expose the invisible." (Page 4)
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"The Bureau Local is a collaborative, UK-wide investigative network. It was launched in 2017 to support, reinvigorate and innovate local investigative reporting in the UK. After completing its initial two-year funded experiment, the team is laying out its story, learnings and frameworks for those se
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eking to replicate or take parts of the model to their countries, cities or sectors. The German not-for-profit news organisation CORRECTIV was inspired to take on the model - calling it CORRECTIV.Lokal - and their case study is included." (Page 1)
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