"Our findings show that there is a viable future for investigative journalism (IJ) at all levels, local to international, if systematic, predictable, stable funding for networks, centers, journalists, technologies and collaborations can be found. Funders acknowledge that most manifestations of IJ ar
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ound the world will be non-profit, with remarkable, honorable exceptions. That said, all interviewees agree that IJ needs support for an infusion of skills in organizational management and development as a springboard for its future progress, especially if donors want to encourage IJ groups to develop greater revenue diversification as a route to viability." (Executive summary, page 6)
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"Jagendra Singh hatte wieder und wieder über einen Minister der Regierung im Bundesstaat Uttar Pradesh berichtet, der in den illegalen Abbau von Sand involviert gewesen sein soll [...] Singh ist einer von weltweit mindestens 13 Journalisten, die seit 2009 mutmaßlich getötet wurden, nachdem sie ü
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ber Ressourcenausbeutung oder Umweltverschmutzung berichteten. Zahlreiche weitere wurden angegriffen, eingeschüchtert oder mit Klagen überzogen, um ihre Berichterstattung zu behindern. Die Organisation Forbidden Stories, ein internationaler Zusammenschluss investigativer Journalisten, hat deshalb das Projekt "Green blood" - grünes Blut - ins Leben gerufen. 40 Journalisten von 30 Medienorganisationen haben in den vergangenen Monaten zusammengearbeitet, um die Arbeit von Kollegen fortzuführen, die bei Recherchen über Umwelt- und Ressourcenausbeutung getötet oder beeinträchtigt wurden. Darunter Reporter von Guardian, Le Monde, El País und den deutschen Medien Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR und Die Zeit. Forbidden Stories hatte bereits im vergangenen Jahr die Arbeit der ermordeten maltesischen Journalistin Daphne Caruana Galizia fortgeführt, um ein Signal zu setzen: Wer einzelne Reporter zum Schweigen bringen will, muss damit rechnen, dann einer Vielzahl von Reportern gegenüberzustehen. So kam es auch im Fall von Jagendra Singh und dem verdächtigen Minister Rammurti Singh Verma. Reporter von Forbidden Stories sprachen mit Hinterbliebenen, der einzigen Zeugin des Vorfalls, ehemaligen Kollegen und anderen Journalisten vor Ort. Sie erfuhren, dass Verma der Familie des verstorbenen Journalisten umgerechnet etwa 45 000 Dollar gezahlt hatte mit der Bedingung, dass sie auf weitere Anschuldigungen gegen ihn verzichten und die von der lokalen Polizei verbreitete Darstellung der Todesumstände akzeptieren würden: Singh habe Selbstmord begangen." (https://www.sueddeutsche.de)
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"This volume seeks to analyse the emerging wave of data journalism in the Global South. It does so by examining trends, developments and opportunities for data journalism in the aforementioned contexts. Whilst studies in this specific form of journalism are increasing in numbers and significance, th
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ere remains a dearth of literature on data journalism in less developed regions of the world. By demonstrating an interest in data journalism across countries including Chile, Argentina, the Philippines, South Africa and Iran, among others, this volume contributes to multifaceted transnational debates on journalism, and is a crucial reference text for anyone interested in data journalism in the 'developing' world. Drawing on a range of voices from different fields and nations, sharing empirical and theoretical experiences, the volume aims to initiate a global dialogue among journalism practitioners, researchers and students." (Publisher description)
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"Dieses Buch erklärt, wie man eine investigative Recherche plant, ausführt und abliefert – von der Idee bis zur Story. Der Clou: Wir stellen uns vor, die Geschichte sei schon geschrieben, und gehen in Gedanken den Entstehungsprozess rückwärts durch. So versteht man am besten, was es braucht, u
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m eine Geschichte zu erzählen. Wir nennen die Vorgehensweise Story-Based Inquiry. Wir hören auch nicht mit der Publikation der Geschichte auf – von wegen: „Aus der Druckerpresse aus dem Sinn“. Die „Nachsorge“ ist für den Erfolg des Projekts genauso wichtig wie die Recherche. Wir müssen dafür sorgen, dass wir mit der Geschichte all diejenigen erreichen, die von den Recherche-Ergebnissen profitieren können. Denn den Impact einer investigativen Recherche bestimmt nicht allein der Inhalt der Story, sondern auch ihre Verbreitung. Die in diesem Handbuch vorgestellte Methode arbeitet vor allem mit Fragen – sorgfältig ausgewählten Fragen in einer sorgfältig ausgesuchten Reihenfolge. Wer unserer Anleitung folgt, wird merken, dass sich manche Hürden im Rechercheprozess von selbst auflöst und man eine Menge Zeit sparen kann. Denn die hier vorgestellte Recherchestruktur ist gleichermaßen das Gerüst einer überzeugenden und spannenden Geschichte. Recherchieren und Schreiben gehen Hand in Hand, sie unterstützen sich gegenseitig. Ungefähr zu dem Zeitpunkt, an dem die Recherche abgeschlossen ist, steht auch ein Großteil der Geschichte. In diesem Leitfaden haben wir die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse aus unserem vorigen Handbuch Story-Based Inquiry: A Manual for Investigative Journalists (2009) zusammengestellt und um neue Aspekte ergänzt." (Einleitung)
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"This report aims to identify, evaluate, and discuss models to finance investigative journalism in the EU. To provide a thorough evaluation, we developed a set of criteria that cover six areas to that the financial source may exert an influence from high to low degrees. Those are (1) Independence, (
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2) Quality, (3) Market Structure, (4) Processes, (5) Sustainability, and (6) Competitiveness. This set of criteria is applied to eight representative financing models that stretch from the classical publishing house over innovative financing to publicly supported media. The analysis reveals that only a mixture of models allows the market to benefit best from each model’s core asset. The diversity of finance models is a natural inhibitor of market concentration, when regulative interference is well dosed. Also, the pluralistic set of finance models supports independence in that power is spread over many market actors." (Executive summary)
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"This exploratory study [.] argues that in a continent where traditional media organizations are increasingly failing to hold power to account, not-for-profit organizations are leading by example, setting the agenda and constantly scrutinizing those in power. This study further looks at the motivati
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on behind the formation of three not-for-profit investigative organizations, their funding model, as well as their impact in their respective countries. The following organizations are being studied: South Africa’s Amabhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism; Nigeria’s Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism; and Botswana’s INK Centre for Investigative Journalism. This study also argues that although these organizations are playing a crucial role in keeping power in check, their overreliance on donor organizations may spell doom for some of them." (Abstract)
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"Recent major leaks of documents and data have seen new approaches to investigative journalism develop. Collaboration across countries and across organisations has been necessary to share the scale of the investigation, share expertise, and co-ordinate publication to maximise impact. This new model
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of collaboration, in an industry otherwise focused on exclusivity, indicates ways of adapting to technological, business and political change to strengthen accountability journalism at a time when it is under pressure from multiple directions. This book is a collection of essays from some of those closely involved in developing new models of collaboration in investigative journalism." (Back cover)
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"For a motivated journalist in Bulgaria it is easy to detect, investigate and collect proof of corruption and abuse of power. But currently, when making their findings public, instead of a gratifying applause, journalists encounter great chances of hitting a wall of silence, facing authorities with
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“eyes wide shut”, or even worse: being followed, intimidated, discouraged through smearing campaigns and labeled “Enemy of the State”. The reasons are classic - corrupt editors and publishers, self-censorship, pressure from the authorities and media ownership concentrated in the hands of oligarchs, who are using the press like “media bats” to gain control and punish the few defiant ones.
This said, in such a difficult context, investigative journalism in Bulgaria is not dead yet. It even shows signs of being in good shape. Thanks to the wise use of the technologies, investigative reporters can continue their work and even bypass the wall of silence, spreading their findings among the public through social media and gaining popularity that makes the uncovered issues ineludible for the mainstream media and the authorities." (Page 1)
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"This collection of 41 pieces of African journalism includes passionate and committed writing on labor abuses, police brutality, women’s rights, the struggle for democracy and independence on the continent and other subjects. Each piece of writing is introduced by a noted scholar or journalist who
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explains the context and why the journalism mattered." (Back cover)
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"While the digital era has delivered unprecedented opportunities for big-data based investigative journalism—from the Snowden Files to the Panama Papers—it has also thrown up a host of new threats to the sustainability of journalism based on confidential sources. These include: mass and targeted
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surveillance; data retention regimes and the handover of data by third party intermediaries such as social media platforms, telecommunications companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs); national security and anti-terrorism overreach; attempts to ban encryption and online anonymity; and malicious digital attacks targeting journalists. If sources cannot securely connect with journalists, they risk exposure, with impacts including economic penalties through to extra-judicial killings. The effect of these threats to accountability journalism and public access to information is chilling, and it is leading to significant changes in the practice of investigative journalism dependent upon confidential sources and information on a global scale." (Abstract)
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"In the post-digital era, investigative journalism around the world faces a revolutionary shift in the way information is gathered and interpreted. Reporters in the field are confronted with data sources, new logics of information dissemination, and a flood of disinformation. Investigative journalis
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ts are working with programmers, designers and scientists to develop innovative tools and hands-on approaches that assist them in disclosing the misuse of power and uncovering injustice. This volume provides an overview of the most sophisticated techniques of digital investigative journalism: data and computational journalism, which investigates stories hidden in numbers; immersive journalism, which digs into virtual reality; drone journalism, which conquers hitherto inaccessible territories; visual and interactive journalism, which reforms storytelling with images and audience perspectives; and digital forensics and visual analytics, which help to authenticate digital content and identify sources in order to detect manipulation. All these techniques are discussed against the backdrop of international political scenarios and globally networked societies." (Publisher description)
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"The authors present regional trends from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Eastern Europe in light of global developments in investigative reporting, taking into consideration different muckraking cultures, and share examples of successful strategies of investigative media outlets. They suggest
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that a comprehensive and collaborative approach in supporting investigative media is needed to ensure a viable future for investigative media as well as the sector itself. For this, a model describing elements specific to the viability of investigative journalism is presented to help media startups, donors, media development NGOs identify possible areas of support." (Abstract)
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"The book analyzes the market for investigative reporting by examining more than 12,000 prize competition entries from 1979 to 2010 in the annual awards contest of Investigative Reporters and Editors. The results show what these investigative works in the United States uncovered and their impacts, a
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nd how the investigations were conducted and financially supported. Case studies of several investigative series demonstrate that each dollar invested in a story can yield hundreds of dollars in policy benefits. Examining the work of a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter shows how a single journalist over four decades generated more than 150 investigations that led to changes, including the passage of thirty-one state laws. Many valuable accountability stories go untold because media outlets bear the costs of reporting while the benefits spillover onto those who don't read or watch these investigations. Computational journalism may improve the economics of investigative reporting in two ways: lowering the cost of finding stories through better use of data and algorithms, and telling stories in more personalized and engaging ways. While breakdowns in institutions are inevitable, the combination of computation and journalism offers an expanded set of people new ways to hold those in power accountable and serve as democracy's detectives." (Publisher description)
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