"This handbook offers an insight into a set of investigative practices that will make your first steps into this exciting and demanding discipline, easier. You will find the elements that we consider to be the most important aspects of investigative journalistic work, along with numerous examples an
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d case studies, additional reading material, data and exercises. Although the emphasis is placed on the experiences of journalists from the region, our collaboration with Sheila Coronel, director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University, ensures a wider perspective, tackling all of the basic principles of good investigative work. The book will take you through the very substance of investigative journalism, from the definition of what investigative journalism really is, and what it is not, through the investigative process itself and the set of techniques for following paper and people trails, interviewing and checking the legal implications of your work, and putting the article together. Although the best approach to this handbook is to read these chapters one by one in the order in which they are presented, you can also go directly to the parts that are of particular interest to you - this may be particularly relevant for the chapters that deal with investigative techniques and specific regional practices related to them." (Introduction)
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"This report explores the rapid growth of investigative journalism overseas and suggests ways to best support and professionalize its practice in developing and democratizing countries. Among its findings:
• A substantial investment into investigative journalism programs can have significant posit
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ive impact in a wide range of countries, including those in the Middle East and former Soviet Union. Such funding will be most effective if long-term and integrated into broader initiatives that include legal reform and freedom of information.
• Nonprofit investigative reporting centers have proved to be viable organizations that can provide unique training and reporting, while serving as models of excellence that help to professionalize the local journalism community.
• The centers are part of an expanding global network of training institutes, reporting organizations, journalism associations, grant-making groups, and online networks that have great potential to effect change. Different programs will be appropriate for different regions and markets.
• Commercially based training, even in the West, plays little role in furthering investigative journalism, leaving nonprofit organizations to take the lead. Although university-based training has potential, it appears limited in scope outside the United States and Western Europe.
• Because of its emphasis on longer-term, high-impact journalism, investigative reporting projects can be difficult to evaluate. Training and reporting projects aimed at creating a culture of investigative journalism should be evaluated based on their quality and impact, not broad numbers of people trained and stories produced." (Executive summary)
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"In this handbook we aim to define the issues of corruption, put them into the context of Sri Lanka, and explore the media’s role in exposing corruption and encouraging accountability. We present and analyse the findings of our research into corruption investigative reporting (CIR) in the Sri Lank
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an media – the experiences of Sri Lankan reporters, how they perceive their role and responsibility when it comes to corruption. We define investigative journalism and explore the qualities, skills and tools that make a good investigative reporter. Case studies are integrated into the handbook to help illustrate corruption and CIR in action." (How to use this handbook)
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"Media in China have a tremendous influence on public opinion and Chinese politics. Several hundred broadcasters, more than 2,000 newspapers and magazines and countless web-media compete fiercely for attention and over a lucrative advertising market. Simultaneously, the state is constantly reassessi
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ng the media policies and the control, on the media in general, as well as on individual media practitioners. New technology has led to an enormous increase in access to information. Are Chinese media already acting as an independent ‘fourth estate’? What does investigative journalism mean to Chinese journalists? What do the Chinese government and leaders of Chinese media institutions think about the media? How do modern Chinese media define their role? Along these lines IMS and the Danish National Commission for UNESCO organized a Conference in Copenhagen on November 28, 2008. The event brought together more than 100 international journalists and representatives from universities, media organizations, governmental organizations and non governmental organizations." (Introduction, page 5)
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