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The ABC of investigative journalism

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How does it work in reality? Where to investigate? Which problem is the biggest? ... Daughter's school. Daughter's friends. Daddy's work. Stated scenes of the crime ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The ABC of investigative journalism


1
The ABC of investigative journalism
  • Nils Hanson,Swedish Television

nils.hanson_at_svt.se
2
What we want to achieve
  • Reaction among general public
  • Impact on other media
  • Solution to the problem

3
Steps to reach the goal
  • A. Adopting tough challenges
  • B. Proving the wrong-doing
  • C. Investigating yourself

4
A.
  • Adopting tough challenges

5
  • Very important
  • Easy Difficult
  • Less important

Source IRE Journal
6
Sentenced 8 years
7
Wrongly convicted
8
  • Very important
  • Easy Difficult
  • Less important

Yes
Risky
Tempting
No
Source IRE Journal
9
Starting point
  • It is not like it is said to be

10
Getting on the track
  • Think like a corrupt person

Thanks to Ulla Danne
11
The key question
  • What opportunities exist
  • to profit from the system?

12
Investigating systems
  • How is it supposed to work - according to the
    rules?
  • How does it work in reality?

13
Where to investigate?
  • Which problem is the biggest?
  • Which problem is the most neglected?
  • Which problem is the most upsetting?

14
Examining the idea
15
Checklist for the idea
  • Title
  • Summary
  • Previously published
  • Minimum
  • Maximum
  • Timetable

16
The minimum
  • Good enough
  • to publish

17
The maximum
  • What you hope to achieve
  • but can not promise

18
Reach minimum
  • Identify key facts
  • Begin with the least complicated
  • Secure a secret

19
Case Wrongly convicted
  • Daughters school

20
Case Wrongly convicted
  • Daughters school
  • Daughters friends
  • Daddys work
  • Stated scenes of the crime

21
The most important question
  • What is the weak link?

22
Hypothesis
Assumption becomes conviction
Thesis
23
Avoid tunnel-vision
  • Seek other explanations
  • Listen to the sceptical
  • Examine the expert
  • Question the victim

24
Questions to the victim
  • - Your own responsibility?
  • - Could you have done more yourself?
  • - Can you prove your allegations?
  • - Do you have anything to hide?

25
A common mistake
  • Wait too long with the
  • key interview

26
Advantage confrontating early
  • Avoids unpleasant surprises
  • Givs time to examine the explanation
  • Easier to get the lie on record

27
B.
  • Proving the wrongdoing

28
(No Transcript)
29
Work out the method
  • Learn how the system works

30
Learn how the system works
  • Routines
  • Processes
  • Key players
  • Transparency
  • Weaknesses
  • ... and so on

31
Get the documents you need
  • - even the classified

32
Convince the official - step 1
  • Meeting without pressure
  • No interview
  • Just want to know how it works
  • Help with checking facts

33
Convince the offical step 2
  • Involve in the project
  • References
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Examples of your work
  • Agreement

34
The officials reaction
  • 1. The reporter is serious
  • 2. This is important
  • 3. I want to help!

35
The risky method
  • Using anonymous sources

36
(No Transcript)
37
Check the source
  • The position of the source?
  • Can the information be confirmed?
  • Is it credible?
  • Does it fit in with the pattern?
  • Background of the source?
  • The motive?
  • Pass thelie detector?

38
Protect the source
  • Be careful with the phone
  • Dont send email (unless encrypted)
  • Use alias
  • Meet at safe places
  • Discuss how facts can be used

39
C.
  • Investigating yourself

40
Keep a diary
  • Telephone calls
  • Interviews
  • Promises
  • Meetings
  • Ordering public documents
  • Problems
  • Ideas

41
Line by line-editing
  • Is all the factual information correct?
  • Are all the conclusions well founded
  • Is there any essential information missing?
  • Have the criticised had a chance to reply to all
    serious criticism?

42
Line-by-lining
  • Mark all facts
  • All correct?
  • Verification through
  • documents
  • Names, figures, quotes

43
Line-by-lining
  • And not the least
  • Are all conclusions
  • well founded?

44
The subject
  • Identify all criticizm
  • Informed about all allegations?
  • Response to all?

45
Delicate questions
  • Relevant information missing?
  • Would other facts change the general picture?
  • Reason to hide the selection of facts?
  • Can the selection be criticized?

46
Beware of temptations
  • Making too much of the little that is new
  • Selecting facts to produce the right conclusion
  • Scraping together everything there is

47
(No Transcript)
48
Be patient
  • - have luck

49
svt.se/granskning
50
nils.hanson_at_svt.se
51
D.
  • Demand accountability

52
The key interview
  • Insist on a meeting
  • Be careful with reservations
  • Start with checking the facts
  • Identify the key questions
  • Be prepared for message track
  • Dont forget any allegation

53
The subject refuses
  • Inform about manuscript
  • Get answers elsewhere
  • Hidden recording
  • Make an ambush

54
Making breaking news
  • Portion the story
  • Plant the story
  • Send press releases
  • Initiate reactions
  • Plan follow-ups

55
The advanced method
  • Stage a fake situation

56
Hidden camera
  • Major public interest
  • Only one possible method
  • Supplementary material from open sources
  • Explanation from the target
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