journalistic skils

7/30/2019 journalistic skils

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Learning objectivesBythetimeyouhaveworkedthroughthischapter,youwillbeableto:

z Explainthedierencebetweenastoryideaandahypothesisz Drawupaninvestigativereportingplanz Createanddeliveraninormative,convincingstorypitchz Explaintheusesandlimitationsodierenttypesosourcematerialanddierent

investigationmethods

z Understandwhatapapertrailisandhowtobegintrackingonez Drawupandusecriteriaoauthenticityandadequacyorevidenceandz Dratuseabletimelinesandbudgets.

Iyouarecondentthatyoualreadyhavetheseskills,gostraightto

z Chapter4oradetailedlookatndingandusingsourcesz Chapter5ormoreoninterviewingz Chapter6ortechnicalguidanceoncomputer-assistedandnumber-based

(e.g.nancial)research

z Chapter7oradviceonanalysingyourevidence,packagingit,andwritingthestory.

Planningtheinvestigation


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3-2Planning the investigation

Why plan?

Thepreviouschapterlookedatsourcesogoodstoryideas.Wesawthatwhiletipsrominormedinsidersareimmensely

useultoinvestigativereporters,theyarenottheonlysourceoideas,andthatallsourceshavetheirowncharacteristicsand

limitations.

Wealsosawthatthebeststoryideasarenotnecessarilythebiggest:thebeststoryideasarethosethatgototheheartoareal

probleminthecommunityorbroadersocietywherereporterswork.

Butyoucannotjustmoveromideastraighttoinvestigation.Whatyouhaveisjustastartingpoint.Becauseinvestigative

storiescarryaheavysocialresponsibilityandvariouslegalrisksyoumustbesureyourreportingisasthorough,accurateandcomprehensiveaspossible.Becausemediaworkisateameort,youalsoneedtoensurethattheresgoodcommunicationwith

colleagues.Andbecauseinvestigativereportingneedsresources,youneedtomakecertainthesewillbeinplace.Forallthese

reasons,youneedtoplantheworkthatwillgointoyourstory.

Whereyourideacameromwillbeoneotheactorsshapingyourworkplan.Itheideacameromyourownobservations,or

romanecdotalevidence,youneedtobesurethattheseindividualexperiencesreallyrepresentabroadertrendorissue.Itheidea

cameromatip,youmustchecktheauthenticity,reliabilityandpossiblemotivesothesourceevenbeoreyoumoveorward.We

notedthesequestionsinChapter2andyoullndmoreonsource-checkinginthenextchapter.

Butevenithesourcesareimpeccableandtheinitialactsirreutable,thereisarststageyouhavetogothrough:turningyour

storyideaintoatightly-ocusedhypothesisorquestionthattheinvestigationwillprove,disproveoranswer.Youneedtodothis

because:

Itmakestheworkmanageablebygivingitboundariesandgoals

ItassistsincommunicatingandsellingtheideatoothersItallowsyoutobudgettimeandresourcesmoreaccuratelyItprovidescriteriaorelevanceortheevidenceyoucollectItlaystheoundationoracoherentnalstory.

However,aplanisneversetinstone.Asyoullseeromwhatollows,ithastohavesucientfexibilitytocopewiththenew

inormationandnewdirectionsyourinvestigationwilluncover.

AgroupoAricaninvestigativereportersworking

acrossseveralcountriescametogetherand

discoveredtheircommunitieshadverysimilar

problems.Allweresueringresourceexploitation

anddepletion,spearheadedbybigmultinational

companies.Allcouldpinpointcorruptocialswhose

corruptionwasdamagingservicedeliveryandthe

ruleolaw.Allsawandinsomecasespersonally

experiencedthedevastationodiseasessuchasHIV/

Aids,malaria,pneumoniaandtheproblemscausedby

lackomedicinestotreatthese.

Theydecidedthattherewasscopehereor

transnationalinvestigationswheretheexperience

oseveralcountriesbroughttogethercould

comprehensivelyexploretheissue.

Butthiswouldbeamassiveandcomplex

undertaking.Everyaspect,romselectingthetopic

tocarvinguptheworkwouldneedtobetightly

controlled,inordertomakesurethenalprojectcame

togetherproperly.TheorganisationwastheForum

orAricanInvestigativeReporters(FAIR)andthe

resultingtransnationalinvestigation,ontheavailability

omedicines,ormsthecasestudyorthischapter,on

page3-19.First,welookattheingredientsthatgointo

planninganyinvestigativereportingproject,largeor

small.


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Veryoten,youllndyouhavethestoryideainbroadgeneraltermsthatwillallowyoutoinvestigateawide(andprobably

unmanageable)universeotopics.Agoodtechniqueordevelopingandreningthisideaistowriteyourwayintoit.Trytocompose

astorysummary:aparagraphthatdescribeswhatthenalstorywilllooklike.Thisisawayoopeningnewsroommindstothestory,

andsketchingoutarangeopossibleexplanations.Italsohelpsyoutoseewhetherthestorycanbetreatedaslocal,orwhetherit

mighthavenational,regionalorevenpan-Aricanimplications.Forexample:

AlothasbeenwrittenabouttheimpactowaterprivatisationonpoorpeopleinArica.Xmunicipalityinourcountry

privatiseditswaterservicesthreeyearsago,andourpaperslocalocehasbeenreceivingmanycomplaintsthatwateris

nowunaordableandrepairservicesareunreliable.Nowtherehasbeenabigoutbreakodiarrhoeainthearea.Somepeople

aresayingthewatersupplyisnolongerpoor;othersaresayingthatpeoplewhocannotaordprivatewaterareusingother

unsaesources.Thisstorywilllookattheimpactowaterprivatisationonthecommunityandwhetherourwaterisstillsae.

Local, national or regional?

Thisbigpictureapproachisagoodbasisorurtherbrainstorming.Ittakesyousomewaytowardsocusingthestory,butnot

alltheway.Itsquiteabstractandgeneralalmostacademicratherthanjournalistic.Itdoesntdeneitsterms,andraisesissuesthatcouldtakethestoryindierentdirectionsorsplititintodierentthemes.

z Isourocussaetyorcost?Thesecouldbetwostories.z Doesimpactmeanimpactonlyonthepoor?Arethereproblemsinmiddle-classcommunitiestoo?Whataboutindustrialand

agriculturalwaterusersinthearea?

z Dowewanttoseeithesameproblemsexistinotherregions?Inothercountriesaroundus?Internationally?(Thesequestions,ocourse,mayormthebasisoother,uturestories.Dontthrowawaytheresultsosuchbrainstorming.)

Therearesomeother,moredetailedrameworksthatcanhelpyoutightenthisverygenerallevelodescriptionandseeexactly

whatyourIJprojectshouldbe.Therstistheclassicormulaorocusingastory:

Whatsbeenhappening?Sowhat?(Whyshouldourreaderscare?)

Whatsbeenhappening?ThisputstheocusoyourstoryrmlyontheNEWSaspect.Theresbeenamajoroutbreakowater-borndiarrhoeainX,adistrictwherewatersupplyhasbeenprivatised.Sowhat?Ourreaderswanttoknowwhy,andwhethertheir

ownwatersuppliesandhealtharealsoatrisk.Weneedtondoutthesourceotheepidemic.Iitcanbelinkedtoprivatisedwater,

weneedtodiscoverthatlink.Andwhatevertheriskactors,weneedtoseeitheyexistorarelikelytobecreatedanywhereelse,

andwarnourreaders.

Thisrameworkgivesyouuseulideasaboutpackagingandpresentingyourstorysoitisappealingtoreaders.Butitisstill

broad,anddoesntindicatethepracticalactivities,preciseocusorlevelsodepthintheinvestigation.

Whodidit?Howdidtheydoit?Whataretheconsequences?Howcanitbeputright?ThisisanIJoutliningapproachthatmanyUSjournalismtextbooksrecommend.Itclearlysetsoutthestagesotheplannedinvestigationandisappropriateorstorieswheretherearealreadystrongindicationsthatcorruptionexists.Butassuming

somebodysguiltbeoreyouhavelookedatalltheevidencecanbedangerous.ItignoresanotherkeyIJquestion:conspiracyor

chaos?Inotherwords,istheoutbreaktheresultodeliberateneglectandcost-cuttingthatriskssaety,ortheresultoslackness,

inappropriatesystemsthatdontsuitthecircumstances,inadequateresources,oradozenothercausesthatcantbepinnedonone

villain.Itmightbebettertoaskmoreneutralopeningquestions:

Whatwentwrong?Howdiditgowrong?Whydiditgowrong?Whataretheconsequences?Howcanitbeputright?ThomasOliver,assistantmanagingeditoroprojects(investigativestories)ontheAmericannewspaperThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution,suggeststhreequestionsthatbringtogethernewsandin-depth,ocusedplanning:

Whatsthenews?Whatsthestory?Whatsthekeyword?Whatsthenews? makesussumupinasentencewhatmightbegoingwrong:theepidemicagain. Whatsthestory?ocusesonhowitcanbetoldorexample,bytellingthestoryohowpeoplendwaterwhentheycannotbuyitromaprivate

company.Orbygoingtothewaterplantandlookingattheadequacyosaetychecksintheprocess.Andthatthirdquestion,

Whatsthekeyword? makesthejournalistboildownthestoryideatoakeyaspect:perhapsaordabilityorcuttingcorners.

Goingthroughthisprocessmeansyouhavetochooseadirectionoryourinvestigation.Whenyouhavecollectedallyourevidence,youcanreturntothesethreequestionstodirectyourwritingothestory.Olivernotes:projectstendtobecomeall-inclusiveand

sometimesexhaustivelycovereverythingoneeverwantedtoknowaboutasubject.Thisisaweakness,notastrength.

From idea to hypothesis


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Analquestiontoaskis:

Whatstherationale?(Whyarewedoingthisstory?)Examiningyourrationaleputsthespotlightonthevaluesthatunderliethestory.Thisisthepointwhereaspectssuchaspublicinterestareexamined,andaskingandansweringthisquestionmayputthebrakeonstoriesthataresimplyexposureorthesakeo

exposure.

Somequestionsthatcanfeshouttherationaleorastoryinclude:

z Whowillbenet/whomaysueriwedothisstory?z Whomdoesthestorychallengeorcalltoaccount?z Howimportantistheissue?z Willthestorystirdebatearoundvaluesorbehaviour?z Willthestoryhighlightaultysystemsorprocesses?z Whatcouldthestoryrevealthatwasntpreviouslyknown?z Hasthestorybeencoveredbeoreorelsewhere?

Youmaywishtotakequestionsromalltheserameworksandweavethemtogetherintoapersonalplanningprocess.Thatsne

anyrameworkisuseuliithelpsyoudecide:

z Whetheryoureallyhaveastory;z Whatthatstoryis;andz Whatdirectionyourinvestigationshouldtake.

TheSouthAricanregionalpaper,The Daily Dispatch,basedintheEasternCape,publishedaninvestigationinJuly2007into

whattheyallegedwerehundredsounnecessaryinantdeathsatalocalhospital.Thestoryhadhuge,nationalrepercussions

includingthesackingothedeputyhealthminister,whowasaccusedonotbeingateamplayerbecause,amongother

things,shehadsupportedthepapersclaimsoacrisisatthehospital.

Here,deputyeditorAndrewTrench,explainshowthestorybegan,andwasplanned:

Our special investigation into the deaths o babies at Frere Hospitals maternity unit had a humble beginning. It started as an item

some two months ago on our daily news diary as a report about a mother whose baby had died in apparently negligent circumstances

at Frere. It was, unortunately, a story amiliar to us. Over the last year, a number o mothers had come to us to tell us o their ordeals

and heartbreak ater losing a child at the hospital. This time, we decided to hold back on publication or a day. We told our reporters to

try and locate in 24 hours as many mothers as possible who had had a similar experience. Within a day we had located at least hal a

dozen. It was clear to us that we needed to dig urther into this phenomenon to really understand what was going on. So we assigned

three reporters to do nothing else but to investigate the truth behind these dreadul accounts. For the last two months, Chandre Prince,

Ntando Makhubu and Brett Horner have done nothing else. They spoke to ormer and existing staf, and interviewed parents who had

lost their children. They walked the corridors o Frere and dug out documents. They have pieced together the shocking truth which we

reveal today

The Daily Dispatch and Frere Hospital

Youmustturnthisunderstandingoyourproposedstoryintoahypothesis(astatementthatyourresearchwillsupportordisprove)

oradirectquestionthatyourstorycananswer.Yourhypothesisorquestionhelpsyoutodecidewhatevidencewillberelevantand

whatwillcountasproo.Theycanbeshortorlong,onesentenceortwosentences.Buttheymust

Beconcreteandspecic

Avoidlooseterminologythatcanbeinterpretedindierentways

Notbeganydeeper,underlyingquestionsthatshouldreallybeyourocus.(Thisishowbiasedinvestigationsdevelop.Theystartinthemiddleotheprocess,basedonassumptionsthatthestorynevertests.)Youmightbeginbythinkingthattwohypothesesarepossibleromourpoverty,privatisationandwater-bornediseasestory.

A Privatisationhasmadebuyingwatertooexpensiveorthepoor.Sotheydrawwaterromunhealthyreesources,leadingtoanepidemic,or;B

Privatewatercompaniesarecuttingcornersandstandardsowatersaetyarealling,leadingtoanepidemic.

Butyouneedtoexaminethesehypothesescareully.Whatassumptionsdotheyrestonandarewecertainothevalidityothe

assumptions?Boththesehypothesesrestonuntestedassumptionsaboutthesourceotheepidemic:Aassumesthatitisunocial


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watersuppliesthatareatault;Bthatthewaterplantiscarelessaboutstandards.Actually,youneedtolookatbothpossibilities,

becauseboththesehypothesesrestonthesamedeeperquestion:wheredidtheepidemicstart?

Aarbetterhypothesiswouldthereorebe:

Therecentepidemicowater-bornediseaseinXmunicipalitycameeitherromtheprivatisedwatersupplyorromunocial

watersources.

Andthisrenedhypothesisallowsyoutogobacktoyourstoryoutline,andcreateonethatisclearerandmorebalanced:

Therehasjustbeenamajorepidemicowater-bornediarrhoeainXmunicipality,wherewaterisprivatised.Thisstorywill

trytondouthowthatepidemicstarted.Wasitbecausepeoplecantaordtobuyprivatewater,andareusingpolluted

streamsandwellsinstead?Orwasitbecausetheprivatewatercompanyhasdroppedstandardsopurityatitsplanttocut

costs?Wewilltalktoscientistsaboutthecausesotheepidemic.Wewillollowmembersoapoorcommunityontheirdaily

searchorwater,andvisittheplantwithanindependentexperttolookattheirsaetystandards.Whenwehaveestablished

howthediseasegotstarted,wewilllookatwhatneedstobedonetopreventarecurrence.

Exercise #1 Hypotheses

1 Theimmigrantsfoodingintothiscountryarecausingcrime.Adequate/notadequateComments

2 Thedeathpenaltyshouldbebroughtbackasitwilldetermurderers.Adequate/notadequateComments

3 TherestrictionsimposedonAidseducationbysomedonorinstitutionsaremakingithardertogiveacompleteadviceandsupportservice.Adequate/notadequate

Comments

ReadandcritiquetheollowingIJhypotheses.Notewhichareadequateastheoundationorastory,andwhichare

not.Howcouldtheaultyhypothesesbeimproved?


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4 AbribewasgiventoCabinetMinisterXin1999,tosecurehisvoteinavouroamulti-millionarmssaletoourcountry.Adequate/notadequate

Comments

5 NursesatXhospitalinYprovincearesellingmedicinesoutothehospitalpharmacyorprivateprot.Adequate/notadequateComments

COMMENTS:

1 Theimmigrantsfoodingintothiscountryarecausingcrime.Thisisnotanadequatehypothesis.Itisbasedonanassumptionthatimmigrantsarefoodingintothecountrythatisnttested.Itdoesnotdenewhatitmeansbyimmigrants:thesecouldbedocumentedorundocumentedmigrants,

romcountriesrangingromtheUKtoIran.Andcausingcrimeisavagueterm.Doesthehypothesismeanthatimmigrantsactuallycommitcrimes,orchangesocietyinsuchawaythattherearemoreopportunitiesorcrime,ormorepeopletempted

tocommitcrime?

2 Thedeathpenaltyshouldbebroughtbackasitwilldetermurderers.Again,thishypothesishasdecidedtheissuebeoredoinganyinvestigation.Thereareanumberoquestionshere:z Whatdetersmurder?z Isthereoneknowndeterrentoraredierenttypesomurderaectedbydierentactors?z Isthedeathpenaltyproventobeadeterrent?z Whatcouldbetheotherconsequencesandrisksorestoringthedeathpenalty?

Takingalltheaboveintoaccount,woulditbesociallybenecialtorestorethedeathpenalty?

3 TherestrictionsimposedonAidseducationbysomedonorinstitutionsaremakingithardertogiveacomplete

adviceandsupportservice.

Thisisanadequatehypothesis,butitwouldbestrongerithatphrasemakingitharderwasdenedalittlemoreor

examplebypreventingclinicsromcounselingsexworkersordistributingcondoms.

4 AbribewasgiventoCabinetMinisterXin1999,tosecurehisvoteinavouroamulti-millionarmssaletoourcountry.Thisstillneedsmorework:

z Whogavethebribe?z Howmuch?z AndarewecertainthattheMinisterwouldhavevotedagainstthearmsdealihehadnotbeenbribed?

Youneedmoredetail,andtoocusthehypothesisontheactionsotheMinister.

5 NursesatXhospitalinYprovincearesellingmedicinesoutothehospitalpharmacyorprivateprot.

Thisisanadequatehypothesis.Itdenestheinvestigation,andthetarget.


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Making your research plan

Onceyouhavedevelopedahypothesis,youneedtocreatearesearchplan.Thisinvolvestheollowingsteps,whichwelllookatin

order:

z Listinglikelysourcesz Developingcriteriaoadequacyandprooz Decidingonamethodologyz Creatingatimelinez Developinganoutlinebudget

Chapter4looksindetailathowyoudealwithsourcesandChapter5atinterviewingsources.Thissectionexplainstherangeo

sourcesyoumayuse,andthestrengthsandweaknessesoeach.

Therearetwomaintypesosources:primaryandsecondary.

1 PrimarysourcesThesearethosethatormdirect,specicevidenceorrelatedirectexperience.Forexample,apatientwhowassolddrugs

throughthehospitalbackdoorbyanurseisaprimarysourceaboutthatexperiencebutnotaboutwhatnursesaredoingbehind

thescenes.Soistheoremanatthewaterplantwhowastoldtodopuritychecksonceamonthinsteadoonceaweek.Soisthe

bankstatementoacabinetminister,clearlyshowingapaymentromaninternationalarmscompany.Primarysourcessolongas

youhaveveriedthemandmadesuretheyareauthenticarethemostvaluable,becausetheyprovidedirectprooosomething.

Theyarealso,oten,thehardesttond.Peoplewithrelevantexperiencesmaybereluctanttogoontherecordorearobeing

victimised,anddocumentssuchasbankstatementsorhospitalrecordsmaybekeptcondentialorevengovernedbyprivacylaws.

Thenextchapterexplainshowtotacklethesepracticalandethicalchallenges.

2 SecondarysourcesThesesourcesrelateinormationatoneremove.Allpublishedmaterials,includingorganisationalreports,andsecond-handaccounts(Ihadariendwho)aresecondarysources.Secondarysourcesarevaluable,particularlyorestablishingcontextandbackground,helpingtoexplainissues,andprovidingleadstogoodcontacts,butanyevidenceyoudrawromthemshouldbe

checkedandveried,andthecredentialsotheauthoralsochecked.

Mind-mapping

Youneedtomakeanadvancelistothesourcesyouwillusetoobtainbothevidenceandbackground.Agoodwaytodothisisto

createamind-map.

Takealargesheetopaperandwriteyourhypothesisinthemiddle.Thenbegintodrawbranchesrelatedtothedierentparts

othehypothesis.Onthesebranches,listpossiblesources.

Hypothesis

Source1

Source4

Source3

Source2

Sourcematerial

Therearethreetypesosourcematerial:human,paperanddigital(web).


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a HumansourcesHumansourcesallintomanycategories:directroleplayers,eyewitnesses,expertsandinterestedparties,eagerandreluctant.Besureyouunderstandthestatus,credentialsandmotivationsothepeopleyouapproach.Iyouareworkingonthewater

privatisationstory,therepresentativesoanti-privatisationorganisationswillbeabletoprovideagreatdealoinormation.Butthat

inormationwillbeinormedbyaparticularposition:youneedtoseekotherviewpoints,too.Iyouarespeakingtopeopleroma

community,besureyourselectionovoicesisrepresentative:women,men,young,oldandromthevariousincomeandinterest

groups.Humanvoicesgiveyourstoryauthenticityandmakeitcomealive.Trynevertobaseastoryonpaperorelectronicsources

alone.

b PapersourcesThesecanincludebooks,newspapersandmagazines,ocialrecordsandbusinessdocumentssuchascontractsandbankstatements.Veryotenitisinthepapersourcesthatyouwillndtheprooyouareseeking.Wecallthisollowingthepapertrail.

VeteranAmericaninvestigativereporterBillGainescreditshisabilitytoresearchdocumentswithhissuccess.Iwasabletoget

storiesthatotherpeoplemissedbecauseIwenttotheplaceswhereyoucouldndthedocuments.Andveryoten,Gainesound

whathewasseekinginpublicdocuments,notbyraidingsecretles.Heoundthehomeoakeysourcebysearchingproperty

records,andnailedacompanyorcorruptionbecauseosomethingtheyhadwrittenwhenlingabusinessregistration.

InvestigativejournalistsinAricaaceproblemswhenseekingpaperevidence:veryotenitdoesnotexist,orpublicrecords

aredisorderedandhardtosearch,ortherearenoreedomoinormationlawsallowingthemediatomakepapersearches.Even

inSouthArica,whichhasreedomoinormationlawsinplace,theattitudeoocialscancreateobstacles.A2003studydoneby

theOpenSocietyInstituterankedSouthAricabottomoutovenewly-democratisednationsinprovidingaccesstoinormation.Follow-upresearchshowedthatonebigproblemwastheattitudeandlackocapacityoocials,whootenstalledbecausethey

thoughtinormationwasgoingtobeusedagainstthegovernment.

Nevertheless,inamodernsociety,everybodyleavesapapertrail.TheInternewshandbookorCambodianinvestigativejournalists

givestheollowingexample:

z Atbirth,thehospitalproducesabirth certicatez Whenyoubeginyoureducation,youareregistered(enrolled)atschoolandduringyourschoolyearsotherrecordsare

producedincludingattendance and grade (marks) reports

z Iyoubreakyourlegplayingootballandgotohospitalyouwillhaveamedical recordz Iyouareprosecutedorbreakingthelawyouwillhaveacriminal record;iyouareinvolvedinacivilsuit,other legaldocumentsmaybeledincourt

z Iyougetmarried,thecourtswillissueamarriage licencez Iyoubuyahome,therewillbesale and/or bond (home loan) documentsz Iyouearnenoughtopaytaxes,tax return and payment documentswillbekeptz Iyoubuyanything,youwillbeissuedareceiptdetailingwhatyoubought,where,andotenhowyoupaidz Whenyoudie,therewillbeanocialdeath certicate.

Everybody leaves a paper trail in a modern society

Thedocumentsmayhavedierenttitlesinyourcountry,butwhatthisexampleillustratesisthateverybody,howeverhumble,

isdocumentedsomewhere.Oneimportantpieceoinitialresearchinaninvestigativestoryistodiscoverwhatdocumentsare

usedandrequiredintheeldyouareinvestigatingwhereandhowtheyarestored,andhowtheycanbeaccessed.Iadvance

permissionshavetobesought,youneedtodothisearlyinyourresearch,sinceocialpermitscantakeaverylongtimetocome

through.Dontoverlooktheobviouspapersources:directoriesandphonebooks.

c DigitalsourcesDigitalsourcesincludeinormationonthewebanddigitallystoredrecords.Searchingortheserequiresskillandsometechnicalexpertise,andiscoveredindetailinChapter6.Theamountoinormationavailableonthewebisdazzlingbut,aswith

anyothersource,youneedtocheckwhotheprovideris,andtheircredentialsandpossiblemotives.Remember,thewebisrelatively

uncontrolled:almostanybodywithaccesscanpostalmostanything,includingcompleteabrications.Inaddition,webinormation

otenstaysincirculationoralongtime;sometimeslongaterithasbecomeoutdated.Alwayscheckthemostrecentsourcesrst.

d Anewtool:crowd-sourcingThiscombineshumananddigitalsources.Newspapersthathaveawebpresenceorgoodphonelinksarebeginningtodrawreadersintoinvestigativework.Theymightreportastoryliketheoneabove,andtheninvitereaderstoaddtoit.WhentheUS FortMyers News-Pressdidthisonastoryaboutover-billingorlocalutilities,theywereastoundedbytheresponse.Expertsamongtheir

readershipsentthemanalysesobalancesheetsandtechnicalpapers,andtherewerethousandsophonecallsande-mails.Read

theullstoryonthenewspaperswebsite(http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/rontpage).


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Exercise #2 Approaching sources

Whataretheprosandconsotheollowingapproachestosources?

A IaminvestigatingtheimpactoChineseinvestmentinmycountry.IplantodomanyinterviewswiththeemployeesoChinese-ownedactories.IknowthiswillgivemeprimaryevidenceohowChineseinvestorsexploitlocalworkers.

Comments

B Iaminvestigatinghowpovertyinmycountryhasraisedthecostolobola(bride-price).Iplantostartwithacouplewhosemarriagehasbeenmadeimpossiblebecausetheyoungmancannotaordthepricedemandedbyhisancesparents.Iwilltalktooldermarriedcouples,traditionalelders,pastors,marriageocersandasociologistattheUniversityto

tryandcreateatimelineohowthecostomarriagehasrisenoverthepast10years.ThenIlltrytocorrelatethiswithother

economicdata,toseeiIcanprovethatworseningamilypovertyismakingparentsmoredemanding.ButIwillalsotalkto

parents,togettheirviewpoint,sothatthestoryisnotjustanattackongreedyparents.

Comments

C Iminvestigatingthelinksbetweenmultinationallandownershipinmycountryandchangingagriculturalpractices.Itseemsasitheoreignoodcompaniesputpressureonpeasantstogrowonlycropsorexport.Thereisalotostu

onthewebonthis,romallovertheworld.AllIneedtodohereisacoupleolocalinterviewstoconrmitshappeninghere

too.

Comments


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Onceyouhavelistedlikelysourcesortheevidenceyouneed,youneedtodecidewhatwillcountasproooryourhypothesis,oran

adequateansweroryourquestion.WillitbeenoughtoprovethattheCabinetMinisterreceivedabribeanddid,inact,voteorthe

armsdeal?Ordoyouneedtolookathisviewsonthearmstrade,andwhetherhispositionshitedaterhereceivedthebribe?Will

itbeenoughtoprovethatthewaterplantnowdoesewerqualitychecksthanitusedto,ordoyoualsoneedtondoutwhatthe

consequencesoewercheckswere?BrantHoustonremindsusthatthebestinvestigativereportersdonotonlyassembleevidence

thatsupportstheirhypothesis,butalsoevidencethatcontradictsit.Forinstance,agovernmentocialwhoisalreadyveryrichmay

beunlikelytowastehistimedoingaserviceorsomeonewhooershimaUS$10,000bribe.Consideringcontradictoryevidenceis

thebestwaytoavoidthewishulthinkingtrap.

Askyoursel:

z Whatwillcountascompleteevidence?z Whatwillcountasreliableevidence?(Howmanysources?Whattypesosources?)z Whatcouldinvalidate/disprovemyevidence?CanIdealwiththisduringmyresearch?z Whichpiecesoevidencewillrequirethemostcareulanddetailedchecking?

Becareulwiththenotionoproo. Sometimes,itwillbepossibletoproveahypothesiscompletely.Sometimesyoumaybeable

toassembleenoughevidenceonlytomakeitprobableyourhypothesisiscorrect.Thisisverysimilartothesituationinlawwhere

criminalchargesrequireproobeyondreasonabledoubtandcivilchargesonlyrequireabalanceoprobabilitiesweighedtowards

onesideoacase.(NotethatevencriminalcasesdonotrequireproobeyondALLdoubtbecausethisisalmostimpossibleto

construct!)FindmoreonprooinChapter7.

Solongasyournalstorymakesitclearwhetheryouarepresentingprooorprobability,youmaystillhaveastory,even

withoutwatertightproo.Butyouwillneedtobeverycareulhowyouwriteit,andwediscussthistooinChapter7.

COMMENTS

A IaminvestigatingtheimpactoChineseinvestmentinmycountry.IplantodomanyinterviewswiththeemployeesoChinese-ownedactories.IknowthiswillgivemeprimaryevidenceohowChineseinvestorsexploitlocalworkers.There are too ew sources here, and the angle o the questions does not cover the ull scope o the investigation. In act, it begs several

questions, including how dominant Chinese investment is, whether it is limited to actory ownership, and whether Chinese actory

owners are uniquely harsh with their employees. There is no attempt to contextualise, and this is an investigation that could end upsimply reinorcing one narrow prejudice.

B Iaminvestigatinghowpovertyinmycountryhasraisedthecostolobola(bride-price).Iplantostartwithacouplewhosemarriagehasbeenmadeimpossiblebecausetheyoungmancannotaordthepricedemandedbyhisancesparents.Iwilltalktooldermarriedcouples,traditionalelders,pastors,marriageocersandasociologistattheUniversityto

tryandcreateatimelineohowthiscostomarriagehasrisenoverthepast10years.ThenIlltrytocorrelatethiswithother

economicdata,toseeiIcanprovethatworseningamilypovertyismakingparentsmoredemanding.ButIwillalsotalkto

parents,togettheirviewpoint,sothatthestoryisnotjustanattackongreedyparents.

This is a good selection o sources: human and documentary, with a clear attempt to balance diferent types o evidence.

C

Iminvestigatingthelinksbetweenmultinationallandownershipinmycountryandchangingagriculturalpractices.It

seemsasitheoreignoodcompaniesputpressureonpeasantstogrowonlycropsorexport.Thereisalotostuonthewebonthis,romallovertheworld.AllIneedtodohereisacoupleolocalarmerinterviewstoconrmitshappening

heretoo.

No, this is not all you need to do. At best the web inormation only provides you with context and you cannot, in any case, accept it

all without some veriying procedures. You need documentary context inormation about your own country too: perhaps surveys

o arming patterns over a ew years. You need to relate these to patterns o land ownership. And a couple o armer interviews

may add voices and colour but, alone, they are ar too ew to provide any evidence about trends and patterns, and may be simply

anecdotal.


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Wetendtoassociatethistermwithacademicactivities,butitsimplymeans:howwillIdotheresearch?Fromtherangeomethodsavailable,youneedtoplanthebestmixodocumentaryresearch,liveinterviews,sitevisitsandobservation,andotherapproaches.

Youneedtodecidewhichsourcestouse,howmuchtimetodevotetoeach,whatcross-checkingprocedureswillbeneeded,and

whatstagestheworkwillgothrough.

Whatyourelookingorisevidencethatwillsubstantiate(addweightto)yourhypothesis.

Youcandothisindirectlybybuildingupthepictureoacontext,background,historyorclimateinwhichcertainthingsare

morelikelytohavehappened.JournalismlecturerDerekForbessaysothisprocess:Likeajigsawpuzzle,thissectionoyour

planningworksbestiyoubeginwiththesurroundingdetailsbeoreworkingontheimageatthecentre.

Butmostpowerully,youdoitdirectly,bygettingrelevantevidenceromyoursources.

AlwayshaveaPlanB

Animportantpartomethodologyplanningisthinkingaheadtothepossibleobstaclesyoumayencounter.Supposingyoucant

obtainaccesstoaparticulardocument,orakeysourcewonttalktoyou?WhatsyourPlanB?Howcanyouputtogetheralternative

evidencethatwillprovidesupportorproooequalweight?

Andrememberthatmethodologyshouldtaketeamworkingintoaccount.Willyouneedtoworkwithexperts?Aphotographer?

Alawyer?Howwillyoubuildthesecooperativeprocessesin,sothattheyareallowedenoughtimetoproduceresults?

Youneedtotakedecisionsaboutmethodologybeoreyouconstructyourtimelineortheinvestigationandyourbudget.The

timelineisyourestimateohowlongtheinvestigationwilltake:howmanyhoursyouwillspendinarchives,orinterviewing,oron

theweb,orwriting.

Aswellasthetimeconsumedbyvarioustasks,twootherimportantactorsinconstructingthetimelinearedeadlines

andcompetition.Youneedtobeawareopublicationdeadlines.Ithestoryhasalreadybeencommissionedordiarised,workbackwardsromthesubmissiondeadline,andtrytobringthetimeyouwillneedintolinewiththetimeyouactuallyhave.Iyou

cantnegotiate.I,ontheotherhand,youarepitchingthestorytoaneditor,workorwardsromyourstartingpoint,sothatyour

pitch(seebelow)indicateswhicheditionthestorywillbereadyor.Again,negotiationisusuallypartothisprocessbutiyou

Typeosource Useulor Strengths Possibleproblems

Human z Givinglieandauthenticitytoastory

z Interviewingdoesnotrequirehi-techresources

z Accountsorst-handexperiencemakeastory

convincingprimary

sources

z Peoplehavebiases,prejudicesetc.andmaylie.

z Mayonlyprovideanecdotalevidencez Needtoensureyourintervieweesare

representative

z Peoplemaybevictimisedortalkingtothepresshowwillyouprotectthem?

Paper z Providinghardevidence

z Providinghistoryandcontext

z Secondarysourcesbroadenbackgroundresearch

beyondwhatyoucan

tackleyoursel

z Primarydocumentarysources(e.g.bankrecords)

areon-the-recordand

reliable

z Maybeprotectedbyprivacylaws,censorshipetc.

z Hardorslowtoaccessz Mayneedspecialistknowledgeto

understande.g.nancialdocuments

z Canproduceadeadorover-academicstorywithnolivevoices

z BewareousingsecondarysourcesonlyDigital z Candoallothe

above,dependingonwhatsbeing

retrieved

z Candoitallromyourcomputer,includingaccessingsoundandvideo

z Inormationispostedastandromahugerangeo

nationalandinternational

sources

z Canproduceadeadstoryz Needselectricity,technicalskilland

networkaccess

z Musthavegoodvericationproceduresbewareobeingmisledorramed


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haveworkedonatimelineyouwillbeabletomakerationalargumentsorthetimeyouneed,ratherthansimplysoundinglikean

inecient,slowreporter.

Ithestoryconcernsahottopicopublicconcern,itisalsopossiblethatothercompetitormediaarealsochasingit.Iyouknow

this,itmaybenecessarytospeedupyourworktopublishrst.Investigativereportingshouldnotberushedorskimped:thatwaylie

deamationsuits.Butwithatimelineinrontoyou,youwillbeabletodecidetheearliestpointatwhichsomethingcoherentand

substantialcanbepublished,eveniitisnotyetthecompleteinvestigation.

Theotherimportantestimateaprojectplanneedsisabudget.Howmuchwilltheinvestigationconsumeinmoneyandresources?

Elementstoconsiderwhenputtingyourbudgettogetherinclude:

z Travel(mileage/petrol/transportares)z Accommodationandmeals(Willyouneedtospendtimeawayromyouroce?Willyouneedtoprovidemodesthospitalityor

sources?)

z Feesorexpertadvisers,translators,transcribersorserviceprovidersz Feesorlegaladvicez Feesorconductingarchiveorrecordsearchesorgettingnotarisedcopiesodocumentsz Communicationcosts(phone,ax,internet)z Photographiccostsz Photocopying

Exercise #3 Budgeting

Budgetingraisesoneimportantethicalquestion:shouldyouexpecttopaysources,orpaybribestogetaccessto

inormation?WellconsideranoverallapproachtomakingethicaldecisionsinChapter8,butstoporamomenthere

andthinkaboutyourownpositiononthisissue.

Mostjournalistsagreethatitisnotagoodideatopaysources.Thelureopaymentcanencourageliesandexaggeration;the

actopaymentcanbeusedlatertoretractordiscredittheevidence:Ionlysaiditbecausetheyoeredmemoney.Andthe

actthatyouarepreparedtopayorstoriesdoesnotrefectwellonyourpapersethicsoryourowninvestigativeskills.

Sometimes,inexceptionalcircumstances,apapermaycompensateasourceorworkingtimelostgivinganinterview,

orortravelorothercosts.Butevenhereitisimportantthatbothpartiesareclearwhatthepaymentisor,andtopayalow,

normalrateortheexpenseinquestion.(Remindsourcesthattheyarenot,inact,doingyouoryourpaperapersonalavour

byprovidinginormation:theyarehelpingtheaectedcommunityorsocietyatlarge).

Bribinganocialtogainaccessisequallydisreputable.Butinsomecommunities,ocialshavedevelopedaculture

odemandingsmallavours(dash,cool-drink)ordoinganythingincludingopeningtheirocesinthemorning!Inthis

climate,youmaybeunabletoworkatallwithoutoilingthewheelsoocialdom.Yetyouriskcompromisingyourwhole

investigationthroughthesetrivialpayments.Howeversmallandroutinetheyare,theywillstillbebribesitheocialreveals

tohisbossesorrivalmediathatyoumadethem.Youneedadecision-makingprocessordealingwiththesekindsodemands:

thinkeachonethroughinrelationtoitscircumstances.Couldyoujustiyit(mostimportantly,toyourreaders)ichallenged

later?Itisalwaysbettertotryandsecureco-operationbyexplainingtheimportanceoyourworkandbuildingallies.

Supposingyourpapercannotaordtheinvestigation?

FormanysmallmediainArica,budgetsaretight.ThekindoinvestmentmajorUSpapersmakeininvestigativeprojects

wouldbeenoughtokeepthewholenewspaperrunningorayear.Inthesecircumstances,youneedtobecreativeabout

identiyingothersourcesosupport.Agoodstartingpointisinternationaldonororganisations.Sometimestheyhaveareas

ointerestthatcoincidewithyourinvestigation.FAIRrunsan(unortunatelystillrathersmall)grantundorinvestigative

journalismprojects:checkitoutontheFAIRwebsite.InSouthArica,theTacoKuiperFundawardsresearchgrantstodeserving

localinvestigativejournalists.

AreelancejournalistintheDRC(*who preers to remain anonymous)wasinterestedintheoperationsomajorlogging

companies.Hedidnothavetheresourcestoconducttheinvestigation,andsomenewspapersheapproachedwerenervousaboutoendingbigpeoplebylookingattheloggingindustry.Eventually,heoundaEuropeandonor

Funding investigative journalism?


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Pitching your investigative project

Iyourpublicationorstationhasassignedthestory,alltheplanningwehavejustdescribedistherststageoyourworkprocess.

Butiyouareareelancejournalist,theplanningprovidestheinormationyouneedtocreateareallyconvincingpitchoran

editor.

Apitchisashortpresentationthatexplainswhatthestoryisaboutandattemptstopersuadetheeditortosupportandrunit.It

needstocontaintheollowingelements:

z Yourrevisedstoryoutlinez Whythestoryisrightorthisparticularpaper/readershipz Brieaccountoapproachandmethodologyz Timelinez Budget.

Somepaperswillalsoexpectyoutobeabletocontributetoadiscussionohowthepapershouldpresentthestorypictures,graphics,etc.whileothersleavesuchissuestoeditorsanddesigners.

Exercise #4 Pitches

Lookatthetwopitchesbelow.Doyoundthemconvincing?Iyoudonot,howcouldtheybeimproved?

A Anawullotopeoplearetalkingabouthowdrivingstandardsinthiscountryaredroppingandthatthisisbecausetherescorruptioninissuinglicenses.Italkedtoaguywhosaysheboughthislicense.IreckoniIhangaboutatthelicensingoceIcanseewhatsgoingon,andmaybeIcouldpretendtohaveabribetooer.Iwecouldgetahiddencamera

thatwouldbegood.Icanprobablydoitallinaweekorso.

B Ariendsbrotherrecentlyhadaverybadexperienceatacircumcisionschool.Thetraditionalsurgeondidntlookaterpeople,andtheboyendedupinhospitalduetostarvationandexposure.Anditturnsouttheorganiserotheschoolwasnotlicensedinanyway.Ithinkthiswouldbeagoodstoryorourpaper,becauseitstheseasonorcircumcisionandpeople

herearetradition-minded.Theyneedtobealertedtothedangers.IIstartwiththisboysstory,Icanthenlookatthethemeo

howunlicensedinitiationschoolsaredangerousandactuallyagainstbothtraditionalcustomandthelaw.Illtalktotraditional,

medicalandlegalauthorities,andlookathospitalrecordstogetsomeguresonhowbigtheproblemis.Illneedtotakeatrip

outtoatraditionalvillagetomeetreturninginitiatesromarecognisedschoolthatlljustcostpetrolbecauseIcanstaywith

myauntthere.IthinkIcanhavethestorydoneinaboutaweek.

organisationwithaninterestinresourceexploitationmoregenerallyandalsointrainingjournalists.Hewasable

tosecurearesearchgrantromtheorganisationbybroadeningtheocusohisresearchslightlyandalsoby

developingamethodologythatinvolvedmentoringotherjournalistswithwhomhecouldco-operate.

Funding investigative journalism? (cont.)

Therearedangersinthisapproach.Itsimportanttoguardyourreedomooperation,andmaintaintheprioritiesandocus

thatdrewyoutotheinvestigationintherstplace.Otherwiseyoumayndyourselservingsomeoneelsesprioritiesor

beingaccusedodoingsowhenyourinvestigationbreaks.Makesurethatwhatevercontractyousignwithadonorhas

saeguardsoryourowneditorialindependence.


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Exercise #4 (cont.) Pitches

COMMENTS

B is almost a model pitch. Its short but not so short that it omits vital inormation. The editor has a clear idea o the storyshypothesis, the sources, methodology, cost and timeline, as well as a rationale or the story.A on the other hand, is a shoddy job. It moves rom anecdotal evidence to a plan or going underground with no vericationchecks, and no reerence to any ethical considerations. The timeline sounds like guesswork. This reporter needs to go back,

rene his hypothesis and work out a step-by-step plan or getting evidence:

z thatdrivingstandardsareallingz thatirregularly-licenseddriversareinvolvedinmanyaccidentsz thattheseirregularly-licenseddriversobtainedtheirdocumentsthroughbribery.

Ithiscontextcanbermlyestablished,thenitmaybeworthwhilesettingupastinginanocethathasbeennamedas

involvedincorruption.Buttheethicsodoingthisstillneedtobeconsidered,aswellaswhetherthereareother,openwayso

gettingequallyuseulinormation.

How does it work in practice?

(Hereweollowanimaginaryinvestigationromstarttopublication,takingyouthroughthedecision-makingprocessesand

reportingactivitiesateachstage.)

Youworkoraweeklyinvestigativepaper.Youreditorcallsyouintohisoce.Ivejusthadaphonecall,he

tellsyou.AnNGOintheruralareasaysarmworkersarebeingevictedbybigagriculturalcompanies,but

arearaidtotalkaboutit.Theprovincialgovernmentwontdoanything,theysay.Thissoundslikeourkind

ostory;wecanputpressureontheauthoritiestostoptheevictions.Heresthenameoourinormant.Getonit.Iwantthisor

page3nextweek...Youhaveaweek.Wheredoyoustart?Takeaewminutestoplanyourstrategy. Makenotesbeoreyou

readon.

Where do you start? Whats your strategy?


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Maybeyousuggesteddoingsomereadingonlandrightsorthecompanyinvolved.Bothothesearegoodideasbutan

investigativestrategyalwaysneedstobebasedon:

z Aclearunderstandingowhatneedsdoingz Balancedwitharealisticrecognitionotheresourcesincludingtimeyouhaveavailablez Andahypothesisyourresearchcansubstantiateordisprove.

Youreditorhasgivenyoutheworkinghypothesishere:

HYPOTHESIS:Bigagriculturalcompaniesareevictingandintimidatingarmworkersandtheprovincialgovernmentwonthelp.

Realistically,youdonthavethetimetobecomeanexpertonallaspectsolandrightsandproblems.Itcanbeveryintimidating

iyoubelievethatajournalistneedstoknoweverything.Inact,agoodjournalistneedsadierentskill:knowinghowtondout

anything.SoStage1needsyoutoidentiythebestresourcestohelpyou.Youneedtondpeoplewhoareexpertinlandandlandrights.

First,obviously,youshouldtalktotheinitialcallertogetmoreinormationonthestory.Thispersonworksoranorganisation

intheareasoyouhavetoconsiderthatheorshemaybebiased.Manypeopleringupnewspapersbecausetheyhaveanaxeto

grind.

Takeaewminutestothinkabouttheadvantagesanddisadvantagesousingbiasedsources:

Biasedsourcescanbeveryuseul.Theyotenhavedetailedinsideknowledge,andcangiveyoustrongquestionstoaskthe

opposingside.Butyouneedtorememberthattheinormationcomesromonesideothecase;itwillneedcross-checking.

Andrepresentativesoorganisationsareotenspeakingonbehalomuchlargergroupsopeople;whentheysummarisegroupviews,theymayorganiseandeditcommunityopinionsinwaysthatchangeorexcludeimportantaspectssometimes

quiteunintentionally.

Soyouneedtothinkaboutwhatthebiasmightbeandread,interviewandresearchwidely,toputtheinormants

statementsincontext.

What about biased sources?

Havinggotmoredetailromtheinitialinormant,youcanusethenotesothatconversationtostartplanningyourrstlineso

investigation.

z Startwithyourpersonalcontacts,orellowjournalistsdealingwiththerelevantruralarea,land,labour(armworkers),environmentandagri-business.Amongothersourcesyoushouldphoneareuniversitydepartmentsandlibraries(including

yourownpapersarchive).Workoutwardromthesourcesyouknowtoidentiythesourcesyoudontyetknow.

z Next,youshouldhitthephones.Thephonebookisyourmostimportantreerencebook:iallelseails,workthrougheveryentrywiththerelevantsurnameorkeyworduntilyoundtherightperson.Ringeveryrelevantsourceyoucanthinko.Iyou

cantthinkoany,usethephonebook(or,thesedays,theweb)totraceorganisationswithlandintheirnames.

z Yourresearchmayproducecomplexorevencontradictoryresultsaboutwhothebestsourcesare.Soitsalwaysuseultouseatwo-sourceprincipleevenoridentiyingsources.Checkthemmorethanonce:viathephonebookandGoogle;viaGoogleand

yourcolleaguewhoknowstheeld.MoreonthesetechniquesinChapter6.

Askthesecontacts:

z Doyoudealwith/carryinormationon...?z Whoistherelevantpersoninyourorganisationtotellmeabout...?z Doyouknowoanything(reports,articles,books)thatsbeenpublishedabout...?z Canyousuggestsomeoneelseitwouldbeuseultotalkto...?

Alwaystakenotesotheseconversations.Getcontactdetailstoaddtoyourcontactsbookorutureuse.Buildupacontactstreeusingtheworkingoutwardsstrategyuntilyoundthepeopleyouneed.

Noticewehaventmentionedgovernmentsourcesyet.Youdo,ocourse,needtogetocialviews.Butyouneedtobewell-

inormedtoaskuseulquestions,sothisrststageoinvestigationmaynotbethebesttimetodoaormalocialinterview.Also,


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youmaywastetoomuchtimesettingupaninterviewwithsomeonewhowhenyouverenedyourresearchmaynotevenbe

therightperson!Ianocialwilltalktoyouotherecordorinormally,thatsbestatthisstage.Youcanalwaysgobackormallyto

getconrmation.

Respectthegroundrulesoinormalconversationswithsources!

Sometimeseitherinterviewerorintervieweemakesthewrongassumptionsaboutthestatusoinormalinterviews,andthiscan

leadtoproblemslater.Soithereisanypossibilityomisunderstanding,itsbesttoask:Areweonorotherecordhere?

z Ontherecordmeansyoucanuseeverythingyouretold.z Otherecordmeansyoucanusetheinormation,butnotinawaythatallowsthesourcetobeidentied.z Backgroundonlymeansdontusethisatall;itsjusttohelpyouunderstandthecontext.

Iyouwanttoconrmo-the-recordorbackgroundonlyinormation,takeittosomeoneelseand(withoutrevealingyoursource),

askthemisuch-and-suchmightbetrueanditheyllconrmitontherecord.Youmusttellyoursourcethatyouwillbetryingto

veriytheirinormation.Andwhenyoudothevericationcheck,keepitsensitiveandverylow-key.Theremayberealdangeror

yoursourceinbeingidentied:gettingsacked,sued,deported,arrestedorevenkilled.

Theseon/otherecordconventionsarentlaws,theyreonlyunderstandingsbetweenjournalistsandsources.Butyoumaybe

requiredtodiscloseyourmethods,ianinvestigativestorybecomescontroversial.Andiyoubreachtheseconventions,youwillat

bestverylikelyloseyoursourcesandgetareputationorsleazybehaviour.Atworst,yoursourcecouldsuerrealharm.Findmore

ontheseissuesinChapters5and8.

Whatnext?

Yourphonecallsshouldhavegivenyouurthernamesandcontactstoollow,pluslistsoreerencematerial.Thismayincludegrey

materialmaterialwhichiswidelycirculatedbutwhichmaynothavebeenormallypublished(e.g.studiescommissionedrom

privateorganisations,academicdissertations)orwhichmaybeociallycondential.

Youhavelocatedeightpossiblephonecontactswhomaybepreparedtotalktoyou.Oneothemsoundslikethemainexpert

onrurallandrightsinthearea,butdoesnotrespondtomessages.Youeelyourereallystalleduntilshegetsbacktoyou.

Fromthewebandyourownpapersarchives,youhavealsooundadozennewspaperarticleson

armworkerevictions,twoNGOcasestudiesonlandholdingsintheruralareaconcerned,andapost-

graduatedissertationonnationallandlawreorm.Tomorrow,youtravelouttothecountrysidewitha

photographer.Howshouldyouspendtoday? Takeaewminutestonoteyouranswerbeoreyoureadon:

How would you spend your day?

Youmighteelthatyoushouldgetthroughasmuchasyoucanothereading.Butthisisntalwaysthebeststrategy.Readingisslow

andespeciallyiyouredoinginternetresearchyoumayhaveidentiednotaew,butaewhundredrelevantreerences.You

couldeasilyspendthewholenightreadingandstillnotnish,orhavetimetomakesenseoutowhatyouhaveread.


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Onceyouunderstandtheissuebetter,muchothereadingyouvelocatedmaybeirrelevant.Atthisearlystage,skim-readonly

thebroad,backgroundstuinthiscase,probablythenewspaperarticles.Makesureyourweb-searchhasnotbeentoowide

(puttingaroundthekeywordswillgiveyouonlythosearticlesthatincludethemall).Bookmarkanywebreerencesthatlook

interesting,soyoudonthavetospendtimelatersearchingorthemagain.

Dontwastetimeonthatelusiveexpert.Chaseupasmanyothepeopleonyourphonelistasyoucan.Andgobacktothe

peopleyoursttalkedtowithanyrelatedquestionsyouvethoughto.

Atthisstage,youneedtosearch broadratherthandeep.

z Makeamini-timetableinadvance,workingbackwardsromyourdeadline.Decidehowimportanteachsegmentotheresearchis,andhowmuchtimeyoucanaordtospendonit.Neverwasteextratimechasingupjustoneelusiveperson,documentor

gurendanotherwaytogetwhatyouneed,orsomeotherinormationthatwilldoinstead.

z Planyourquestionsortheliveandollow-upphoneinterviewsbasedonwhatyouarendingout.Asnewinputsland,decideinmoredetailwhatmightbegoingon,whatisbeingalleged,andwhomightbetheculprits.Youshouldbeinapositionto

replacegeneral,abstracttermslikecorruptionorinjusticewithconcrete,specic,allegationsthatXdidordidnotdoYtoZ.

z Andbeginputtingyourselintheshoesothepeopleyouaretalkingto.Whatmighttheiragendas,motives,hopesandearsbe?Thiswayyoucangetaperspectiveonwhattheytellyou.

Youveskimmedthebasicreadingandhadanumberoveryinterestingphoneinterviews.Andyouvevisitedthedistrictandseen

thesituationoryoursel.Youveoundouttheollowing:

z Theevictionsaretakingplaceonlyinonedistrict.Andtheouramiliesconcernedhaveactuallybeenveryopenintalkingabouttheirproblems.Inonecommunitynewspaperarticle,theyblamedadistrictcivilservant,JobNkomo,orbeinglazyandnot

respondingtotheircomplaints.Theyrepeatedthiswhenyouspoketothem.

z ThecommercialarmingcompanyconcernedHASbeenbuyinguplandandtryingtomovesmallarmersoit.Butithasbeenusinglegalprocessandollowingtherules.Yourlawexpertsaysthecompanyhasnotbrokenanyrules.Andelsewhereinthe

province,thereareatleastadozencasesonrecordoevictionsbeingsuccessullycontested.Theprovincialgovernmenthas

beenveryenergeticinpublicisinglandrights,andtherearepostersupalmosteverywherealthoughyoudidntseeanyinthe

districtwheretheevictionsarehappening.

z TheNGOthatinitiatedthecomplaintwasonlyestablishedthreemonthsagoandisstillatthestageosecuringundingoritsel.Apartromestablishingasmalloce,advocacyortheevictedamiliesistheonlyactivityithasundertakensoar.So

maybeitsagenda,whilesincere,haselementsowantingtomakeareputationoritsel..?

Rememberingyourbrie(Thissoundslikeourkindostory;wecanputpressureontheauthoritiestostoptheevictions)canyounowgoaheadwiththestory?Andwhatshouldyournextstepsbe?Takeaewminutestodecideonyouranswerbeoreyoureadon:

z Yes,thereisstillastorythere.Butitsadierentstory:oneaboutasmallareathathasbeenletbehindbyprovinciallandrightsworkpossiblybecauseoagrosslynegligentdistrictocial.TheNGOsagendaistoestablishitselasarepresentativeothe

community,butitsinputisnotveryrelevant;therearebetterquotesromthelocalpeoplethemselves.Youcanevenseethe

newheadlineinyourimagination:Thelandthelaworgot.

z Yourhypothesishaschanged.Neverbearaidtoredeneyourstoryinthelightonewinormation!Flexibilityisoneothemostimportantprinciplesindoingagoodinvestigation.Dontclingrigidlytoyouroriginalideaandtrytoorcethenewactstot.

Tellyoureditorwhatshappening.Shemayneedtore-planspaceorplacethisdierentstoryonanotherpage.YouMUSTdothisas

earlyasyoucan.

Nowisthetimetodeepenyourresearchanddiscardwhatsirrelevant.Mostothereadingcanprobablygobackontheshelves,

exceptanythingdealingwiththatparticulardistrict.Andyournotesonthebroadsituationotheprovincemaynolongerbeuseul.

Ithurtstodiscardworkyouvedone.Butyoumust.Fileyouroldnotes:theymayproveuseulorsomeuturestory.

Nowyoucanlookormeaningulocialcomment.

z FaceMrNkomowiththeaccusationsagainsthim.Asktheprovincial(and/ornational)landdepartmentswhethertheirpoliciesshouldbeappliedeverywhere,andhowtheyeelaboutareasthenewlawhasnttouched.

z Youwill,however,alsoneedtogobacktothemostinterestingcontactsandreerencestondoutithereisanythinginthehistoryothatdistrictwhichhasledtoitbeingsoneglected,andtoaskotherrelevantquestions.z Whatyourelookingorisasequenceoeventsand/orchainoevidencethatlinksthedistrictocialsinactiontotheevictionsotheouramilies.Ithelpsiyoucanndarulethathasbeenbrokenoranactionthatisrequiredbutwasnottaken.Again,you

needconcrete,specicevidencetoreplacetheabstractaccusationslikelazinessthatpeoplehavelaidagainstMrNkomo.And


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besuretodeepenyourunderstandingoNkomoandhisactionsiheistobeyourocus.Youdontwantadeamationsuitnor

doyouwanttoomitanyaspectsohismisconduct.

z Flagtheriskodeamationwithyoureditor.Shemayneedtopassthenishedstorytoalawyeroradvice.z Forgetanythingyoucantveriy.Lookorconfictingpointsinyournotescantheybereconciled?Andwhatdoyourbiased

sourceshavetosayaboutitall?Trytogeton-recordcomments.Check,cross-checkandcheckagain.

Itsveryraretondabsoluteprooosomethingthesmokinggun,asitiscalled.Thatiswhatyouarelookingor:the

documentaryprooNkomodidnotrespondtoanappeal:orexample,amemoromhimsayingtheproblemdidnotexist.But

youmaynothavethetimeorresourcestondthis(Remember,thisisnowasmallerstoryolocalgovernmentneglect,not

abigstoryaboutmultinationalagribusiness.Itisstillworthwhile,butmaynotbeaccordedthesameresources.)

ndingitmayrequiresteps(likesearchinganoce)thatareillegaland/orethicallyunacceptable.

itmaynotexist!

z Youcanbuildupalmostasconvincingacasebysheerweightoevidence:adetailedtime-line,orexample,owhathappened,whatshouldhavebeendone,andNkomosailuretocommunicate,supportedateachstagebyactsandrelevantcomments

romroleplayersandexperts.

Nowyoucanstarttowrite...

Wecanseeherethebasicstagesoinvestigation:

1. Denetheinitialquestion

2. Buildupcontacts3. Dobroadresearch

4. Lookagainatthequestion.Redeneorcompletelyre-castititheactshaverevealedadierentangleorstory

5. Discardirrelevantmaterial

6. Donarrow,deepresearch(includingback-tracking)

7. Planandwritethestory.

Thetwoquestion-deningstagesarecrucial.Astorydoesntexistuntilasubjectareahasbeengivenangleandocus.Andiyoure

ailingtocomeupwithanswers,itmaybebecauseyoureaskinginappropriatequestions.

Wevelookedattheexampleoanextensivestorydoneoveraewdayssothatwecanocusoneverystageotheprocessindetail.

Butwhathappenswhenyouaretryingtoresearchtwostoriesinhaladaybeorethedeadlineoradailypaper?Exactlythesame

principlesholdgoodthatswhywelookedataone-weekexample.

Thetemptationistocuttheplanningtime,anddivestraightintotheresearch.Thatsamistake.Goodresearchwhateveryour

timeramedependsongoodplanning.Thatsparticularlytruewhenyourtimelimitsyoutoewersourcesandewerquestions-

youhavetomakesurethatyouuseyourtimewisely;askingtherightquestionsotherightsources.Whenyoureworkingtoatight

timerame,thestagesotheresearchdontchange:

Denewhatyourelookingor.Spendmoretimehere,sortingoutstorypriorities,sothatiyouonlyhavetimeoralittleresearch,itwillberelevant.Checkwithyoureditorhowlongthestoryshouldbe,andwhatanglethepaperisseeking.

Researchbroadly.YoumayhavetosettleoroneInternet-sourcedoverviewandcontactsromtwo,ratherthanadozen,phonecalls.Butitsstillvitalthatyoucheckyouhaveastory,andthatitswhatyouthinkitis.

Redene.Doesyouranglestillhold?Thenstartwritingatthisstage.Usetheresearchnarrowstagesimplytoconrmkeyacts.Andremembertwoimportantpoints:Somestoriesdontneeddeepinvestigativeresearchmakesurethestoryisworththeeort(andconsult).Theysimplyneed

accurateactcollectionandclearwriting.Thisisparticularlytrueorthosesectionsothepaperthatstillcarryairlyshort,hard

stories.Evenhere,youneedtomakesurethestoryisvalidandworthwhile,buthavingdonethat,youcangoaheadandwriteit.

Andsomestoriesaresimplytooimportantand/orcomplextobetackledintwohours.Dontbearaidtomakeyourcaseto

youreditoriyoubelieveyourstoryneedsmoretimeandresearch.Butdontusethisargumenttocoverupworknotdone.Youll

needtohavegonethroughtheearlyinvestigativestagesandhavesolidactsandreasonsiyouwantmoretime.Andtheremaybescopeoracompromise,whereyoudeliverbreakingactsontime,butplanoralongerbackgroundorcontextpiecelaterinthe

week.


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FAIR Transnational Investigation Case Study on the availability of medicines in Africa

WhatFAIRsetouttodo

TransnationalInvestigationshavebeenconductedsuccessullybytheInternationalConsortiumoInvestigative

Journalists(ICIJ)andalsobynetworksojournalistsinSouthAmericaandtheBalkan.Suchinvestigationshaveyielded

impressiveresults,romidentiyingglobalarmstraderstohighlightingproblemswiththeprivatisationowatersupply.

FAIRrecognisedromitsinceptionthatTransnationalInvestigationswouldbeimportanttoconductinArica.

Internationalorces,suchasmultinationals,internationalnancialinstitutions,developmentaid,andinternational

crimeimpactonallcountriesonthiscontinent.WithinAricaitsel,countriessharesimilarproblems,romconfictand

civilwartopovertyandweakstateinrastructures.FAIRsviewthereoreisthatAricanissuesshould,whenandwhere

possible,beinvestigatedinatransnationalway,withabroaderthanlocalocusandscope.Awell-conductedandwell-

publicisedTIwouldhelptohighlightanimportantissue,thatimpactedonthewholeoArica,ontheinternationalagenda.FAIRsawitasitsroletopioneersuchaproject.

Gettingtheprojectgoing

IttookFAIRupto2007tondundingoritsrstTransnationalInvestigation.Bythen,ithadworkedouta

rameworkoraninternationalteam-basedoperationandchosenasubjectthatansweredtotwocriteria:ithadto

betrulyinternational(andthereoreointeresttointernationaldonors)anditwouldhavetobeointeresttothe

participatingAricanmediaaudiences.ThissubjectwasThepharmaceuticalindustryandlackoaccessto

medicationinArica.

Transnational Investigation framework

1 DenitionoTransnationalInvestigationgoals,inputs,outputs2 Process:z Initiationstage:team,editor,subject,guidelinesinplace

z Productionstage:teamworkscloselywitheditorz Closure:workisproduced,dataarestored

3 Workmethodologies:maximumeortcombinedwithmaximumpeermentoring4 Ethicalmonitoringprocedure:inrelationtosourcesandaudienceandwithintheteamitsel5 Publicationstrategy:bothinternationallyandvisavisAricanmediahouses

On budgeting

Combininggoals,inputsandoutputswillbethecoreoyourproposal.Atastysubjectchoicewillalsohelp.Donors

whowanttoundinvestigativeprojectswilllikelyundaprojectthatanswerstoalltherelevantcriteria(seebelow

underSubjectChoice),aslongasyourmethodologyisincludedintheproposalandisrealistic.However,bewareodonorswhopushtowardstheirownpriorityissuesitheyarentthesameasyourownanddontwasteyourtimeon

Case studies


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donorsyouknowwontsupportyou.

Headsthatneedtobebudgetedorare:

z Aninitialworkshopwherethewholeteamcanexercisethroughthesubjectmatterandemergewithaclearto-dolistz Aprojectmanagersee(thecentralprojectmanagerisanextremelyimportantelement;itisthispersonwhohastoensuresucientandrelevantinputromallteammembersANDputitalltogetherortherewillbeno

dossier!)

z Thedesigningoaormatinwhichtheprocesstoollowisclearlysketchedout(whenandhowdotheteammembersliaisetogether,whenandhowandhowotendoestheprojectmanagerliaise,whatistheediting,

revising,eedbackandcorrectingprocessateverystageoincomingresults,howtotroubleshootwhennecessary

inputdoesnotmaterialise,howtogeteverybodytoagreeonnalresults;also,therelationshipanddecision-

makingprocessbetweentheprojectmanagerandtheorganisationsleadershipneedstobespelledout;contracts

needtobesignedbetweentheprojectmanagerandtheorganisationsleadership,andalsobetweenthelatter

andtheteammembers)

z Communicationz Someexpensesorteammembersandexpensesortheprojectmanager(itisimportanttobeclearonwhatis

goingtobereundedandwhatnot:theissueopayingsourcesordocumentsislikelytocomeuphere)

z Aeldtrip(preerablytwo,oneatthestartandonejustbeoretheend)bytheprojectmanagertotheteamsineachparticipatingcountry,inordertorevise/nalisethehypothesis(asperinvestigativeprocess)andensurethe

requestsmaderomtheteamsarerealisticaswellasdetailed

z Grammaticalandspellingedit,prooreading,layout,printingz Postage.

On subject choice

Thismustbe:z Collectivelyarrivedatz Newsworthyz Feasible(youneedtohaveaairlygoodideaohowandwhereinormationcanbeoundonthissubject)z RelevanttobothAricanandinternationalpublic(youwanttomakeheadlinesintheNew York Timesandattract

westerndonorsoryournextprojectbutrelevancetotheAricanpublicisevenmoreimportantasperyour

journalistsmissionoservingyouraudience;sobewareoashionabledonorissuesthatmightnotinterestthe

peopleinyourowntown)

z Ointeresttothejournalistswhowillworkonit,tocreateeagernessandcommitmentitmustntbeachore(thisismorelikelyipoint4ismet;journalistswillmostlikelyeelstronglyaboutanissuetheircommunity/audience

eelsstronglyabout,too).

WehadadiscussionontheFAIRlistserveandataspecialBoardmeetingwhereitbecameabundantlyclearthatlacko

accesstomedicationwassuchanissue.

On work progress

z Theprojectmanagerengagesinacoherence-exercise.Aworkshopisheldinwhichallteammembersandtheprojectmanagerthoroughlyexercisethroughthesubjectmatter.Doweallunderstandtheinsandoutso,and

questionsaroundthisissue?Howwillwegoaboutthis?RevisitinggoodIJpracticeinthisworkshopiscrucial,it

willdeterminethequalityotheendresult.Bestpracticeandethicswillbeapartothisdiscussiontoo.Willwe

eavesdrop,goundercover,payordocumentsineeded,ornot?Andwhatisourpersonalinterestinthismatter

asmembersothepublic?Aninitialworkinghypothesisisdevelopedandto-dolistsaredrawnuporequiredbackgroundinormationandsources.Contractsaresignedbetweenteammembersandorganisation.


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z Inaeldtrip,-tobemadeaewweeksatertheteammembershavestarted-,theprojectmanagermonitorsthesituationonthegroundineachparticipatingcountryandtakesaccountothechallengesacedbyeachteam.

Duringandaterthetrip,viabilityothesubjectandachievablegoalsaredeterminedbytheprojectmanager;the

workinghypothesisisrevised(inecessary,whichitusuallyis);(new)sourcesareidentiedandmoredetailedand

correctedto-dolistsarecommunicatedtotheteams.Theprojectmanagerreportstothecoordinator.

z TheprojectmanagerandBoardconsultandachieveanunderstandingowhatthecontributionothejournalistsinvariouscountriesislikelytobeontheprojectsissue.Theprojectmanagertargetsaminimumstoryasthe

outcomeotheproject.Aminimumstorywouldatleastbroadentheviewothepublicinmanycountriesabout

theissuecoveredbeorethepublicationotheprojectasalocalissue.Thecommonstorywillidentiypiecesothe

puzzleromtheteammembersstationedinvariouscountries/locationsthatwillintheendormacommonstory

thatwillbeorelevanceinternationally.

z Atertherststepsonthetrackwiththeeditor,thecountryteamswillcontinuealone.Theywillbeintouchwithoneanotherandwiththeeditoronaninternetmailinglist,reportingregularlytotheprojectmanagerontheir

progressand,mostimportantly,alsoonthesetbacks.Lackoaccesstoinormation,ailuretoveriy,needor

centrallyaccessedexpertisewilllikelyeaturehere.

z Theprojectmanagercommunicates,eitheruponrequestotheteamorperowninitiative,centrallyaccessedexpertiseandinormationbacktotheteamsthatareinneedoit.Theprojectmanageralsoupdatesteamsabout

theprogressmadebyotherteams,insuchawayastocreatesynergies.Oneteamcanserveasanexampleoraninspirationtoanother;ateamintroublecanbenetromwevebeenthereadviceromanother.

z Filingodocumentation(interviews,acquireddocuments,reports)isconsistentlydoneontheteamsinternetmailinggroup,sothatadatabaseosourcematerialisconstructed.

z TheprojectmanagerdecidesHOWtousetheinputromthedierentteams:taskeachteamtowriteitsownreport(thisworkedwellwiththeFAIR2007TI,butonewillthenhavedierentstylesinonedossier,unlessas

happenedintheFAIRTI-theprojectmanagerthenrewritesandrestylesallthechapters)ormergeallinointo

onedossierwrittenentirelybytheprojectmanageronthebasisothedierentsubmissions:USstyle.Theproject

managercommunicateshis/herconceptualdesignothenalproductbacktotheteamsandasksorcomments/

amendments.

On ethics

z Rolesmustbeclearlydenedsothatconfictsointerestareavoided.Inthecasethatateammemberissimultaneouslyaboardmember,thesepersonsneedtorecusethemselvesromboarddecisionspertainingtoTI

progress.

z TeammemberswillbeprovidedwitharelevantbestpracticeguideromtheFAIRwebsiteandurgedtoreadthroughitandraiseanythingthatwouldbediculttocomplywithinthespecicsituation/countryinwhichthey

operate.

z Jointlywitheditor,coordinatorandFAIRBoardtheseissueswillbediscussedandapolicywillbedesignedtodealwithsuchissues.

z Theteamwillromthenonoperateonthebasisothebestpracticeguidetogetherwiththedesignedpolicy.z Theeditorwillrequestregularreportsonachievedgoalsandmethodsusedtoachievethese.(S)hewillalert

thecoordinatorandtheFAIRBoardiethicalguidelinesthusagreedareviolatedbyateammember.TheFAIR

Boardwillthendiscussthecaseandimplementanadequate(dis)incentivetoensurethatsuchaviolationisnot

repeated.


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What lessons did you learn and what advicewould you give others?

Firstly,valuableinormationotenstayshiddenromtheloneindividualjournalist,andyouhavetobepreparedto

ghtoritasateam.ThisisillustratedbytheollowingexampleromFAIRsTransnationalInvestigationin2007:

Intheearly2000sasuspiciouscompany,withabackgroundinthearmstrade,gotalucrativecontracttostore,

manuactureandsupplymedicationinZambia.PharcoevenwastosupplyARVslocally:itgotanexclusive

licensein2004.

TheZambianpublicwasnotawarethatPharcowasinactareincarnationomercenary-andarmstrade

outtGMR.Iithadbeen,therelikelywouldhavebeenquestionsonwhyacompanywithsuchabackground

wouldwanttobranchoutintothecontinentaltradeinlittlewhitetablets.ButPharcosbackgroundwaswell

hiddenbehindacompanynamechange,anexcellentPRmachineandocialgovernmentendorsement.

Zambiassickanddyingpinnedtheirhopesorlocallyproducedmedicationonthiscompany.ButARVswere

notproduced.Whenthecompany,conrontedwiththeincreasingpubliccalltonallystartthepromisedARV

production,couldntducktheissueanylonger,theyblamedtheWorldHealthOrganisation:theWHO,theysaid,

hadsabotagedZambiasARVmanuacturebywithholdingpermissionorproduction.TheWHOwasnotina

positiontolitthelidonPharcosbackgroundandsimplyrepeatedthatPharcosproductionacilitywasnotupto

standard.Whichitwasnt.

Allthewhile,Westerndiplomats,donorrepresentativesandgovernmentocialsinLusakawereawareo

thediceybackgroundoPharcoandtheimpossiblesituationtheZambiangovernmenthadalloweditseltoget

into.Yet,noneothemcaredsucientlyabouttheZambianpublictospeakout.Theinormationstayedhidden

andallauthoritiesseemedtoagreethatPharcowasrightinpointingthengerattheWHO.

No-one,notinternal,noroutsideauthoritieswouldallowsuchasituation,wherecitizensdiedailyintheir

hundreds,tocontinuein,say,theNetherlands.InZambia,andmanyotherAricancountries,suchdisrespect,

neglectandcarelessnessseemstobetheusualmodebywhichtheeliterelatestothemasses.Journalistswhocaretoinormthesemassesareconrontedwiththosebrickwallsitheygetwindothesituationatall,thatis.

InthecaseoPharco,thestorywouldlikelyneverhavecometolightianinternationalhealthconsultant

(importantenoughtohavebeencondedinbysomeintheZambiangoverninganddonorelite)hadnot

inormedjournalistsinhishomecountryinEuropeothelinkbetweenPharcoandGMR.Again,thatinormation

wouldnothavereachedjournalistsonthegroundinZambia,iFAIRhadnotprovidedanetworkthroughwhich

oneotheseWesternjournalistshadcontactwithaZambiancolleague.AndwithoutthejournalistsinZambia

workingwiththistip-o,PharcowouldnothavebeenconrontedandZambiangovernmentdocumentsonthe

Pharcocontractwouldnothavebeenunearthed.

Buthedid,andshehad,andtheymanaged!

Keeping things hidden

Secondly,teammembersshouldhaveadetailedunderstandingowhattheresearchquestionsareandwhatthe

currentexpertiseonacertainsubjectis.Halwaythroughthe2007TI,theFAIRteamdiscoveredthatsometeam

membersinvestigatedherbalmedicinesasanalternativetoscarcepharmaceuticalproducts,whilsttheotherhal

investigatedthepharmaceuticalsscarcity.CentralinterventionwasneededtosavetheTI.Itwouldhavebeenbetteri

dieringassumptionsbetweenteammembersanddisinormationpresentineachotheparticipatingcountrieshad

beenrecognisedasachallengeromthestart.

Thirdly,theteamshouldhaveaclearunderstandingotheirownpositionvisavistheresearchtopic.During

the2007investigationintolackoaccesstomedicines,oneteammemberbecameseverelyill;anotheronedied

shortlyatercontributinghisreport,andseveralteammembersbattledtohelpsickrelativesandriends.Thisledtoa

prominentdeclarationopersonalinterestbytheteamintheintroductiontotheTIreport.

Lastly,itheresultisgood,andapublicationstrategyisinplace,mediainanumberocountrieswillpublish(and

hopeullypayor)thestory.InthecaseotheFAIRTIs,therstonedidnotpayoritselatall,thesecondoneresulted

insalariedpublicationsbyteammembers,andinthethirdTIin2009,FAIRsetupasystemwherebyree-lanceteam

memberswouldbereimbursedromcentralsalesothereport.


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Youneedarameworkostructuredquestionsthatwillallowyoutomoveromabroad,theoreticalstoryideatoatightly-ramedhypothesisorquestionyourIJprojectcanproveoranswer

Youneedtoplanyourproject,thinkingaboutrationale,sources,obstacles,timelineandbudget

Youneedtobaseanystorypitchonthisplan

Considerallsources:primary,secondary,paper,humananddigital

Beawareotheusesoeach,andconstructamethodologythatallowsyoutodigorinormationromsourcesthatareappropriate.

z Broadresearchtherstchecktotesttheviabilityoahypothesis,checkingalargevarietyosourcesz Crowdsourcing invitingeedbackandcontributionsromonesownaudiencebytelephoneorinternetz Deep(narrow)researchocusingonthekeyquestionsthathaveemergedandattemptingtondin-depthanswersz Pitch-thestoryinconceptasonepresentsittotheeditor,containinghypothesis,rationale,methodology,sources,

obstacles,timelineandbudget

z Provinganddisprovingevidenceevidencegatheredromhumananddocumentarysourcesthateitherconrmsorinvalidatesahypothesis

z Rationalereasonortheocusonthisparticularstoryz Timelinethechronologicalrefectionothestoryproject

Glossary

z ThereisaveryinterestingworkedexampleoinvestigativeplanninginChapter4oDerekForbesA Watchdogs Guide ToInvestigative Reporting(Johannesburg:KAS,2005,pp15-26),Forbeslinkseachplanningstagetostepsintheprocessby

whichtheSunday TimesinvestigatedcorruptionaccusationsinvolvingthenSouthAricanparliamentarianTonyYengeni.

z TheullinvestigativeleonFrereHospitalcanbeoundathttp://www.dispatch.co.zaz ThomasOliversarticleonStagesoPlanningandProducingaProjectisathttp://www.poynter.org/content/content_

print.asp?id=4568&custom=

z TheFAIRtransnationalinvestigationdossierispostedatwww.airreporters.org;youcanalsoorderahardcopyromthesamewebsite

Further reading

Key points from this chapter

journalistic skils

Documents

Transcript of journalistic skils