Guide Resource
Reporter’s Guide to Detecting AI-Generated Content
This guide offers journalists a new detection tool and seven advanced techniques for spotting probable AI-generated content.
Topic
Methodology
145
posts
Methodology News & Analysis
Anatomy of an Ecocide: The Mysterious Poisoning of Czechia’s Becva River
Our investigation found that a factory owned by a former Czech prime minister should have been the prime suspect in an environmental disaster. But authorities looked elsewhere.
Methodology Reporting Tools & Tips
Passports Are Key to Uncovering Offshore Secrecy — We Use Machine Learning to Find Them Efficiently
Passports can help unlock secret ownership of offshore companies, but finding them is often challenging. At ICIJ, we decided to build a new detection tool to speed up this process.
Data Journalism Methodology
How AI Is Helping Independent Journalists Track Wartime Casualties of Russia
Exiled Russian media site IStories has shared with GIJN how it built an AI-powered database of Russian military war dead and missing, and why it was worth creating.
Methodology News & Analysis
Why This Colombian Investigative Reporter Had to Wait Over a Decade to Tell a Story
Ginna Morelo put part of her investigation into Colombian paramilitaries on hold for 13 years to protect her family and sources. She tells how she decided it was finally time to publish.
How They Did It Methodology
‘Border of Tears’: Interviewing Victims of China’s Xinjiang Prison Camps
This award-winning investigation into Xinjiang internment camp survivors was nearly silenced. Here are some lessons learned about keeping vulnerable sources safe and telling their stories.
Methodology
What Our Sources Taught Us About Reporting Responsibly on Homelessness
Homelessness is at a record high, and there are many investigative stories to tell. ProPublica has compiled tips and lessons learned from its sources while pursuing its coverage.
How They Did It Methodology
Uncovering the Deforestation, Mismanagement, and Funders Behind a Malaysian Oil Palm Plantation
After a tip-off about unsustainable logging, Low Choon Chyuan conducted a year-long investigation combining on-the-ground environmental reporting with QGIS and satellite imagery.
Africa Focus Methodology
Tips from African Journalists on Cross-Border Investigations
African journalists who have worked on impactful cross-border investigations share lessons on uncovering illegal fishing, timber trafficking, and illicit money flows.
Chapter Guide Resource
Introduction to Investigative Journalism: Fact-Checking
Fact-checking takes apart the reporting to ensure it is solid, accurate, and fair, a critical task for newsrooms.
Chapter Guide Resource
Introduction to Investigative Journalism: Following the Money
Following the money is a complex set of techniques that allow reporters to track the flow of money across the world.
Chapter Guide Resource
Introduction to Investigative Journalism: Interviewing Techniques for Beginners
This chapter looks at various types of interviews, approaches, and techniques for getting the most out of contact with sources, both friendly and antagonistic.
Chapter Guide Resource
Introduction to Investigative Journalism
Investigations have underlying principles, elements, and rigorous requirements for evidence, accuracy, and fairness. They also require strong and detailed planning.
Chapter Guide Resource
Introduction to Investigative Journalism: Finding Sources and Backgrounding People, Public Records, Freedom of Information
Sourcing starts with thinking about our goals for a story. This chapter shares a step-by-step guide for finding sources for investigations.
Chapter Guide Resource
Introduction to Investigative Journalism: Deep Internet Research: Leveraging Open-Source Research and Verification Techniques
This chapter guides you through advanced research techniques, including the use of open source intelligence tools and verification methods.
Methodology News & Analysis
How to Bring Investigative Journalism into Food Lifestyle Media
Three investigations into food systems show how investigative journalists can capitalize on the huge interest in food — and food-related content — to make their reporting more impactful.
Methodology Research
How We Uncovered the True Story of 40 Acres and a Mule
Behind-the-scenes of an investigation into a program that gave formerly enslaved people in the US land titles after the Civil War — and then revoked them.
How They Did It Methodology
Investigating Gaza: How the Associated Press Documented the Families Devastated by War
Sarah El Deeb documented 60 families from the Gaza Strip who have lost 25 members or more from Israeli airstrikes during the first three months of the conflict.
How They Did It Methodology
Combining Ethnography and Journalism Into an Award-Winning Investigation in Central America
Two Salvadoran investigative journalists discuss their ethnographic reporting on the impact of the drug trade on the La Moskitia Indigenous region of Central America.
Investigative Techniques Methodology
Investigating Russia’s Proliferating Use — And Supply — Of Attack Drones Against Ukraine
A cross-border investigation into Russia’s use of drones in Ukraine includes how drones are assembled despite sanctions, and cooperation with Tehran to produce UAVs on Russian soil.
How They Did It Methodology
How BBC Open Source Journalists Investigate, Analyze, and Verify Information from Gaza
GIJN talked with reporters doing the difficult work of covering the Hamas attack on Israel and its aftermath, including preparations for the October 7 assault.
Investigative Techniques Methodology
Embracing Failure: The Importance of Learning from Your Mistakes in Open Source Reporting
Small amounts of failure in the open source field are inevitable, and somewhat expected. But they will also help you become a better open source analyst and investigator.
Methodology Reporting Tools & Tips
Common Mistakes in Cross-Border Investigations — And How to Fix Them
At a Dataharvest 2024 panel, three well-established investigative reporters spoke about their past mistakes, failures, and other errors that almost cost them a story.
Methodology Reporting Tools & Tips
Going Undercover in Africa: Tips from Recent Investigations
Investigative journalists who have gone undercover in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, and Kenya share advice and practical tips.
Resource Video
Investigating the Israel Hamas Conflict
Three senior investigative journalists shared tips and tools on investigating the conflict in Gaza.
Methodology
Remotely Investigating Russia’s Devastation of Mariupol
In March 2022, Human Rights Watch embarked on what would become an almost two year-long investigation into the Russian siege of Mariupol. Here, we explain our methodology.
Resource Video
Investigative Journalism and Digital Threats in 2024 Elections
Free and fair elections are fundamental to a functioning democracy. Investigative journalism helps to ensure the integrity of the electoral process by exposing and correcting false narratives and disinformation that can influence public opinion. This reporting not only helps voters to make informed decisions but empowers them to assess the information they encounter, fostering a […]
Data Journalism Methodology
Mapping Conflict: Using Satellite Radar Data to Track the War Damage in Gaza
Gaza’s urban landscape has changed profoundly since the start of Israel’s military campaign. Researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek and Corey Scher have been mapping the impact.