For our series about journalists’ favorite tools, we spoke with veteran American investigative reporter Ron Nixon. Now the global investigations editor for The Associated Press, Nixon shared the most important tools he uses for research, secure communications, and data analysis on many of his groundbreaking investigations.
Journalists are not immune to the impact of trauma when reporting on disasters and tragedies. One of the world’s leading psychologists in the field of journalism and trauma, Cait McMahon, outlines strategies journalists can use to prepare for, work on, and recover from investigations into traumatic events.
For our series about journalists’ favorite tools, we spoke with investigative reporter Susan Comrie, whose corruption exposes have helped shake South Africa’s political scene. She described some of the tools and techniques she has deployed in ground-breaking investigations as part of the team at investigative journalism center amaBhungane.
It is difficult to fathom how far the novel virus might spread, and what the ultimate consequences will be. With all the uncertainties, journalists around the world are faced with the many challenges of covering the epidemic — including combating misinformation and health risks to reporters in the field — while not fueling panic.
What reporting and storytelling techniques do you need to master as you head into your next investigation? We’ve rounded up some of GIJN’s most popular how tos from our story archives, as well as select items from our growing Resource Center.
Throughout history, whistleblowers have played an important role in bringing corruption, fraud, waste, and other improprieties to light worldwide. But journalists face serious challenges in doing this kind of reporting, especially when it involves world leaders and the federal intelligence community.
For our series about journalists’ favorite tools, we spoke with freelance journalist Sally Hayden, who has won multiple awards for her reporting on migration. She told GIJN’s Helen Massy-Beresford about the tools she uses to communicate securely with sources, record interviews, manage a freelance career, and more.
Everyone seems to produce email newsletters these days. But not everyone is doing it well. Mark Jacob of the Local News Initiative asked newsletter experts about what works and what doesn’t.
Instead of writing an entire behind-the-scenes article to explain how you carried out an investigation, consider instead incorporating this information in the investigation itself in the form of “trust nuggets” to reach more readers, writes Trusting News’ Joy Mayer.
What tools do you need to master as you head into your next investigation? We’ve rounded up some of GIJN’s most popular how tos from our story archives, as well as select items from our growing Resource Center.
For our series about journalists’ favorite tools, we spoke with Lionel Faull of the London-based investigative newsroom and training outlet Finance Uncovered. He told GIJN’s Olivier Holmey all about the tools he uses to encrypt his communications, convert PDFs to readable text, find data on company ownership, sync his written and audio notes, and more.
Just by committing any act of journalism, you are worthy of a data breach. Whether you’re a freelancer or on staff, here are some tips from digital security experts about what you can do to keep yourself safe from attacks.
GIJN’s ever-growing Resource Center added many new or substantially revamped guides this year, including packages on climate change, land ownership, women journalists, data journalism, tracking planes, and working with whistleblowers.
For our series about journalists’ favorite tools, we spoke with The New York Times’ Malachy Browne, a pioneer in the field of visual investigations. He told GIJN’s Gaelle Faure about the tools that help him recreate crime scenes, including satellite imagery, EXIF data viewers, 3D modeling, and more.
While exiled reporters may now be practicing journalism from a place of relative safety, repressive governments can still interfere with their ability to report stories, reach audiences, and make a living. Charlotte Alfred spoke to exiled reporters for GIJN.
If you’re searching for information on Instagram, you won’t get far if you’re only using the search bar. OSINTCurio.us has offered up a detailed how-to on searching on Instagram, which sometimes means you’ll need outside apps to help.
This year, the 11th Global Investigative Journalism Conference opened up to citizen investigators as never before, with a series of workshops and events dedicated to the successes, challenges, and opportunities presented to non-journalists who investigate wrongdoing. Megan Clement wrote about it for GIJN.
Any journalist who has been trolled, harassed, or otherwise attacked online knows how frightening the experience can be, and how isolated one can feel as a result. But newsrooms around the world are increasingly waking up to the fact that their staff need dedicated support to deal with the growing online abuse. Megan Clement rounded up tips from experts for GIJN.
The fact-checkers’ toolbox is not one-size-fits all. Journalists from Senegal, India and Turkey discuss the tools they use to counter misinformation trends specific to their region.
Increasingly, the most ambitious data journalism projects are fueled by collaborations. But these take a lot of planning. Before you embark on a collaboration, check out ProPublica’s playbook.
Natural resource extraction industries make billions of dollars each year. And where there is big money, there is corruption — plus mines can have a destructive impact on the environment and on communities. Leonie Kijewski rounded up top resources and tips for reporting on the extractive industries around the globe for GIJN.
Rookies can become top-notch investigative reporters in a matter of months. Megan Clement rounded up tips for GIJN on how one professor in Chile gets it done.
For our series about journalists’ favorite tools, we spoke with Joel Konopo of Botswana’s INK Centre for Investigative Journalism. He told GIJN’s Olivier Holmey all about how he uses satellite images to expose corruption, Cryptomator to encrypt sensitive files, and lots more.
So you’ve got a great investigation — now you just need to get people to read it. Here are seven types of beginnings that can hook readers into your story, from starting with a detail to beginning with a revelation.
Three reporters who have worked with survivors of child abuse shared advice on how to build trust with sources, take care of their well-being, and connect with survivor communities. Brenna Daldorph rounded up their tips for GIJN.
A documentary producer, a BBC reporter, and a human rights researcher shared eight steps toward gathering and using user-generated content for investigations at the recent Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Hamburg. Here’s Charlotte Alfred for GIJN on how it’s done.
Search engines only show a small fraction of the content that is actually available online. Leonie Kijewski highlights four tips on finding databases that can give you all the info that Google won’t, based on journalist Albrecht Ude’s presentation at the recent Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Hamburg.
Investigative reporters have a bit of a reputation for being troublemakers — both outside and inside their newsrooms. Sometimes, this can get in the way of their work. In his new book “Investigative Journalism: A Survival Guide,” David Leigh gives sensible advice for those who wish to not only get along with their bosses, but to see their stories published.
