Lecture Eleven

Investigative Journalism.

The Age is a great Australian example of investigative journalism.

http://www.theage.com.au/investigations

The News Manual explains investigative journalism as:

Investigative journalism is finding, reporting and presenting news which other people try to hide. It is very similar to standard news reporting, except that the people at the centre of the story will usually not help you and may even try to stop you doing your job.

The purpose of investigative journalism:

1. Critical and thorough journalism

(Dutch Association for Investigative Journalism)

CRITICAL= The journalist is an active participant

“ ACTIVE INTERVENTION” –the key idea

THOROUGH= Journalist makes a substantial effort

i.e. Time Spent

Sources Consulted

A thorough approach

2. Custodians of conscience

(Ettemaand Glasser)

Investigation takes society’s morals and norms and holds breaches up to public scrutiny; in other words, what they call ‘civic vice’ is exposed for society to respond.

“EXPOSURE” –the key idea.

3. To provide a voice for those without one and to hold the powerful to account

(Centre for Investigation Journalism, City University London)

Social Justice –power to the powerless, voice to the voiceless.

“PUBLIC INTEREST” –the key idea.

4. Fourth Estate / Fourth Branch of Govt/ Watchdog

Fourth Estate

Journalists represent the interests of those without power to balance the power of government

Fourth branch of government

Journalists ensure free flows of information necessary for the functioning of democracy by interrogating the judiciary, executive and legislature

“Watchdog”

Journalists make accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life

The Future of News: Investigative Journalism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbTtS0UWpsE

“Isn’t all journalism meant to involve 

questioning investigation of facts and 

opinions presented to us?”

Ross Coulthart–

Australian Investigative Journalist

The 'in's' of investigative journalism

INVESTIGATIVE

INTELLIGENT

INFORMED

INTUITIVE

INSIDE

INVEST



Investigation Methods

Interviewing
Numerous interviews with on-the-record sources as well as, in some instances, interviews with anonymous sources eg. whistleblowers


Observing
Investigation of technical issues, scrutiny of government and business practices and their effects. Research into social and legal issues


Analysing documents
(law suits, legal docs, tax records, corporate financials, FOI (Freedom of Information) material)

This was the final lecture of the year. It taught us about investigative journalism and the way it's constructed. In my personal opinion, the branch into online journalism in recent years will lead to the death of investigative journalism (or at least extreme slow down). This is because access to news online means that consumers demand news quickly and efficiently. Investigations take time which usually means that consumers will lose interest in the subject.

Overall, I've enjoyed this course. I was never very keen on twitter however, and never really used it. Probably tweeted like 2ce in the whole semester. Can't say I've really caught onto the blogging either, but I did it cause I had to. That's not to say it was a bad experience. I did prefer putting my assignments online, rather than having to go into uni and hand them in. It was for sure, a breath of fresh are and made doing assignments a lot easier. The content of this semester was also very enjoyable and the different ways of presenting (jelly bean lecture, by far the best) and getting a few guest speakers, made the course more interesting.