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