the abc of investigative journalism nils hanson,swedish television [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
What we want to achieve
• Reaction among general public
• Impact on other media
• Solution to the problem
Steps to reach the goal
A. Adopting tough challenges
B. Proving the wrong-doing
C. Investigating yourself
A.
Adopting tough challenges
Very important
Easy Difficult
Less important
Source: IRE Journal
Sentenced 8 years
Wrongly convicted
Very important
Easy Difficult
Less important
Yes Risky
Tempting No
Source: IRE Journal
Starting point
It is not like it is said to be
Getting on the track
Think like a corrupt person
Thanks to Ulla Danne´
The key question
What opportunities exist
to profit from the system?
Investigating systems
• How is it supposed to work - according to the rules?
• How does it work – in reality?
Where to investigate?
• Which problem is the biggest?
• Which problem is the most neglected?
• Which problem is the most upsetting?
Examining the idea
Checklist for the idea
• Title• Summary• Previously published• Minimum• Maximum• Timetable
The minimum
Good enough
to publish
The maximum
What you hope to achieve
but can not promise
Reach minimum
• Identify key facts
• Begin with the least complicated
• Secure a ”secret”
Case: Wrongly convicted
• Daughter´s school
Case: Wrongly convicted
• Daughter´s school
• Daughter´s friends
• Daddy´s work
• Stated scenes of the crime
The most important question
What is the weak link?
Hypothesis
Assumption becomes conviction
Thesis
Avoid tunnel-vision
• Seek other explanations
• Listen to the sceptical
• Examine the expert
• Question the victim
Questions to the victim
- Your own responsibility?
- Could you have done more yourself?
- Can you prove your allegations?
- Do you have anything to hide?
A common mistake
Wait too long with the
key interview
Advantage confrontating early
• Avoids unpleasant surprises
• Givs time to examine the explanation
• Easier to get the lie on record
B.
Proving the wrongdoing
Work out the method
Learn how the system works
Learn how the system works
• Routines
• Processes
• Key players
• Transparency
• Weaknesses
... and so on
Get the documents you need
- even the classified
Convince the official - step 1
• Meeting without pressure
• No interview
• Just want to know how it works
• Help with checking facts
Convince the offical – step 2
• Involve in the project
• References
• Letter of recommendation
• Examples of your work
• Agreement
The officials´ reaction
1. ”The reporter is serious”
2. ”This is important”
3. ”I want to help!”
The risky method
Using anonymous sources
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 the”lie detector”?
• Be careful with the phone
• Don´t send email (unless encrypted)
• Use alias
• Meet at safe places
• Discuss how facts can be used
Protect the source
C.
Investigating yourself
Keep a diary
• Telephone calls
• Interviews
• Promises
• Meetings
• Ordering public documents
• Problems
• Ideas
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?
Line-by-lining
• Mark all facts
• All correct?
• Verification through
documents
• Names, figures, quotes…
Line-by-lining
And not the least:
Are all conclusions
well founded?
The subject
•Identify all criticizm•Informed about all allegations?•Response to all?
Delicate questions
• Relevant information missing?
• Would other facts change the general picture?
• Reason to hide the selection of facts?
• Can the selection be criticized?
Beware of temptations
• Making too much of the little that is new
• Selecting facts to produce ”the right conclusion”
• Scraping together everything there is
Be patient
- have luck
svt.se/granskning
D.
Demand accountability
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”• Don´t forget any allegation
The subject refuses• Inform about manuscript
• Get answers elsewhere
• Hidden recording
• Make an ambush
Making breaking news
• Portion the story
• ”Plant” the story
• Send press releases
• Initiate reactions
• Plan follow-ups
The advanced method
Stage a fake situation
Hidden camera
• Major public interest
• Only one possible method
• Supplementary material from open sources
• Explanation from the target