Investigative journalism and education in Holland and Belgium

Master in sociology;

Journalist since 1984: writing, radio, TV

Teacher investigative journalism at University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle ( Netherlands)

Situation of investigative journalism in Holland

Education program in Zwolle

Didactic hints

All editors say: reliable and revealing storiesare essential to overcome the crisis

Since 2002: VVOJ: association of investigativejournalists in Holland and Belgium withabout 300 members

Last year Tegel award ( our local Pulitzer)

- Full scale abuse in Catholic church - Dutch secret service informed NSA - Corruption in Dutch social service - tax free shortcuts in The Netherlands - horse meat sold as cow meat, failing

government control

Most investigative journalists go for the scoop, “classic school”

Scoops are often related to corrupt behaviourof individual people in power.

Internet is of great help but sources are mostly ‘classic’: contacts, leaks, documents

More platforms ( internet), more technicalpossibilities ( data, graphic), more funding ( crowdfunding), more channels are used topick up and sell stories

Storytelling is upcoming

Overall still far too little money, especially for early stage freelancers

Holland has 4 universities of applied studies

Zwolle has the most intense program on investigative journalism of 30 EC (= half years program)

4 master programs at universities ( no specificmaster in investigative journalism).

In Belgium: schools and universities, more or less the same situation

encourage curiosity and sensitiviy to social issues, power structures and the joy of investigating

teachers who have practical experience, whoare journalists themselves

takes students through the process step- by-step

Investigate the“four O’s”:- unlawfulness(onwettigheid) - incompetence (ondeskundigheid) - falsehood (onwaarheid) -injustice (onrechtvaardigheid)

investigate: political track, the money track andthe judicical track

We encourage them to take a story that is close to them

Research for facts and research for story

Always check rules and regulations related tothe story

Separate facts from opinions

Use the expertise of experts

Challenge: combine data journalism in yourstory, sell your story, try to get a follow-up, use social media to contact relevant people

In past five years Good stories! Students sold stories to daily newspapers and

national radio Some students have found steady jobs after

the course Positive evaluations

Hidden soil pollution Incompetent health clinic Illegal medical treatment (Lyme ) Subsidy fraud in Dutch county Failing waste policy Dutch counties

How to create more opportunities for justgraduate students

How to “open” special funds for long running investigations for beginners

How to get access to succesful crowd funding