Course Structure
MODULE 1: DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE CROSS-BORDER INVESTIGATIVE STORIES
Unit 1. Introduction: Investigative journalism 101
Introduction to investigative journalism for journalists with little prior experience in the field.
Unit 2. Setting up and managing cross-border investigations
Examining the specific requirements and characteristics of cross-border investigations, hands-on tips on managing collaborations, choosing initial story ideas, utilizing networks of sources, challenges of cross-border fact-checking, adapting findings to different audiences and media styles, integrating data and technology, legal and security considerations for a cross-border team.
Unit 3. Quick verification methods, tools and tips
Who, what, when, where and why for video and still images: introduction to verifying videos, still images and social media accounts.
Unit 4. Innovative open source research techniques
From tracking boats and private planes to forensic analysis of video footages: introduction to the latest and most advanced open source techniques with specific examples, good practices.
Unit 5. Open source research in the Western Balkans region
Examining the specific opportunities and challenges of open source investigation including research in public databases in the Western Balkans region with case studies, best practices and useful tips.
MODULE 2: ADVANCED RESEARCH AND VERIFICATION TECHNIQUES
Unit 6. Advanced social media research
Deepening knowledge of open source research techniques with special focus on social media research techniques. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.
Unit 7. Verification of sources and documents
Learning verification techniques to discover the background of sources, documents, user-generated online information, images, verification processes, checklists. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.
MODULE 3: MINIMIZING RISKS THROUGH MANAGING ETHICS AND SECURITY CHALLENGES
Unit 8. Investigative journalism ethics challenges, threats
Introduction to specificities of investigative journalism ethics, applying journalism ethical standards to investigative reporting challenges from anonymous sources to undercover reporting, minimizing risks through ethical standards. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.
Unit 9. Investigative journalism legal challenges
Introduction to the specific legal challenges faced by investigative journalists, cases, lessons learnt, editorial process best practices to minimize risks. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading.
Unit 10. Minimizing risks by increasing security
Assessing the specific security challenges with main focus on digital security of investigative reporting. Special focus on existing tools and techniques to minimize risks. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.
MODULE 4: DEALING WITH HUMAN RESOURCES
Unit 11. Specific challenges with confidential human sources
Defining the nature and characteristics of confidential human sources, exploring the specific challenges of dealing with human sources with special focus on how to find them, make them speak, how to conduct investigative interviews with human sources. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.
MODULE 5: SHAPING INVESTIGATIVE NARRATIVES
Unit 12. Facing challenges of cross-border reporting
Introduction on how cross-border teams can best collaborate, identify difficult issues of common work from cultural to personal differences, handle disagreements, develop solutions for smooth collaboration. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.
MODULE 6: MANAGING CROSS-BORDER INVESTIGATIONS (FOLLOW-UP)
Unit 13. Data for investigative stories, data visualization
Introduction on how to leverage data for investigative stories with special focus on visualization techniques. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.
Unit 14. Storytelling
Exploring how to build narratives of complex investigations, discovering traditional storytelling techniques and special aspects of multimedia narratives. Video tutorial with presentation, tip-sheets, case studies, further reading, individual and group assignments. Home assignments.