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The ABC of investigative journalism

The ABC of investigative journalism. Nils Hanson,Swedish Television. nils.hanson@svt.se. 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

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The ABC of investigative journalism

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  1. The ABC of investigative journalism Nils Hanson,Swedish Television nils.hanson@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. Yes Risky Very important Easy Difficult Less important 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 • Daughter´s school

  20. Case: Wrongly convicted • Daughter´s school • Daughter´s friends • Daddy´s work • Stated scenes of the crime

  21. The most important question What is the weak link?

  22. Assumption becomes conviction Hypothesis 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. Work out the method Learn how the system works

  29. Learn how the system works • Routines • Processes • Key players • Transparency • Weaknesses ... and so on

  30. Get the documents you need - even the classified

  31. Convince the official - step 1 • Meeting without pressure • No interview • Just want to know how it works • Help with checking facts

  32. Convince the offical – step 2 • Involve in the project • References • Letter of recommendation • Examples of your work • Agreement

  33. The officials´ reaction 1. ”The reporter is serious” 2. ”This is important” 3. ”I want to help!”

  34. The risky method Using anonymous sources

  35. 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”?

  36. Protect the source • Be careful with the phone • Don´t send email (unless encrypted) • Use alias • Meet at safe places • Discuss how facts can be used

  37. C. Investigating yourself

  38. Keep a diary • Telephone calls • Interviews • Promises • Meetings • Ordering public documents • Problems • Ideas

  39. 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?

  40. Line-by-lining • Mark all facts • All correct? • Verification through documents • Names, figures, quotes…

  41. Line-by-lining And not the least: Are all conclusions well founded?

  42. The subject • Identify all criticizm • Informed about all allegations? • Response to all?

  43. Delicate questions • Relevant information missing? • Would other facts change the general picture? • Reason to hide the selection of facts? • Can the selection be criticized?

  44. Beware of temptations • Making too much of the little that is new • Selecting facts to produce ”the right conclusion” • Scraping together everything there is

  45. Be patient - have luck

  46. svt.se/granskning

  47. nils.hanson@svt.se

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