Investigative Journalism

This advanced subject builds on basic journalistic interview and research skills to introduce the discipline and research techniques of investigative journalism. It discusses the ethics, obligations, role and challenges of investigative journalism in the western democratic tradition, including domestic and cross-border investigations and, as appropriate, in other political contexts. Enlisting a story-based inquiry methodology, students will explore and interrogate a range of opportunities to source information: public records, open source intelligence, Freedom of Information legislation, crowd sourcing, data analysis, advanced verification and security and safety technologies. They will be introduced to the multiple ethical and legal issues involved in use of confidential sources and unauthorised disclosures, and how this relates to core journalistic ethical principles. Tasks #1 and #2 require students to initiate, plan and undertake an original investigation as part of the subject, with an option at Task #3 to defer or cease their own investigation and alternatively produce an analytical essay on a published/ high profile investigation.