Sources Experts & Spokespersons
News Releases
Internet assault on investigative journalist2011-02-09
Reporters Without Borders
A far-right wing group in Uruguay has mounted an Internet attack of intimidation on a journalist who specializes in investigations into the crimes of the dictatorship that ran the country between 1973...
Manning verdict blow for investigative journalism and its sources2013-07-31
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders regards today's verdict in U.S. Army private Bradley Manning's trial as dangerous. Although acquitted of "aiding the enemy," he was found guilty of five counts of espionage a...
Stop harassment and legal action against leading investigative journalist 2014-10-20
Reporters Without Borders
The Azerbaijani authorities should immediately lift the travel ban imposed on Khadija Ismayilova and cease all legal proceedings against her. Against the backdrop of the unprecedented crackdown on civ...
Sources Select Resources
Be annoying, and don't give upBirnbauer, Bill
Article
2012
ICIJ
Bill Birnbauer, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Monash University in Australia, shares the methodology and techniques which have served him best as an investigative journalist.
Be careful of the "master narrative"Beelman, Maud
Article
2012
ICIJ
Maud Beelman, founding director of ICIJ and now deputy managing editor for investigations and enterprise at The Dallas Morning News, has a strategic four-part checklist which helps her prioritize whic...
Be inventive and patientDimitrova, Alexenia
Article
2012
ICIJ
Bulgarian investigative journalist and author Alexenia Dimitrova reveals how she uses Freedom of Information laws in several countries to uncover hidden secrets of the Cold War, how the imprisonment o...
Be sure this way of life is something you are keen on, because it will eat up your timeBilton, Michael
Article
2012
ICIJ
The riches contained in this questionnaire with multi-award-winning investigative journalist Michael Bilton. Read on to learn details about his research methodology, and why a significant investment o...
Beginner's guide to improving online securityWilliams, Margot
Article
2014
ICIJ
Investigative journalists like the members of ICIJ are facing growing concerns about security. Our members often work with leaks or other materials requiring protection of sources, collaborate across ...
Biggest criminals write laws that make their crimes legalSegnini, Giannina
Article
2013
ICIJ
Giannina Segnini discusses her bribery investigations that helped put two former presidents of Costa Rica in jail, and offers advice to aspiring investigative journalists.
The biggest criminals write laws that make their crimes legalSegnini, Giannina
Article
2013
ICIJ
Giannina Segnini is the director of the investigative team at La Nación newspaper in Costa Rica. This month she was awarded one of Latin America's most prestigious distinctions, the Gabriel Garcia Mar...
Capture the popular imaginationCoronel, Sheila
Article
2014
ICIJ
Sheila Coronel is the director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Last month, she was named as the next academic dean of the journalism s...
Content Magazine - Number 56October 1975
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1975
Content Magazine - Number 59January/ February 1976
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1976
Content Magazine - Number 94March 1979
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1979
Content Magazine - Number 106May/ June 1980
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1980
The Crisis in Investigative JournalismThe Case of James Risen
Hawkins, John Kendall
Article
2014
CounterPunch
Investigative journalists are the vanguard of the so-called Fourth Estate, bearing the formidable task of watchdogging the other three estates
The end of the storyWhen a prominent journalist was killed for investigating black activists, it shocked America.
Harris, Tom
Article
2007
The Guardian
On August 2nd 2007 Chauncey Bailey was murdered, he was the first journalist in thirty years to be murdered in the U.S. in the pursuit of a story.
Everyone can be an investigative journalist. Everyone!Springe, Inga
Article
2013
ICIJ
Inge Springe is the founder and director of the Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism. Her stories for the center, which is also known as Re:Baltica, have resulted in action against public offici...
Fame & Fortune OnlineWebsite
Sources
Comprehensive listing of awards available to Canadian journalists.
Getting the most out of Offshore Leaks dataCabra, Mar
Article
2014
ICIJ
Baltimore became the world’s capital of data journalism in March 2014 as the National Institute of Computer Assisted Reporting (NICAR) convened its annual conference. A team from the International Co...
Great investigative reporters don't take no for an answerKnightley, Phillip
Article
2012
ICIJ
The first thing to keep in mind about investigative journalism is that it’s not glamorous. (We can blame television with its “undercover” reporters and “hidden cameras” for this mistaken image.) It’s ...
The High Cost of SkepticismWhat happened to two scientists who believed that tenure and First Amendment would protect their rights to free inquiry
Tavris, Carol
Article
2002
Skeptical Inquirer
Here’s what happened to two scientists who believed that tenure and the First Amendment would protect their rights to free inquiry.
How Brown Moses exposed Syrian arms trafficking from his front roomWeaver, Matthew
Article
2013
Guardian Weekly
A Leicester-based blogger's monitoring of weapons used in conflict has been taken up by media and human rights groups. Never having been near a warzone has not stopped him from breaking some of the mo...
How to Background a Person Using LexisWillson, Kate
Article
2012
ICIJ
ICIJ reporter Kate Willson demonstrates how to background a person using public records on Nexis. Find state or local court records, criminal history, voter registration, property owned, divorce proce...
How to investigate companies on LexisWillson, Kate
Article
2012
ICIJ
A video guide to searching the Lexis database for companies.
How to locate a person held in the U.S. prison or immigration detention systemsWilliams, Margot
Article
2013
ICIJ
Tracing the trail of prisoners incarcerated in the United States can be complicated, but the reward for patient and thorough searching is getting information that would have been much more difficult t...
How To Search Federal Court Records Using PACERWillson, Kate
Article
2012
ICIJ
A video introduction to the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system (PACER).
How To Track Looted WealthCoronel, Sheila
Article
2012
ICIJ
The ICIJ’s Sheila Coronel shares how to investigate illicit money trails ahead of her Tracking Corruption Internationally presentation at the 2012 IRE conference.
How to unearth public records: a global guideChavkin, Sasha
Article
2013
ICIJ
Among the most basic building blocks of powerful investigative reporting are public records – government documents that provide bulletproof evidence of anything from a change in water quality to the o...
How To Use Simple Excel Functions for Data AnalysisWillson, Kate
Article
2012
ICIJ
In this series of video tutorials, ICIJ reporter Kate Willson demonstrates four basic yet essential Excel functions to assist with data analysis during investigative reporting.
How To Verify Information and Debunk Myths Using Online Toolsvan Ess, Henk
Article
2013
ICIJ
Did Pope Francis play a major role in Argentina’s Dirty War? Reporters published photos of dictator Jorge Videla with a cardinal, allegedly with Jorge Bergoglio, the recently elected Pope Francis. But...
How we did Offshore Leaks ChinaWalker Guevara, Marina
Article
2014
ICIJ
A multinational team of journalists spent months combing through secret tax haven records revealing offshore holdings of China’s rich and powerful.
The "human touch": the key to digging up court recordsSisti, Leo
Article
2013
ICIJ
The most important asset for a reporter is the "human touch." It means becoming familiar with all the sources in the field. It means that a special technique is necessary to reach my goal of obtaining...
I have never felt disadvantaged being a woman reporterSarin, Ritu
Article
2014
ICIJ
Ritu Sarin is the investigations editor of the Indian Express group, and is the winner of several awards including the Ramnath Goenka Award and the Prem Bhatia award for excellence in journalism. ICIJ...
If money is your object, journalism is the wrong industryLaurin, Fredrik
Article
2013
ICIJ
Swedish investigative reporter Fredrik Laurin knows that power corrupts, but also that resistance in the form of journalism can have effect. In this Q&A he shares how his team identifies good investig...
If money is your object, journalism is the wrong industryLaurin, Fredrik
Article
2013
ICIJ
Swedish investigative reporter Fredrik Laurin knows that power corrupts, but also that resistance in the form of journalism can have effect. In this material he shares how his team identifies good inv...
I.F. Stone's WeeklyStone, I.F.
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1953
I.f. Stone
Weekly newsletter published by I.F. Stone from 1953 to 1971. All issues between January 17, 1953 and December 1, 1971 are online.
I'm still waiting for my first car chaseBrümmer, Stefaans
Article
2013
ICIJ
Stefaans Brümmer is the co-founder and managing partner of the M&G Centre for Investigative Journalism in South Africa. The M&G Centre, which is nicknamed amaBhungane, isiZulu for "the dung beetles,” ...
IntelligentSearch.caWebsite
2017
Sources
A web portal featuring topics related to research and the Internet. The home page features a selection of recent and important articles. A search feature, subject index, and other research tools make ...
The InterceptWebsite
A platform to report on the documents previously provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, with a long-term mission is to produce fearless, adversarial journalism across a wide range of issues.
Investigating charities: How to search the finances of nonprofits and foundationsWilliams, Margot
Article
2013
ICIJ
There’s good news from the U.S. on a research tool for digging into non-profits and private foundations. Why does this data need to be freed?
It pays to look beyond so-called ‘experts’ in the fieldNordberg, Jenny
Article
2012
ICIJ
New York-based Jenny Nordberg discusses how she applies knowledge of human behaviour to her interviews, the thrill of finding disturbing things just under the surface, the pretentiousness of the term ...
Know who you’re working for and why you’re workingHuertas, Carlos Eduardo
Article
2012
ICIJ
Colombian ICIJ member Carlos Eduardo Huertas talks about the traits of a good investigative journalist, his experience with Wikileaks and why tackling the big, important themes – and sticking to them ...
Manning verdict blow for investigative journalism and its sourcesSources News Release
Article
2013
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders regards today's verdict in U.S. Army private Bradley Manning's trial as dangerous. Although acquitted of "aiding the enemy," he was found guilty of five counts of espionage a...
Mastering disaster: How to get the facts to cover humanitarian crisesWilliams, Margot
Article
2013
ICIJ
In a midst of a humanitarian crisis like the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, information on the disaster pours to and from the media. The situation is in flux and the needs are great, and troubling frag...
Never Forget You Have Only One Boss: the TruthMaier, Thomas
Article
2013
ICIJ
Find subjects where you can break new ground. Record key interviews on video or audio. And remember that a lot of your own faults can be overcome by sheer reporting effort. Stellar tips for investigat...
New website to assist crime and corruption investigationsWilliams, Margot
Article
2013
ICIJ
For journalists and civil society researchers seeking information to help expose organized crime and corruption across borders, there’s a new “Ghostbusters” to call on for assistance.The Investigative...
No story is worth dying for but some stories are worth taking a bit of riskNazakat, Syed
Article
2012
ICIJ
ICIJ member Syed Nazakat of The Week talks about the risks and benefits of conflict reporting in "the most dangerous place on earth".
OCCRP Launches New Search Engine for Investigative Journalists King, Tom
Article
2016
Organized Crime And Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)
The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a non-profit network of investigative journalism centers in Europe and Eurasia, has launched a new data platform to enable journalists and...
Open up as much dialogue with reporters in other countries as possiblePaul, Radu
Article
2012
ICIJ
Paul Radu of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project walks his talk when it comes to sharing information and know-how. Here the Investigative Dashboard creator shares how he tracks down t...
Other Voices: The Connexions Newsletter - June 18, 2015Corruption
Diemer, Ulli (editor); Richwood, Darien Yawching (production)
Serial Publication (Periodical)
2015
Connexions
Corruption - or at least some types of corruption - are much in the news, with the ongoing scandals in the Canadian Senate and the recent U.S. targeting of the Swiss-based football federation FIFA for...
Other Voices: The Connexions Newsletter - May 7, 2016Tax Evasion
Diemer, Ulli (ed.)
Serial Publication (Periodical)
2016
Connexions
Employing a network of accountants, tax lawyers, corporate shells, tax havens, secret bank accounts, and other methods, the 1% have become extremely adept at evading even the low rates of taxation the...
Other Voices: The Connexions Newsletter - December 20, 2016Fake News
Diemer, Ulli (ed.)
Serial Publication (Periodical)
2016
Connexions
"Fake news" is the latest mania to convulse the mainstream media. All at once, we're being subjected to an outbreak of hand-wringing articles and commentary about obscure websites which are supposedly...
A reporter's trustworthiness and reputation for integrity is their greatest assetSmyth, Sam
Article
2012
ICIJ
Sam Smyth of the Irish Independent and Sunday Tribune newspapers talks about the greatest threat to investigative reporting, and how he gets his stories.
Revealing the Secret World of Private CompaniesCoronel, Sheila
Article
2012
ICIJ
You’d think that getting the names of the shareholders of a company would be fairly easy. Such information should be routinely available.To be sure, there’s a wealth of information on listed companies...
Social Media and Investigative Journalism Nazakat, Syed
Article
2012
ICIJ
In this extract from the new book The Social Media (R)evolution: Asian Perspectives on New Media, ICIJ member Syed Nazakat outlines different ways investigative reporters are harnessing social media a...
Sources HotLink - June 30, 2016Serial Publication (Periodical)
2016
Sources
Articles about the FBI and the information it gathers, Donald Trump and the media, and the role of pharmaceutical companies in suppressing information.
The website of I.F. StoneStone, I.F.
Website
Website devoted to the journalism and life of radical journalist I.F. Stone (1907-1989).
Stop harassment and legal action against leading investigative journalist Sources News Release
Article
2014
Reporters Without Borders
The Azerbaijani authorities should immediately lift the travel ban imposed on Khadija Ismayilova and cease all legal proceedings against her. Against the backdrop of the unprecedented crackdown on civ...
There are no bad sources, only incompetent reportersAraujo, Rui
Article
2012
ICIJ
There is no democracy without efficient institutions and too many journalists passively accept this state, says Portuguese investigative journalist and "troublemaker" Rui Araujo.
Tips for investigating the mining industryWalker Guevara, Marina
Article
2012
ICIJ
Here Marina shares her top tips on investigating the mining industry: from unearthing disclosure of litigation in company reports to checking who funds mining research.
Try and find Narnia in the wardrobe: inside the work of a research specialistMyers, Paul
Article
2014
ICIJ
Paul Myers is an internet research specialist working in the U.K. media. He talks about the role of the researcher in the investigative story and tools journalists can use.
Two out of Three Investigative Journalists in US Believe They're Being Spied OnLazare, Sarah
Article
2015
Common Dreams
In the wake of the NSA mass surveillance scandal, a vast majority of investigative journalists believe that the U.S. government is spying on them, and large numbers say that this belief impacts the wa...
Why I quit my job as an investigations editor in EgyptAllam, Hisham
Article
2013
ICIJ
Hisham Allam is an award-winning investigative reporter based in Cairo. He was an investigative editor for the El-Watan newspaper, but the recent crackdown on the Egyptian press has taken a toll on hi...
The work of authentic journalists is the most important thing for social movementsHow Mercedes Osuna became a rebel with a cause
Bonilla, Mayte G.
Article
2013
The Narco News Bulletin
Not an activist, social organizer nor a defender: Mercedes Osuna would rather define her work as human labor, something that she has dedicated an entire life to. She was born in a place were true word...
Sources Bookshelf
Content Magazine - Number 56October 1975
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1975
Content Magazine - Number 59January/ February 1976
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1976
Content Magazine - Number 94March 1979
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1979
Content Magazine - Number 106May/ June 1980
Serial Publication (Periodical)
1980
Getting the GoodsInformation in BC How to Find It, How to Use It
Oustonm, Rick
Book
1990
A guide to the basic sources of information -- the tools of the trade -- that all reporters, researchers and investigators rely on.
Investigative ReportingAnderson, David & Benjaminson, Peter
Book
1976
Explains the art and science of investigative reporting: how to decide on a subject, how to find and evaluate sources, how to approach and interview the sources and the subject of the investigation, h...
Journalism of OutrageInvestigative Reporting and Agenda Building in America
Protess, David L.; Cook, Fay Lomax; Doppelt, Jack C.; Ettema, James S.; Gordon, Margaret T.
Book
1991
Examines the myths and misconceptions of investigative journalism and presents empirical research to support a model that challenges the classical theory.
Journalism: Truth or Dare?Hargreaves, Ian
Book
2003
Ian Hargreaves discusses the history, development, future and ethics of journalism and describes journalists' relationship with the public. He focuses on the increase in journalism's influence and the...
The Muckraker's ManualHow To Do Your Own Investigative Reporting
Harry, M.
Book
1980
The skills of investigative reporting described for non-journalists.
Sources Calendar
