The Centre for Investigative JournalismLinks
Listed below are a selection of websites that investigative journalists will find useful.
They are grouped to help you find what you are looking for:
1. Searching the web
i. search engines
Search Engine Watch
Provides data and ratings on various search engines
OXiDE
Guide to a variety of search engines
A9
Searches e-commerce websites
Ananz
Searches websites from South Africa
Clusty
Searches weblogs
Google Blog
Searches weblogs
Book Finder
New, used, out-of-print books for sale
Abe Books
New, used, out-of-print books for sale
Zeba Search
Searches people in the US
SurfWax
Searches news, articles and reviews
Google News
Google news search page
ii. web detective
Archive.org
Internet archive with 85 billion pages that no longer exist
Allwhois
IP check – who owns a website
Researchclinic
Useful UK based research website
Ripe
IP check – who owns a website
Reverse DNS lookup
Finds an IP address by searching domain registry
Domain Tools
IP check – who owns a website
iii. reference sites
LexisNexis
Thousands of issues of newspapers, magazines, transcripts for radio and television; and legal transcripts and court records in a number of countries. Paid service.
Profnet
PR directory of experts
In the First Person
Collection of personal narratives in text, video and audio from around the world
Radio Station World
Global Radio Stations directory
Online Newspapers
Global directory of online newspapers
Newspaper Archive
Largest newspaper archive online
World News Connection
Database with articles from all over the world translated into English. Paid service.
Refdesk
Search engine for fast facts, reference and news
Keysheets
Short fact sheets on issues relating to sustainability and development
iv. text translators
v. other useful tools
NationMaster
Generates on-demand graphs based on numerical data extracted from the several US and international official sources
DC++
Computer program to connect computers all around the world
Pretty Good Privacy
Computer program that encrypts files and documents on your hard-disk. Can be used for e-mails.
Scramdisk
Computer program that encrypts your hard-drives
2. Investigating governments
Centre for Responsive Politics
Looks at US Corporate lobbyists
FEC Watch
Financial and organisational details of US lobbyists, candidates and PACs
The Government Accountability Project
US non-profit public interest group that promotes government and corporate accountability
Project on Government Oversight
Reporting US Government corruption and misconduct
University of Michigan foreign governments page
Directory of worldwide governments files in the US Congress Library, official websites and related links
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
Detailed data about federal staffing, spending, activities of US federal government
GAO's Investigators Guide to Sources of Information
Guide that explains the function, rules and information provided by US local governments
Google US Government Search
Searches all US Government websites
US State Department
Lots of useful information, including international statistics
US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Names and testimonies of people who have appeared before this committee
Project on Government Oversight
NGO that investigates and exposes corruption of the US government
3. Investigating companies
i. by country or continent
European Business Register
Complete database for 14 member-states. Paid service.
Africa Intelligence
African "power brokers and their connections". Paid service.
Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Government site with info about Australian companies
Belgium Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises (BCE)
Government with info about Belgian companies. In French.
Belgium Federal Public Service
Government site that provides images of company documents. In Dutch, French and German.
Brazilian Stock Exchange
Info on publicly traded Brazilian companies. In Portuguese only.
Bulgaria: These websites provide data on Bulgarian companies
APIS (in English)
DAXY (in Bulgarian)
CIELA (in English)
Danish Company Database
Paid service. In Danish only.
Denmark: Central Business Register
Open, but limited, company database. More detailed information requires payment
Finland: Finnish Business Information System
Basic data on companies registered in Finland
Finland: Suomen Asiakastieto
Financial records of Finnish companies. Paid service.
France: Registre National du Commerce et des Sociétes
Official site for information about French companies. Some services are paid.
Hungary: HBI Hungária Ltd.
A company that provides business information in Hungary (in English)
Netherlands: Dutch Trade Register
Official companies database. Most of the information is paid.
New Zealand Companies Office
Government site with info about companies in New Zealand
Norway: Register Authority and source of information
Official companies database
Romania: National Trade Register Office
Government site with info about companies in Romania
South Africa: Companies and Intellectual Companies Registration Office
Official database of companies
South Africa: Legal City
Private company database. Paid for service.
South Africa: LexisNexis
Local affiliate of LexisNexis with property deeds, criminal records and credit reference info
Switzerland: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce
Official database from companies in Switzerland. Some services are paid.
Switzerland: Central Business Name Index
Website updated by the Ministry of Police and Justice in English, French, German and Italian
UK: Companies House
Government website for registered information about companies in UK
US: SEC Filings & Forms (EDGAR) or EDGAR Online
Provides publicly traded corporations' detailed reports including finances, stock and lawsuits
US: National Association of Secretaries of State
A directory that directs you to the company search page of US each state. Free.
Who's Mailing What
US paid service that tracks companies mailing lists
Ukraine
Government site with info about companies in Ukraine (in Ukranian)
ii. general sites
Energy Bulletin
Free articles about global energy supply
Diamonds Intelligence Brief
In-depth info about diamonds trade. Mainly paid.
Washington Researchers
Business and competitive intelligence research. Mainly paid.
Yahoo: Stock Exchanges
Directory on stock exchanges all around the world
Fortune 500 Business Blogging Wiki
Directory of blogs related to the Fortune 500 companies
Know X
Background check on business, locate assets, verify property value. Paid service.
4. Military/Defence/Intelligence
Digital National Security Archive
A comprehensive archive of primary documents central to US foreign and military policy since 1945
Cryptome
Large collection of security related blogs and sites
US Department of Defense
A Pentagon searchable contracts database
Storming Media
Private reseller of Pentagon reports about science, technology, policy and military strategy. Paid service.
Transnational Crime and Corruption Centre
George Madison University's site with articles on the issue. Check the links.
US Office of Foreign Assets Control
Government site with information about people accused of trafficking, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction etc.
US export regulations
US list of prohibited items, people, companies etc.
Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
Terrorism knowledge base
Defense News
Leading website on terrorism, US defence and military news
Secret Bases
A guide to UK's secret Ministry of Defence facilities and military sites
The Miles Foundation
Organisation that provides support to victims of violence associated with the military
No Quarter
Blog by Larry Johnson, expert in combating money-laundering and terrorism
Spy Talk
Blog by Jeff Stein, editor and Investigative Reporter specialising in intelligence and defence issues
5. Science/Environment
Global Witness
Exposes corrupt exploitation of national resources
Science and Development Network
News and analysis about science and environment. Monthly update by email available.
Center for Science in the Public Interest
US organisation that criticizes industry's influence on public policies
Federation of American Scientists
News and info about themes regarding science in the US. See the secrecy and strategic security blogs.
Platform
UK-based organisation that investigates environmental issues
Grist
Environmental news and commentary
Exxon Secrets
A Greenpeace website that maps the funding from Exxon to Research and Scientific Institutes in the US
6. International organisations and agencies
i. NGOs
International Organisation for Migration
Article 19
Global campaign for free expression
International Center for Transitional Justice
Human Rights Watch
Defending Human Rights Worldwide
One World
UK-based NGO for human rights and sustainable development
Tactical Technology Collective
Promotes technology for social change
Foundation for Information Policy Research
UK-based organisation that promotes technology for social change
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Statewatch.org
Monitoring the state and civil liberties in Europe
Prison Reform
Lists government sites, campaign groups, charities and other organisations related to prisons and penal reform in the UK
Probe International
Promotes accountability for foreign aid
Wiser Earth
Directory and networking forum of NGOs
GuideStar.org
Provides data about NGO's established in the US
ii. United Nations
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC
For UN publications not available on the Internet search the UN Publications website. You can buy copies online.
iii. Lawyers
International commission of jurists
International Jurists
Network of independent law firms
iv. International Agencies
International Atomic Agency, IAEA
Info on nuclear issues. See the publications index
The International Monetary Fund, IMF
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO
v. Labour Organisations
International Labour Organisation
Info about trade and work. See the statistics
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
European Trade Union Confederation
Labourstart
Up to the minute trade union news
Unicorn - United against corruption
International Organisation that works with trade unions to combat bribery and corruption
7. Journalism
i. Organisations and institutions
Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ
Organisation dedicated to protecting press freedom and journalists worldwide
Reporters without Borders
Organisations that denounces attacks on press freedom and on journalists
International Centre for Journalists
Organisation that promotes workshops, international exchanges and conferences
International Journalists' Network
Website with tips about jobs, training, awards, etc., in Portuguese, Spanish, English, Arabic and Persian
Global Investigative Journalism
Website with info and training material. Not updated very often
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Organisation to support investigative journalism. See the archive for stories.
The International Federation of Journalists
Official world federation
International Press Institute
Network of journalists dedicated to safeguarding press freedom
ii. Local organisations by country
Vereniging van Onderzoeksjournalisten, VVOJ
Amsterdam-based association of investigative journalism
European Journalism Centre
Provides training of journalists and media professionals
Swiss Investigative Network
Independent organisation promoting international co-operation
American Press Institute, API
US based center for training and professional development for journalists
Romanian Center for Investigative Journalism
Educational and training materials and articles about investigative reporting
The Norwegian Foundation for Investigative Journalism
Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations, CJES
Russia-based centre with articles, news and training
National Union of Journalists, NUJ (UK)
iii. Not-for-profit organisations and support
Media Diversity Institute
London-based organisation that focuses on regions where news media had a destructive role in exacerbating ethnic and religious conflicts
Streamtime
Network of media activists dedicated to assist local media in Iraq
Fairness&Accuracy in Reporting - FAIR
US national media watch group
Media Development Loan Fund
Non-profit investment fund providing low-cost financing to independent news media in emerging democracies
Fund for Independence in Journalism
Provides legal defense and endowment support for journalists, mainly in US
Spinwatch
Organisation that monitors the PR industry
Broadcast Now
News about UK TV and Radio Industry
Public Concern at Work
Organisation that advocates public interest whistle-blowing
International Press Institute, IPI
Network of journalists dedicated to safeguarding press freedom, the protection of freedom of opinion and expression
iv. Freedom of information
Your Right to Know
UK Journalist Heather Brooke's website with practical info about Freedom of Information Acts around the world
The Freedom of Information Center
Guide and news about FOI by the Missouri School of Journalism
Reporters Committee for Freedom of Press
Organisation that provides free legal assistance to journalists. See the Automatic FOI Generator (for the US).
CIA FOIA Page
Declassified information from the CIA
FBI FOIA Site
An official FBI site containing FBI documents released under FOIA
www.freedominfo.org
Information about Freedom of Information laws all around the globe
www.wobbing.eu
Belgium-based site with information about FOI across Europe,
v. Investigative journalism content
Lobster - a journal of para-politics
UK-based investigative journal
The Centre for Public Integrity
US-based organisation that investigates corruption, privatization, terrorism etc
Open Democracy
Open progressive website with articles about global affairs
Corporate Watch
UK-based organisation that investigates corporations, particularly multinationals
Democracy Now
US daily independent news program
Infoshop.org
Online left-wing news, opinion and information
Dahr Jamail's MidEast Dispatches
Independent journalist Dahr Jamail webpage, with news from the Middle East
Tom Dispatch
Tom Engelhardt writes about culture and politics. See the links.
Consortium News
News and articles put together by American investigative journalist Robert Parry
TomPaine.com
Online public affairs journal with progressive analysis and commentary
The Huffington Post
Founded by Arianna Huffington, liberal US journalist
News Confidential
US Journalist Pete Sawyer's website
William Bowles website
Freelance writer William Bowles gathers a lot of articles from different
The Raw Story
Stories that do not receive much attention of the mainstream media
Wayne Madsen Report
Online publication that looks at US politics and government, news and articles
Center for Research on Globalization
Independent research and media group of writers, journalists and activists based in Canada
Truthdig
US-based progressive news website
World War 4 Report
US Journalist Bill Weinberg's weblog
Noseweek
South Africa investigative magazine
US News and World Report
Progressive US online journalism website
Lester Holloway Blog
London-based journalist specializing in black/racial justice stories
Baghdad Burning
Blog from Iraq
Talking Points Memo
US journalist Josh Marshall's website with news and articles mainly about politics
At-Largely
Investigative reporter Larisa Alexandrovna's webpage
The Komisar Scoop
Website of the investigative journalist Lucy Komisar, who specializes in tax evasion and fraud
Simon Pirani
Website by Simon Pirani, a journalist focused on Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, that specializes in Oil, gas and financial markets
Caucasian Knot
Independent website with news about the Caucasus
Romanian Centre for Investigative Journalism
Journalist Paul Radu brings valuable tips on how to do investigations, including a comprehensive list of links in different countries. Very good for business investigations.
Robert Niles website
California-based journalist Robert Niles gives useful tips on how to do search on the internet. See the links.
Journalism Net
Documentary maker Julian Sher brings valuable tips on how to investigate using the net - see the links - and also Search Help from Librarians
JournalismNet Canada
Web research tricks and tips for journalists
Endgame
Activist George Draffan website - corporative investigations, profiles, data, etc.
American Press Institute, API
See the section investigative/backgrounding for links and tips
Propublica
New in 2008. Investigative journalism in the public interest.
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
News, archives, articles about the story of Broadcasting
