cij summer school 2009 comprised of four main strands:
→ Computer Assisted Reporting
→ Talks
→ East meets West (round-table debate and networking events)
→ Talks – open to the Public
Beyond Google: shoeleather journalism and stealing documents (Andrew Jennings)
Google is good, but shoeleather’s greater – or – “How to be a cunning bastard when tackling even bigger bastards – and walk away with their confidential documents.” Also with a quick diversion into the little-known joys of Section 7 and a guide to research without the internet.
Conducting Research Anonymously (Michael Schrenk)
Anonymity can liberate journalists and facilitate research that would otherwise be impossible. The Internet provides unique opportunities for you to conduct serious research while protecting your identity. This session discusses how you can ethically use anonymity to your advantage while conducting online research. You will also learn how to install free software that protects your identity and how to send and receive anonymous emails.
Corporate Investigations and Offshore Jurisdictions (Jeff Katz)
The presentation will cover information about companies that is publicly available from many off-shore jurisdictions. There will also be a comparison between off-shore and on-shore jurisdictions in relation to transparency in company registration.
Defamation and Privacy: A Tale of Two Businessmen (Gavin Millar QC)
Gavin Millar QC analyses and explains two well known cases involving libel/privacy claims brought against newspapers by wealthy businessmen. The talk takes students through the history of the cases from the investigation of the story to the outcome of the case in the appellate courts. Jameel v WSJ deals with the libel defence of “responsible journalism in the public interest”. Lord Brown v Associated Newspapers considers the extent to which personal privacy rights can be used to protect business information. Two items will put this talk in context – The Court of Appeal judgment in the Wall Street Journal case, and Damning judgment that finished Lord Browne’s career, from Mail On Sunday 02 May 2007.
Hypothesis-based investigation (Mark Hunter)
The key to starting, selling and managing your project Description: Investigation has a dirty name with editors, who think it’s about slowly rummaging through piles of garbage till you (don’t) find a jewel. Too often, they’re right. This session will show you how to define your investigation as a story from the start, using hypotheses — stories based on facts that can be verified. This method helps you figure out what to look for, how to look for it — and not least, how to sell it to the boss and the public.
There are three sets of notes for this talk – a session description, a guide to chronologies and making reporting into writing.
In Search of Truth: Power, the News Media and the Public’s Right to Know (Chuck Lewis)
Those in power are increasingly adept at providing laggard, inaccurate and artificially sweetened information which limits the ability of citizens to become well-informed and hold those in power accountable. The antidote to this is a vibrant and fearless civil society, in which journalists and other watchdogs provide citizens with correct and contemporaneous, independent information – real-time truth – about the decisions that affect their daily lives. How do we do that, in a 21st century, new media, warp-speed world?
Investigative Journalism and Satire as a Method (Ian Hislop)
Ian Hislop talks about The Private Eye – one of the few publications in the world which combine satire and serious investigative reporting. How does it work and why and what are the difficulties modern investigative editors face when dealing with the increasing number of secrecy orders?
This short training will provide practical steps for everybody to address important digital security needs such protecting the sensitive files on your computer? – How to keep your Internet communication private?
This session will present an overview of elements of security from your own computer security to internet communication, monitoring and censorship of information flow, and protection of identity. Part II of this class is part of the CAR strand.
The Investigator’s Toolkit: (Lifehacker software for diggers) (Luuk Sengers), Demo
There is terrific software available for investigators, most of it for free. It makes investigating easier and more fun! A demonstration of how to hack your life.
MPs Expenses and the Freedom of Information Act (Heather Brooke)
Four years before the Daily Telegraph began publishing its explosive expose of MPs’ expenses, Heather Brooke was ringing round Parliament trying to find out why MPs’ expenses were not published. Brooke was researching her book ‘Your Right to Know’ and when she encountered a less than receptive response from Commons officials she began filing Freedom of information requests. When her requests were refused she appealed, bringing the Director of the House of Commons Fees Office to testify in an Information Tribunal. It was here that the public first learned of the infamous ‘John Lewis’ list which acted as a price guide for MPs’ claims for white goods and furniture. The battle raged on and eventually went all the way to the High Court where Brooke was victorious. The legal precedent paved the way for the full disclosure of all MPs’ expenses receipts. This is the story behind the story of the MPs’ expense scandal.
Town hall finance: how to investigate contracts and deals (Richard Orange)
The Audit Commission Act 1998 is a seldom used but highly effective statute which enables journalists to probe local council and police authority finances – in person – and inside the local authority’s own offices. The legislation guarantees a right of access (for one month each year – usually July/August) to original documentation (individual invoices, contracts, bills, receipts, ledgers) as well as to spreadsheets classifying and detailing expenses, income and hospitalities. A refusal by a council or police authority official to provide a journalist (or taxpayer) with access to this material is a criminal offence and case law has established protocols and has also clarified what must be provided on demand.
The workshop will provide tips and advice on (1) steps and inquiries that the investigative reporter should take/make in advance of the inspection period; (2) the phrasing of requests – in order to ‘maximise’ access to would-be interesting material; (3) means of asserting one’s rights during the inspection period – if requests are met with obfuscation or obstruction; (4) avenues open to investigative journalists wishing to pursue enquiries/stories/leads at the end of the inspection period and once the inspection period has ended.
Understanding Company Accounts 1-4 (Raj Bairoliya)
This strand of 4 sessions will provide you with a basic understanding of company accounts, pointing out the things you should look out for and where to find them. It is recommended to take all 4 classes to fully benefit from the course. See Martin Tomkinson’s notes on part 1.
Where legal bullying succeeds – and how to make it fail (David Leigh)
One of the growing problems faced by international investigative journalists, publishers and NGOs is British libel law – and British libel lawyers, especially one or two firms who specialise in intimidation. I will take the inside story of three cases – Former Uzbekistan ambassador Craig Murray’s memoirs; tax avoidance by Tesco; and toxic waste dumping by oil traders Trafigura.
In each case, firms of lawyers sought to exploit the deplorable state of British libel law to cover up their clients’ activities – and to make themselves a fortune in fees at the expense of the media.
Writing an investigation: The Last (and first) hurdle (Mark Hunter)
This session shows you how to compose a story that hits hard and fast, and builds to a powerful end. The components of an investigative report aren’t quite the same as classic news reportage, and we’ll consider those differences and how we can use them. We’ll look at classic mistakes that writers and scenarists make, as well as techniques that make the writing process more efficient. The core of this method is continuous composition and referencing — an approach that saves time and anguish, for you and your colleagues.
East meets West
East Meets West is a co-operation between the CIJ and SCOOP – a network of investigative journalists in East and Southeast Europe. The aim of the stand is to create cross-border network of investigative journalists, in order to enable co-operative research, and break stories that cross borders and even continents.
Cross-border reporting and Networking as a Method (Brigitte Alfter)
Good stories often do not stop at national borders. Politics, business, crime operate internationally. Good journalism requires a cross-border approach. One of the best and most enriching ways is to cooperate with colleagues as part of international teams and to publish and broadcast stories simultaneously. Get good tips on how to do it and what to be aware of. See here for notes on this talk.
Avni Zogiani/Kosovo, Anastasiya Mazur/Ukraine, Jordanka Ivanovska & Maja Ilievska, Macedonia, David Leigh, Britain. Moderator: Brigitte Alfter
Are you researching a company involved in bribes in other countries? Rumours about international organisations involved in bribes? Corruption does not stop at borders anymore, so you just may need support for your research. Meet some of the most experienced researchers into corruption from the Balkans, the Ukraine and Britain. They use cross-border research for everything from publication possibilities to refining difficult investigative stories.
Safe havens, Dubious Business Practices and Trafficking of Goods and People
Stefan Candea, Romania, Duncan Campbell, Britain, Vlad Lavrov,Ukraine, Roman Shleynov, Russia, Dumitru Lazar, Moldova. Moderator: Brigitte Alfter
Stories do go across borders, for example when the market is in a Western country, but the product comes from or is smuggled through an Eastern European country – lige cigarettes or so. Hear some of the most experienced in the field tell about problems and how to solve them – by using databases and other classic research methods, or even by going undercover. How to solve security and language problems, how to communicate and how to keep the overview over a large, cross-border research.
Altin Raxhimi, Vladimir Karaj, Albania, Drago Hedl, Croatia. Moderator: Brigitte Alfter
Altin and Vladimir have recently been looking into alleged war crimes on organ harvesting among prisoners during the Kosovo war. They worked in close cooperation with colleagues from Europe and the US. Drago has dug up the Glavas case in Croatia, a case of high interest in the EU, as it indicates the situation of Croatia as an EU-applicant. Misha Glenny is a British journalist and writer, he has been covering subjects like the Balkans and organised crime for the Guardian, the BBC and others and in books.
Sport – Upcoming European Football Championship in the Ukraine
Vlad Lavrov, Ukraine, Andrew Jennings, Britain. Moderator: Brigitte Alfter
Andrew joined Vlad’s investigation into US$25 billion of highway construction for the Euro 2012 championships in Ukraine. It went from a mobster in Kiev to kickbacks in the Caribbean, sniffy things in Colombia, cancer care in Istanbul, burrowing into the UN and B list celebrities selling their a***s.
Investigative Journalism Speed-dating
Do you have a story-idea and need a research partner in another country? Do you need some good advice from experienced networkers from the various Scoop projects? Then come to the cooperation speeddating and meet colleaugues to brainstorm about a handfull of ideas by subject and to share their experiences.
Talks – Open to the Public
For the first time this year, the Centre for Investigative Journalism opens talks by the CIJ Summer School keynote speakers to the general public. *
Below is a list of the talks:
→ Ian Hislop Investigative Journalism and Satire as a Method – £10. Fri 17th of July at 2pm
→ Chuck Lewis In Search of Truth: Power, the News Media and the Public’s Right to Know – £10. Sat 18th of July at 2pm
→ David Leigh Where legal bullying succeeds – and how to make it fail: an insight into the British libel law – £10. Sun 19th of July at 2pm
* All these talks are part of the CIJ Summer School, which takes place on 17-19 July at City University.
Please note that tickets for the keynote speakers’ talks do not allow you to attend any other talks, classes or events of the summer school. To attend those you will need to book a place at the summer school. More details can be found here: www.tcij.org
All talks take place at the Great Hall, College Building, City University, London
(Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB. Entrance from St John’s Street. Nearest tube Angel or Farringdon)
More information:
Ian Hislop is the editor of Private Eye, a broadcaster, writer and performer, probably best known for co-presenting Have I Got News for You on BBC 1. He will be talking about The Private Eye and how it successfully manages to combine satire and serious investigative journalism as well as about the problems editors face in the world of the growing number of secrecy orders.
Chuck Lewis, one of the best-known American investigative journalists (60 Minutes, Centre for Public Integrity) focuses on the importance of investigative journalism in modern society:
Those in power are increasingly adept at providing laggard, inaccurate and artificially sweetened information which distorts the ability of citizens to be well-informed and really hold those in power accountable. The antidote to this is a vibrant and fearless civil society, in which journalists and other watchdogs provide citizens with correct and contemporaneous, independent information – real-time truth – about the decisions that affect their daily lives. How do we do that, in a 21st century, new media, warp-speed world?
Investigations Editor of The Guardian, David Leigh talks about legal bullying and how to make it fail.
One of the growing problems faced by international investigative journalists, publishers and NGOs is British libel law – and British libel lawyers, especially one or two firms who specialise in intimidation. He will take the inside story of three cases – former Uzbekistan ambassador Craig Murray’s memoirs; tax avoidance by Tesco; and toxic waste dumping by oil traders Trafigura.
In each case, firms of lawyers sought to exploit the deplorable state of British libel law to cover up their clients’ activities – and to make themselves a fortune in fees at the expense of the media.