The Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) Summer School 2008 took place from 18-20 July at City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB.
We had more people attending than ever before and the conference was judged by all as a great success, with more classes, more talks, and more speakers than in previous years.
Just some of the comments from those who attended:
→ “I felt like a gannet chick, being fed large fish and still wanting more. Now it’s time to digest.”
→ “For a rookie like me it’s priceless to be around lots of experienced colleagues.”
→ “Hugely helpful, lots of new skills and insight, and at times inspiring. Many thanks.”
→ “Great networking opportunity.”
→ “Highly useful technically and a great course for getting you all fired up about stories.”
→ “Very well organised, excellent speakers, relevant sessions.”
→ “Thank you, fantastic, I’ll be there next year.”
Some of last year’s talks, a list of speakers, handouts, a timetable, and a guide to Computer Assisted Reporting traning schedule are available in this section.
Summer school 2008 speakers included:
→ John Pilger, documentary film maker.
→ Vandana Shiva, Indian environmentalist.
→ Nick Davies, author Flat Earth News.
We also heard from Mark Schapiro, of the Centre for Investigative Reporting, San Francisco, Robert Wardle, retired head Serious Fraud Office, Professor Sheila Bird on how the news distorts statistics, and Solomon Hughes author of War on Terror Inc.
Speakers on the environment included: Irene Gerlach, Greg Muttitt, Julian Newman, Andy Rowell and James Sanders.
We also had Jim Nichol and Raphael Rowe speaking on miscarriages of justice, Drew Sullivan on investigating organised crime, Mark Hunter on testing and presenting your investigation, Paul Radu tracing the ownership of European companies, Richard Orange on local authority contracts and deals in the UK, look at your online security with Dimitri Vitaliev, and update your undercover filming skills with Alan Harraden.
Our courses this year included:
→ Law for journalists with Philip Conway, Justin Walford, Heather Rogers QC and Gavin Millar QC.
→ Understanding company accounts with Raj Bairoliya of FTI Forensic Accounting and a team of financial journalists.
→ How the Freedom of Information Act can work for you with Heather Brooke, whose stories on MPs expenses have filled the press in recent months and David Gordon, of The Belfast Telegraph who can claim a scalp.
This year’s presentations include:
Mark Hunter - A short guide to using a chronology
Mark Hunter - A short guide to writing an inquiry
Mark Hunter - How to make reporting into writing
Heather Rogers and Gavin Millar - Production orders
Jeff Katz - Offshore jurisdictions
Richard Orange - Town Hall contracts and deals
Irene Gerlach - Oil and the Gulf of Guinea
Michael Warhurst - What is the European Union
Our Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) sessions provided a unique opportunity to learn everything you need to know about using your computer to improve your reporting. Find out how to dig deep to find data, download it, analyse and present it, with our expert team: David Donald, Training Director Investigative Reporters and Editors; Tommy Kaas, from Denmark, Aron Pilhofer of the New York Times, Heather Brooke, Elena Egawhary, Francis Irving and Paul Myers. Download the Computer workshops document for more information.
The Computer Assisted Reporting classes covered some great stories:
→ Elena Egawhary (front page) in The Guardian, July 2007.
→ Heather Brooke in The Times, December 2007.
→ The Fire Brigades Union in Metro, February 2008.
All of these stories analysed data produced by Freedom of Information Act enquiries. By the end of the Summer School, attendees would have learnt about all the skills needed to do the same. They would have become expert CAR practitioners in just one weekend by joining our CAR A-Z course, part of the Computer Workshops
The Summer School was open to all. Places costed:
→ £200 for a student.
→ £300 for NUJ/BECTU or similar
→ £450 full price.