Prerequisites

• English is highly recommended to let the trainees have access to international sources and data and get acquainted with international examples.
• A degree in the media field.
• At least one year experience in media for those graduated in disciplines other than media.

Course Description

Watergate, Abu Ghraib prison, tax evasion of multinationals, environmental effects of gold mines in South America, are different subjects and vary from political, economic, social to environmental issues which trigger in our minds reactions such as: initiative, time, effort, adventure, achievement. That means that we are dealing with the most controversial journalistic work, namely the investigative journalism.

Course Objective

At the end of the course, participants should:
• Acquire a cultural background that enhances the effectiveness of the journalistic work and clarifies the nature of the investigative journalism.
• Understand the proper mechanisms to conduct an investigation.
• Acquire the basic skills and techniques to conduct an effective investigative work.

Course Outline

• Introduction to investigative journalism:
- History of investigative journalism and difference with other journalistic types.
- Searching new ideas for reportage.
- How to find out new exciting subjects.

• Research and investigation:
- Building a data base of sources: searching missions and information processing.
- Using of public and international records in the investigation.
- Effectively Compiling data from the Internet.
- Presenting international requests under the Freedom of information laws to receive classified or restricted documents.

• Investigation techniques:
- Investigation interviews.
- Organizing and writing an investigation report.
- Computer Assisted Reporting or CAR.
- Undercover reporting.

• The professional ethics:
- Ethical considerations: legal issues related to source protection.
- Preparing journalists to deal with counter attacks from the unveiled corrupt people.

• Confrontation in investigative journalism.

Course Benefits

• A graduation certificate by Aljazeera Media Institute.