Investigative Reporting Techniques by Don Ray, freelance journalist and producer

Investigative reporting as a set of techniques and a mind set.

http://www.donray.com/Invest-mindset.html.

Why would someone want to talk to any journalist and how can journalists get the most from human sources - Talk to you,

25 questions you should ask any government-issued document - Interview the document,

High percentage tips for scoring a great interview - Interview tips,

How to get people to talk and tell you everything they never wanted to tell you - Loosening Lips

Writing the story, fact and legal check, airing or publishing the report - Steps to better writing and  how to fight deadline - Backgrounding the individual on deadline,

Organizing and analyzing the information and how you find stuff you already have but don’t know it - Information Control,

Paper trail - Tips of inspecting public records and  Obscure Public Records Research,

How to dissect an organization - Breaking and Entering,

Thinking Outside the E-Box - - Don Ray’s Favorite Investigative Websites

CAR - Computer Assisted Reporting by Luuk Sengers, independent investigative reporter

Excel is a powerful tool in the hands of investigative reporters. The easiest way to learn its virtues is to use it as a 'research database'. Excel is the simplest of databases, but is absolutely sufficient for keeping records of your investigation: telephone numbers, documents, questions and notes (for both beginners and more experienced Excel-users who want to use it as a research database). Database for researchers, with exercises on how to use Excel and via the following links:

1. Digital File 8

2. Digital File Exercise

3. Digital File Manual

How to deal with victims of trauma by Gavin Rees, Dart Center Trainer 

All materials are at Dart Center Europe and Dart Center Western Balkans.

Putting the story together by Mark Hunter, freelance journalist
 
How can journalists write compelling investigations - Story-based Investigation 

The Investigative Dashboard by Paul Radu, OCCRP director

The Investigative Dashboard is a space for investigators to find resources, share information, and learn new ‘tricks of the trade’

Case studies:

Case study of Kosovo civilian abuses revealed presented by Nick Thorpe, BBC more at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7990761.stm
(includes 12'55" video of original April 2009 Newsnight feature)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8687186.stm
(follow-up investigation in May 2010 in Albania)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10166800
(May 2010 article questioning the organ claim story)


Case Study of World Bank Demolished Albania Village presented by Besar Likmeta , BIRN Albania

Case Study of What is Vasil Timis up to? presented by Paul Radu, OCCRP director