Investigative journalism seminars: Martin Plaut

Monday 1100 – 1230: Investigative radio – the best listen

What is investigative journalism?

• Basic reporting – the story comes to you

What is investigative journalism

• Investigative journalism – you go after the story

So what’s your favourite investigation?

The unfortunate Dr Fox

Dr Liam Fox’s downfall

12 June:

Rupert Neate manages to get a small article into the Observer business section

Dr Liam Fox’s downfall• 21 June: George Buckley’s knighthood threatened

• Fox admits he knew of dispute – after denying this

• 19 August: Fox’s friend Adam Werritty in Dubai, using card “adviser to Rt Hon Liam Fox MP”

• 5 October: Werritty regular visits to Defense Ministry without security clearance

• 6 October: Atlantic Bridge is dissolved by Charity Commission

• 7 October: Werritty is with Fox in Sri Lanka

• 8 October: Werritty runs Atlantic Bridge from Fox’s office in parliament

Dr Liam Fox’s downfall

Film of Fox in Sri Lanka with Werritty

Dr Liam Fox’s downfall

• 10 October: Lobbyists paid thousands to arrange meetings between businessmen, Fox and Werritty

• 15 October: More details emerge and finally Fox’s position is untenable and he resigns

Dr Liam Fox’s downfall

South Africa’s fine tradition

From Olive Schreiner…..

….to Sam Sole and co at the Mail & Guardian

Where to begin?

The ‘hang on…….’ moment

The Mo Ibrahim Index

Personal Safety

Central African Republic: 30

South Africa: 25

The Mo Ibrahim Index

Health

Eritrea: 82

South Africa: 69

World Bank email

• more than $500 million in Rapid Response to Drought Emergency in Horn of Africa

Key Resources• Contacts and sources

Lord’s Resistance Army

Joseph Kony

Key Resources• Contacts and sources

Key Resources• Contacts and sources

• 44 in 2010, 35 so far this year. Want to join them?

Key Resources

• Follow the money: reading accounts, company records, shareholdings, ownership

Key Resources

• Freedom of information. Find out how to use the legislation at Power Reporting or log on to the South Africa History Archive website and use their guide: http://www.saha.org.za/publications/paia_resource_kit.htm

Mazher MahmoodThe fake sheikh

Mazher Mahmood

filmed by News of the World offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000

Essential ingredients

• Blood• Sweat• Tears…..persistence and detail are everything

…but even these are not enough

Who to keep sweet?

It can still all go wrong…

....badly wrong!