"SECRETS OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM: Can Dündar and award-winning reporters tell their story"

July 19th, 2021

Few journalists in the world have paid a higher price for truth-telling than Can Dündar, the exiled Turkish editor and writer who has been jailed, bullied by the state, and survived an attempt on his life. In this exclusive webinar discussion with Ethical Journalism Network founder and honorary President Aidan White he tells his story and provides insights into investigative journalism and why it remains crucial for democracy to hold power to account. Dündar, who has won many international press freedom awards, is also a supporter of the Fetisov Journalism Awards (FJA), the world’s richest journalism prize. He was joined by the winners of the 2020 FJA awards who spoke about their own prize-winning efforts to expose injustice and wrong-doing in public life.

Webinar was presented by Aidan White, Founder and President of the Ethical Journalism Network, Honorary Advisor to the Fetisov Journalism Awards.

Speakers:

Can Dündar (Turkey), Investigative journalist, writer and editor

Mohamed Aboelgheit (Egypt/ UK), Investigative journalist, columnist

María Teresa Ronderos (Colombia), Director of the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP)

Adam Federman (United States), Investigative journalist, author, reporting fellow with Type Investigations

Paula Dupraz-Dobias (Switzerland), Investigative independent journalist, documentary producer and editor

Investigative Journalism Checklist

Ethics: respect core values of journalism – accuracy, impartiality, independence, humanity and responsible reporting

Sources: fact-check the information you receive; avoid being manipulated by those with other agendas and always pay special attention to the risks taken by whistle-blowers.

Safety: no story is worth your own life or that of a source. Always inform colleagues and trusted friends of your actions and your whereabouts. Prepare for and assess the risks you might face from the people you are investigating.

Security: Protect yourself from surveillance. Safeguard your information. Use technology wisely. Never open an online link that you have never heard of. Your phone can be a friend or a malicious spy for others.

Solidarity: Support colleagues who are working in the same fields. Share information and encourage collaboration with people you can trust.

Collaboration: there are many important and useful networks for investigative reporters at national, regional and international level. Use them for working on joint projects and they can help with funding opportunities.

Trusted partners: work with media organisations and community groups that are committed to public interest journalism and avoid those that have a specific political, corporate or cultural agenda.

Investigative Journalism Useful Links

All of the issues on the investigative journalism checklist are covered by media support organisations who can provide useful information and contacts.

Here is a list of groups supporting investigative journalism in almost 50 countries, provided by the Global Investigative Journalism Network:

https://gijn.org/investigative-journalism-organizations/