July 2007 Investigative Journalism

by 7 February 2007 22 people from 11 different countries attended the Investigative Journalism course in July 2007. Topics addressed included starting and then sustaining an investigation, interviewing techniques, using a methodological approach to obtain information, building a case using human and documentary sources, handling sources and collecting information, the role of investigative reporting in democratic, and non-democratic societies and writing the story and adapting it for multiple media. Students also participated in an interview role-playing session where they had the chance to practice their newly learned skills, and received feedback on their own investigative proposals.

Training from experienced journalists
Students learned the essential skills of investigative reporting from a team of highly-respected journalists. Led by Mark Shapiro, editorial director of the Center for Investigative Reporting, the course also featured David Leigh, investigations editor for The Guardian, Eva Vajda, deputy editor-in-chief of Manager Magazine, and two Prague-based journalists, Petr Skocdopole, editor-in-chief of Instinkt, and Tomas Nemecek, Op-ed editor of the Czech daily newspaper Hospodarske Noviny.

Social and cultural activities
With participants from France, Croatia, Portugal, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, the Netherlands, the UK and the US; the popular cultural and social programme offered a chance to connect with a great mix of people. Beginning with a welcome dinner at a traditional Czech restaurant, the programme also included a guided tour of Prague, an evening boat trip on the Vltava river, an excursion to Karlstejn Castle, Friday night drinks and a finally, a farewell dinner in a popular local restaurant. Additionally, students had the chance to meet with young journalist from TOL's Foreign Correspondent Course, which was running concurrently.

If you have any questions please email plockovaj@tol.org

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