ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 focuses on new techniques remaking modern investigative journalism. These are sometimes referred to as just investigative journalism, online open-source investigations or OSINT (open-source intelligence). While such investigations are carried out by different groups and for various purposes, the way they have impacted journalism is in focus throughout. The chapter outlines the relevance of open-source investigative methods in journalism, before it explains the evolution of OSINT from military to civil application. It discusses challenges and methodologies in such open-source journalism and gives ample examples of various techniques that are relevant for journalists working with sources found online and through social media. It shows how these online open-source investigations can be done by both large teams and solo journalists – “sleuths”. It goes on to present a handful of case studies, one involving debunking a video shared by the president of Brazil. The chapter also presents three textbook examples from established actors in journalism and human rights that use digital and online open sources as key components of the story. It concludes with a section on how these methods can cause harm when not executed professionally and ends with questions and exercises.
