This document discusses the teaching experiences of investigative and data journalism courses. It describes the contents and working methods of the investigative journalism (IJ) course, which includes lectures on IJ, visits from experienced IJ journalists, and a research project where students conduct an investigation and write a report. It notes major observations from the course, such as the importance of developing a critical view of journalism and testing the limits of information gathering. The document also describes problems encountered, such as projects becoming too massive or sources not providing information. It then discusses using data journalism (DJ) as a laboratory for testing skills and the challenges of finding suitable open data sets.

1. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
Teaching experiences of
investigative and data
journalism
University of Jyväskylä)

2. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
The nature of
investigative journalism
an investigation
by the journalist / editorial staff ---
of socially significant matters ---
that are sought to be hidden from public eye /
are a cause of embarrassment
lat. ”reporto vestigium” (reporting of actions of
the past by human beings, consequences of
these actions to be seen at present)

3. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
Contents of the IJ-course
the importance and characters of investigative
journalism, the role of an investigative reporter
IJ working process: choosing the topic, starting
the investigation, selecting and using the
sources, analyzing the material, preparing and
publishing a story, assessing the impact of a
story
legal and ethical aspects of IJ
organizing IJ in the media

4. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
Working methods
lectures and discussions
visits of Finnish “gurus” of investigative
journalism: real-life examples and experiences
a research project: an investigative story and a
research report based on the story (published
in the traditional media or / and on the
Internet)
a seminar on completed projects
an essay about investigative journalism (upon
a free choice topic)

5. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
Research report
detailed description of a completed
investigation: topic choice, information
gathering, pitfalls and successes, solving the
problems
to write down and analyze own working
habits and choices
to repeat and exchange research
experiences and learn of these in a common
seminar with other students

6. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
Major observations
It is important to ---
adapt a critical attitude towards own journalistic
profession
proceed from theory to practice in IJ
discover “problematic” topics in society
test own courage and limits in (aggressive)
information gathering and story preparing
publish the results (in order to take the
investigation seriously)
accept “the license to fail” in investigations
(testing information gathering is the issue)

7. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
Important requirements
open and encouraging atmosphere
general commitment to investigations (both
students’ and teacher’s)
teacher’s guidance during the research (angles
in a topic, relevant sources)
limitations on research projects (topic of a
reasonable size, deadline for information
gathering)
teacher’s experience in journalism and
knowledge of legal aspects (liability for
publication consequences)
size and duration of the course (small pieces of
experience in course of time)

8. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
Problems
massiveness of research projects (lack of
time at the end of the course)
problems in locating and finding information
and human sources (willing to talk)
survival in a hostile environment (story
targets who evade media publicity)
preparing a story without sufficient amount of
(reliable) information
the original research topic coming to nothing

9. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
DJ as a journalism laboratory: testing, piloting
of key importance
problems in finding suitable data sets (“without
data there is no data story”)
know-how of data access and efficient data
requests and negotiations
several story ideas were invalidated by lack of
open data
DJ-course: experiences

10. ViestintätieteidenlaitosHeikkiKuutti
DJ-course: experiences
discovering journalistic questions to be
answered by data
know-how of numbers, statistics
know-how of selection of basic data tools
utility of experts in (open) data and DJ
sufficient amount of time reserved for
continuous student assistance (social media
help-desks via Facebook)
co-operation with other schools and constantly
sharing best practices (European wide next?)