INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM – PURPOSES, TECHNIQUES, AND SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
M100 Young European Journalists Workshop
September 10 – 15, 2016, Potsdam, Germany
(Arrival: September 9, departure: September 16, 2016)
Investigative journalism is the most challenging form of journalism. It forms a major part of the so-called “fourth Estate” function that the media play in democratic societies – i.e. as a monitor of political bodies and companies. Most recently the publishing of the so called “Panama Papers” by an international investigative network of investigative journalists has shown the importance of investigative research beyond day-to-day business.
This kind of journalism involves a high level of professionalism, perseverance, precise research, comprehensive background knowledge, solid contacts, and the knowledge how to research and verify in social networks like twitter and Facebook.
The workshops, which are headed by professional investigative journalists and trainers, are designed to include both practical exercises as well as theoretical matters. In collaboration with investigative-journalism networks like “Netzwerk Recherche”, "Correctiv!", and OCCRP, a number of workshops will discuss the basic foundations and conditions required for investigative research, while also providing an explanation of potential strategies and the carrying out of practical exercises.
The workshop will be held in English.
It ends with the participation at the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium on September 15, 2016, with about 60 high-level representatives from the media, politics, academia, and relevant institutions about the prospects of a free and democratic Europe caught between the threat of terror, shifts to the right, renationalisation, streams of refugees, surveillance mania and a loss of political control.
Conditions of participation:
Young journalists between 18 and 26 years old from the whole of Europe (especially from the countries of the Eastern Partnership Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as from Russia, but also from all other parts of the European continent), can apply by submitting a text in English and the following task (6.000 characters maximum, including spaces):
• Define the term “investigative journalism”. Describe the possibilities and limitations of investigative journalism in your country using a concrete case (you can implement your own professional experience with investigative journalism in the text).
• The application form includes the text, a CV (with date of birth and a photo), and a brief motivational statement, stating your reasons for applying for this particular workshop. Only applications in English are taken into consideration.
Please indicate in your application where you have found the information about the M100 workshop (Facebook, twitter, platforms, colleagues etc.).
Selected participants will be invited to a Skype interview, and then the final decisions will be made.
Please send your application by email
by 12 June 2016, 00:00 a.m. (midnight)
to Ms Isabel Gahren, i.gahren(at)m100potsdam.org.
The M100YEJ is an initiative of the City of Potsdam and Potsdam Media International e.V.. It is supported by the Federal Foreign Office and the National Endowment for Democracy and takes place in cooperation with the European Youth Press, the MIZ Potsdam, and the Association of European Journalists.