LT317-6-SP-CO:
Investigative Journalism
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
05 July 2024
Requisites for this module
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This module starts with traditional investigative research methods - analysing documents, using archives, accessing public records, using FOIA. In the latter sessions, it focuses on cutting edge, digital open source journalism where students will learn to collect, analyse and document publicly available online information for use in law, advocacy, or journalism.
Students will learn to authenticate audio-visual data, geolocate photos and videos, and mine social media for useful information. Students will also learn advanced fact-checking methods. Guest sessions will be conducted by open-source journalism pioneers and fact-checking experts from leading investigative agencies.
The aims of this module are:
- To use case studies to equip students with time-tested investigative methods.
- To give students the digital research tools that will give them an edge in a rapidly changing field.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Use a wide range of sources for investigating individuals, institutions and events using public records, electronic databases, digital archives, and FOIA.
- Critically examine different forms of data and assess their authenticity, significance, and reliability.
- Search and analyse digital records, collect social media data, and use advanced open source investigative techniques to authenticate, verify and archive evidence.
- Critically appraise the methodological efficacy and ethical implications of past investigations.
Transferable Skills
This module will help students develop such transferable skills as:
- Research, analysis, problem-solving, creation and innovation.
- Communication, collaboration, and interaction.
- Initiative and resourcefulness.
- Subject knowledge, professional skills, specialist knowledge, and cultural and global awareness.
Indicative Syllabus Information
- Introduction: The discipline of Verification
- Investigative Journalism: Past
- Investigative Journalism: Present
- Finding and Researching Stories
- Developing and Testing Hypotheses
- Human Sources and Whistle-blowers
- Documents: FOIA, Public Records
- Financial Records: Following the Money
- Digital Open Source Research: Geolocation
- Digital Open Source Research: Chronolocation
This module will be delivered via:
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
Yes
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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