Investigative Journalism Workshop
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
To provide theoretical and, above all, practical tools, essential for drafting an inquiry to students wishing to pursue this professional career in journalism, and to offer analytical insights useful for developing their own interpretive key to the current social complexity.
Having an investigative journalist currently at Rai1, previously a correspondent for 7 years for Mediaset's "Le Iene", a collaborator of various investigative journalism publications, and a former director of the investigative video journalism course at the Giornale.it "The Newsroom Academy", makes the course particularly practical and linked to the current journalistic reality with daily field experience in Italy and abroad on topics ranging from international drug trafficking to cold cases.
Specific Objectives:
- To provide students with an understanding of the techniques and methodologies used in investigative journalism.
- To develop research, analysis, and writing skills necessary to produce quality investigative reports.
- To promote ethical and legal awareness in investigative journalism.
- To prepare students to face the challenges and opportunities of investigative journalism in a digital context.
Having an investigative journalist currently at Rai1, previously a correspondent for 7 years for Mediaset's "Le Iene", a collaborator of various investigative journalism publications, and a former director of the investigative video journalism course at the Giornale.it "The Newsroom Academy", makes the course particularly practical and linked to the current journalistic reality with daily field experience in Italy and abroad on topics ranging from international drug trafficking to cold cases.
Specific Objectives:
- To provide students with an understanding of the techniques and methodologies used in investigative journalism.
- To develop research, analysis, and writing skills necessary to produce quality investigative reports.
- To promote ethical and legal awareness in investigative journalism.
- To prepare students to face the challenges and opportunities of investigative journalism in a digital context.
Expected learning outcomes
- Acquisition of advanced skills in investigative journalism
- Ability to conduct in-depth research and analyze collected information
- Skill in interviewing sources and gathering testimonies
- Ability to write high-quality investigative reports
- Ethical and legal awareness in investigative journalism
By attending 75% of the lessons and submitting two projects, students must demonstrate their ability to: grasp and narrate a news story, master the specific language, move enterprisingly in sourcing, and have learned all the basic notions of the work of an investigative journalist.
- Ability to conduct in-depth research and analyze collected information
- Skill in interviewing sources and gathering testimonies
- Ability to write high-quality investigative reports
- Ethical and legal awareness in investigative journalism
By attending 75% of the lessons and submitting two projects, students must demonstrate their ability to: grasp and narrate a news story, master the specific language, move enterprisingly in sourcing, and have learned all the basic notions of the work of an investigative journalist.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
Investigative journalism plays a crucial societal role, offering an interpretation of events in complete autonomy from any power, including that of major media outlets, which, especially in Italy, are often under the control of owners with industrial, financial, or political interests. This noble goal is achievable only by accessing primary sources, examining documents, interviewing involved parties, and then delving deeper, verifying, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. The journalist, as one can easily understand, operates on a unique standard of judgment: accuracy, ethics, intellectual honesty, and reliability. Thus, a journalist serves as a citizen's professional watchdog, or as termed in Anglo-Saxon countries where this form of journalism originated. This profession differs from reportage journalism in its approach to news and timeframes for realization: while reportage is quick and timely, investigative journalism often requires extended periods due to the need for credibility, completeness, and reliability, which demand lengthy processing times.
YOU ARE PERFECT FOR THIS COURSE IF....
→YOU ARE CURIOUS
Asking questions is essential to unearth sometimes non-obvious aspects.
→YOU ARE LOGICAL, PRECISE, AND ORGANIZED
Analyzing sources with an investigative approach requires time and thorough verification, also to safeguard against potential legal risks. Therefore, it is crucial to plan one's time and be almost obsessive in checking and rechecking facts.
→YOU ARE FLEXIBLE
Investigations may present unforeseen and unpredictable deviations. It's necessary to be ready to redesign research and not be bound to initial beliefs.
- The course is based on a combination of theory and practice, providing students with a foundation of knowledge and skills in investigative and in-depth journalism.
- Students will have access to resources and tools for information research and analysis, such as online databases, access to some editorial offices, field experiences, and interview techniques.
GENERAL PROGRAM LINES:
1. Introduction to Investigative Journalism
- History and fundamental principles of investigative journalism
- Ethics and responsibility in investigative journalism
- The concept of 'news' and how an investigative idea is born
2. Techniques for Researching and Analyzing Information
- Use of online databases and public information sources
- Data analysis and information visualization
- Interview techniques and collection of testimonies
- Relationship with sources: legal and ethical viewpoints
- Fact-checking: tools and players
- Analysis of national and international experiences
3. Writing and Investigative Narration (Analog and Digital)
- Structure and style of investigative reporting
- Use of sources in investigative journalism
- Editing and revision of investigative reports
4. Investigative Journalism in a Digital Context
- Use of digital tools for information research and analysis
- Online investigation and digital tracking
- Ethics and privacy in digital investigative journalism
- Learning to use covert recording and video recording tools
- How to work in the field with these tools (risks and benefits)
YOU ARE PERFECT FOR THIS COURSE IF....
→YOU ARE CURIOUS
Asking questions is essential to unearth sometimes non-obvious aspects.
→YOU ARE LOGICAL, PRECISE, AND ORGANIZED
Analyzing sources with an investigative approach requires time and thorough verification, also to safeguard against potential legal risks. Therefore, it is crucial to plan one's time and be almost obsessive in checking and rechecking facts.
→YOU ARE FLEXIBLE
Investigations may present unforeseen and unpredictable deviations. It's necessary to be ready to redesign research and not be bound to initial beliefs.
- The course is based on a combination of theory and practice, providing students with a foundation of knowledge and skills in investigative and in-depth journalism.
- Students will have access to resources and tools for information research and analysis, such as online databases, access to some editorial offices, field experiences, and interview techniques.
GENERAL PROGRAM LINES:
1. Introduction to Investigative Journalism
- History and fundamental principles of investigative journalism
- Ethics and responsibility in investigative journalism
- The concept of 'news' and how an investigative idea is born
2. Techniques for Researching and Analyzing Information
- Use of online databases and public information sources
- Data analysis and information visualization
- Interview techniques and collection of testimonies
- Relationship with sources: legal and ethical viewpoints
- Fact-checking: tools and players
- Analysis of national and international experiences
3. Writing and Investigative Narration (Analog and Digital)
- Structure and style of investigative reporting
- Use of sources in investigative journalism
- Editing and revision of investigative reports
4. Investigative Journalism in a Digital Context
- Use of digital tools for information research and analysis
- Online investigation and digital tracking
- Ethics and privacy in digital investigative journalism
- Learning to use covert recording and video recording tools
- How to work in the field with these tools (risks and benefits)
Teaching methods
- Lectures to provide theoretical and conceptual foundations of investigative journalism
- Practical exercises to apply the techniques learned in lectures
- Guest speakers from the field of investigative journalism to share experiences and best practices
- Visits to renowned investigative journalism editorial offices to observe fieldwork and interact with expert professionals
- Practical exercises to apply the techniques learned in lectures
- Guest speakers from the field of investigative journalism to share experiences and best practices
- Visits to renowned investigative journalism editorial offices to observe fieldwork and interact with expert professionals
Teaching Resources
- Lectures to provide theoretical and conceptual foundations of investigative journalism
- Practical exercises to apply the techniques learned in lectures
- Guest speakers from the field of investigative journalism to share experiences and best practices
- Visits to renowned investigative journalism editorial offices to observe fieldwork and interact with expert professionals
- Practical exercises to apply the techniques learned in lectures
- Guest speakers from the field of investigative journalism to share experiences and best practices
- Visits to renowned investigative journalism editorial offices to observe fieldwork and interact with expert professionals
Assessment methods and Criteria
- The Workshop will consist of 7 sessions, each lasting 3 hours
- Attendance of at least 75% of the lessons is required to ensure active participation and complete understanding of the course.
- Students must submit 2 projects (video or written) for the successful completion of the workshop and to earn credits. The evaluation will be pass/fail: the first project will focus on "how to present an investigative project to one's supervisor".
The second project must contain a mini investigative reportage on a topic of their choice. This will allow them to apply the skills acquired during the course and demonstrate their ability to conduct a journalistic investigation and present it effectively.
The investigative journalism course offers a unique opportunity for students to acquire advanced skills in the field of journalistic investigation and prepare for a career in investigative journalism.
- Attendance of at least 75% of the lessons is required to ensure active participation and complete understanding of the course.
- Students must submit 2 projects (video or written) for the successful completion of the workshop and to earn credits. The evaluation will be pass/fail: the first project will focus on "how to present an investigative project to one's supervisor".
The second project must contain a mini investigative reportage on a topic of their choice. This will allow them to apply the skills acquired during the course and demonstrate their ability to conduct a journalistic investigation and present it effectively.
The investigative journalism course offers a unique opportunity for students to acquire advanced skills in the field of journalistic investigation and prepare for a career in investigative journalism.
SPS/08 - SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION - University credits: 3
Laboratories: 20 hours
Professor:
Politi Alessandro
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Politi AlessandroProfessor(s)