Alison Fitzgerald Kodjak
assistant managing editor ProPublica
Karlijn Kuijpers
investigative reporter NRC
James Oliver
producer Panorama BBC
Alexander Papachristou
executive director Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
Gerard Ryle
director International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
One of the most common questions investigative journalists get asked is how they choose what to investigate. Revelations that expose simmering scandals or bring down governments can often seem like pure alchemy. Where do good story ideas come from? Are there methods and practices that can improve your odds of finding a great story? And why do some reporters seem to have more luck than others?
This panel will include insights on how to choose the right topic to investigate; how timing of a big investigation matters; the importance of surprise for your intended audience; and why the biggest investigative revelations nearly always involve people failing to do what the public expect of them.
Moderated by Gerard Ryle.