Secrets of the masters

Jul 02, 2018

I gave a TEDx Talk about taxation and everyone stayed awake

Explaining the contortions that multinational corporations put themselves through to avoid taxes is a journalistic challenge. Here's one way to overcome it.

Apr 18, 2018

Journalist Ritu Sarin on the Panama Papers 'treasure hunt'

Sarin tells us what it's like working as an investigative reporter in India, and other insights in our monthly column Meet the Investigators.

Aug 28, 2014

‘Don’t aim at fame; just be a good, compassionate person’

ICIJ member Dai Qing went from accidental reporter to one of China's most prominent investigative journalists by virtue of courage and a belief in press freedom.

Jun 03, 2014

‘Try and find Narnia in the wardrobe’: inside the work of a research specialist

ICIJ member and veteran internet researcher shares his experience and some practical tips for using the world wide web to investigate and dig a whole lot deeper.

Feb 25, 2014

‘I have never felt disadvantaged being a woman reporter’

Ritu Sarin describes her investigations of secret payments, hidden bank accounts and bugs planted in the Prime Minister's office - and explains why her gender never held her back as she rose to become a top editor in India.

Feb 03, 2014

‘Capture the popular imagination’

Sheila Coronel describes how she uncovered a trail of money, mistresses and mansions that helped bring down a former president of the Philippines, and shares her vision for fostering investigative journalism among her students.

Dec 12, 2013

‘Everyone can be an investigative journalist. Everyone!’

Inga Springe describes the challenges of creating the first investigative journalism center in the Baltics, as well as her groundbreaking investigations into organized crime and economic inequality.

Nov 27, 2013

‘The biggest criminals write laws that make their crimes legal’

Giannina Segnini, the director of the investigative team at La Nacion newspaper in Costa Rica, describes her approach to the investigation that put two former Costa Rican presidents behind bars.

Nov 07, 2013

‘I’m still waiting for my first car chase’

Stefaans Brummer's reporting helped put South Africa's national police chief in jail for corruption. He tells reporters to embrace the numbers and the nitty-gritty details.

Oct 08, 2013

‘The drug trade is the biggest threat we have ever had’

The director of the Chilean investigative news organization CIPER describes her approach to telling stories that make a difference, and outlines the obstacles confronting investigative journalists in Latin America.

Sep 19, 2013

Why I quit my job as an investigations editor in Egypt

Award-winning investigative journalist Hisham Allam explains why he quit his job as an investigative editor amid the crackdown on press freedom in Egypt.

Jul 12, 2013

The ‘human touch’: the key to digging up court records

Leo Sisti explains how he negotiates access to judicial records to break stories for his Italian newsmagazine, L’Espresso.

Mar 20, 2013

‘Connect with everyone, even the devil’

Swedish investigative reporter Fredrik Laurin knows that power corrupts, but also that resistance in the form of journalism can have effect.

Jan 31, 2013

Lessons From a Fledgling Investigative Reporting Center

The first nonprofit investigative reporting center has just been set up in Italy. Long-time ICIJ member Leo Sisti explains how it all came about and what lessons might be there for reporters in other countries.

Jan 09, 2013

Is Public Indifference the Biggest Threat to Investigative Reporting?

Strong words in defence of dedicated journalists, and unbeatable tips for investigative reporters young and old, from ICIJ's award-winning Thomas Maier.

Dec 18, 2012

‘Be Prepared To Be Disliked’

The Guardian's investigations editor lists the essential skills to get a journalism job, and the most important lesson he's learned over the years.

Oct 18, 2012

‘Until you know the right questions to ask, you can never get to the truth’

Why a significant investment of time is the most critical component of each investigative report.

Sep 24, 2012

‘Don’t get lured into journalistic group think’

Maud Beelman shares how investigative reporters can make the most of limited time and resources using a four-part checklist to help prioritize which stories to go after.

Sep 10, 2012

‘There Are No Bad Sources, Only Incompetent Reporters’

There is no democracy without efficient institutions and too many journalists passively accept this, says Portuguese investigative journalist and "troublemaker" Rui Araujo.

Aug 09, 2012

Advice to Reporters: ‘Be Inventive and Patient’

Bulgarian investigative journalist Alexenia Dimitrova reveals how she uses Freedom of Information laws in several countries to uncover secrets.

May 29, 2012

It Pays To Look Beyond So-Called ‘Experts’ in the Field

Jenny Nordberg discusses how she applies knowledge of human behavior to her interviews.

May 21, 2012

‘Know Who You’re Working For and Why You’re Working’

May 09, 2012

How To Be a Great Investigative Journalist

The first thing to keep in mind about investigative journalism is that it’s not glamorous. (We can blame television with its “undercover” reporters and “hidden cameras” for this mistaken image.) It’s actually hard, and often boring work.

Apr 19, 2012

‘Open up as much dialogue with reporters in other countries as possible’

Paul Radu shares how he tracks down the money across borders.