After the Scoop: How Investigative Journalism Affects Media

"None of this is easy. And yet the right combination of journalism, management savviness and creativity can make extraordinary things happen."

In times where the space for independent media is shrinking, quality journalism is becoming more expensive and complex - in some contexts, even dangerous. DW Akademie's stated aim is to ensure that quality journalism in general, and investigative journalism in particular, can thrive. Part of this approach is a south-south exchange, where journalists and media owners from the Global South share their experiences and discuss possible solutions that they can apply locally. Against this backdrop, DW Akademie's publication After the Scoop showcases 9 media outlets that are not only managing to survive within difficult circumstances, but to stay viable and even grow.

The case studies include:

• FrontPageAfrica - Liberia
• Premium Times - Nigeria
• Rappler - Philippines
• Tempo - Indonesia
• Atlatszo.hu - Hungary
• KRIK - Serbia
• Agência Pública - Brazil
• Plaza Pública - Guatemala
• Mada Masr - Egypt

For example, in Brazil, Agência Pública has chosen a non-profit model for their news agency that investigates human rights abuses to further the democratisation of information. Agência Pública has teamed up with professionals from other areas, such as the tech sector, and journalists from abroad to find new ways to convey their stories, always keeping in mind the specific audience of an investigation.

DW Akademie notes that, despite their variety, the investigative media featured in the publication share in common: exploring and experimenting with new ways to ensure their media stays viable; adhering to quality and ethical journalism, thereby building relationships of trust with their audiences; knowing who their audience is and building loyal communities; integrating new digital technology and processes into their work where possible; and building a very strong brand that has made investigative journalism an integral part of their DNA. Tips for others:

• Analyse markets strategically: Look at what markets can offer, where the limitations are, and how to deal with the biggest threats to the business - in terms of finances, legal threats, and qualified staff.
• Integrate staff who spend a large amount of their time - if not all of it - on ensuring the outlet stays financially afloat (as Rappler, Atlatszo.hu, and Tempo have done).
• Seek collaborations: with other media in neighbouring countries (as Tempo has done), with fact-checking agencies (as Rappler has done), and/or with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or international media (as Agência Pública has done).
• Cooperate with dedicated donors or sponsors that meet one's standards (as FrontPageAfrica has done with a telecom operator, as Plaza Pública has done with a university, and as Premium Times has done in creating a not-for-profit newsroom).
• Training staff in investigative reporting and journalism standards (as Tempo, Rappler, and Mada Masr have done).
• Interact with the audience and experiment with new distribution channels (as KRIK has done in using drawings instead of photos on their website, as Mada Masr has done in mixing their investigations with sharp-tongued comics, and as Agência Pública has done in setting up an interactive website).
• Make tech an integral part of the work (as Rappler has done in investigating online trolling, and as Mada Masr has done in continuing to distribute their reports via Facebook and VPN despite being blocked by the authorities).
• Interact with the audience and build a community that helps to investigate by providing information, protests when the media gets threatened, and pays for its products or contributes financially through crowdfunding.