Verification Handbook
A Guide To Online Search And Research Techniques For Using UGC And Open Source Information In Investigations
Based on the conclusions of the first book, this second edition of the Verification Handbook sheds light on the use of open data and open source information to produce critical journalistic investigations. As new challenges have emerged in the digital sphere, wider opportunities to carry out more comprehensive investigations have arisen as well. The authors of the book take the reader on a walk-through to hone their online investigation tactics, providing them with step-by-step guidance to apply research, fact-checking, and data journalism techniques.
PDF (EN)Chapter
Duration
- 1. The opportunity for using open source information and user-generated content in investigative work 5 min
- 2. Using online research methods to investigate the Who, Where and When of a person 4 min
- 3. Online research tools and investigation techniques 9 min
- 4. Corporate Veils, Unveiled: Using databases, domain records and other publicly available material to investigate companies 7 min
- 5. Investigating with databases: Verifying data quality 11 min
- 6. Building expertise through UGC verification 5 min
- 7. Using UGC in human rights and war crimes investigations 6 min
- 8. Applying ethical principles to digital age investigation 5 min
- 9. Presenting UGC in investigative reporting 8 min
- 10. Organizing the newsroom for better and accurate investigative reporting 7 min
- Case Study 1. Combing through 324,000 frames of cellphone video to help prove the innocence of an activist in Rio 2 min
- Case Study 2. Tracking back the origin of a critical piece of evidence from the #OttawaShooting 4 min
- Case Study 3. Navigating multiple languages (and spellings) to search for companies in the Middle East 2 min
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Learn how to use use open source information and user-generated content in investigations
Based on the conclusions of the first book, this second edition of the Verification Handbook sheds light on the use of open data and open source information to produce critical journalistic investigations. As new challenges have emerged in the digital sphere, wider opportunities to carry out more comprehensive investigations have arisen as well. The authors of the book take the reader on a walk-through to hone their online investigation tactics, providing them with step-by-step guidance to apply research, fact-checking, and data journalism techniques.
This Handbook offers some fundamental guidance and case studies to help anyone use open source information and user-generated content in investigations. With a special focus on the skills needed to acquire and verify documentation, each chapter focuses on retrieving credible information from openly available sources, while offering tips to help test and verify the information obtained.