How can you use open-source intelligence for investigative reporting?

2 Identify your sources

The next step is to identify the sources that can provide you with the information you need. Depending on your question, you may need to look at different types of sources, such as official documents, databases, reports, news articles, blogs, podcasts, videos, social media posts, forums, comments, reviews, and more. You may also need to use different tools and platforms to access and search these sources, such as search engines, web archives, geolocation tools, image and video analysis tools, social media analysis tools, and more. You should also consider the credibility, reliability, and bias of each source, and cross-check them with other sources when possible.

3 Collect your data

The third step is to collect your data from the sources you have identified. You may need to use different methods and techniques to collect your data, such as scraping, downloading, screenshotting, recording, bookmarking, and more. You should also organize your data in a way that makes it easy to store, access, and analyze later. You may use tools such as spreadsheets, databases, folders, notes, timelines, maps, and more. You should also document your data collection process, such as the date, time, source, URL, and method of each data point.

4 Analyze your data

The fourth step is to analyze your data and look for patterns, trends, anomalies, correlations, and causations that can answer your question or support your hypothesis. You may need to use different methods and techniques to analyze your data, such as sorting, filtering, grouping, aggregating, visualizing, comparing, and more. You may also use tools such as charts, graphs, tables, maps, networks, and more. You should also interpret your data and draw conclusions based on evidence, logic, and context.

5 Report your findings

The fifth step is to report your findings and communicate them to your audience in a clear, concise, and compelling way. You may need to use different formats and mediums to report your findings, such as articles, podcasts, videos, infographics, and more. You should also use different elements to report your findings, such as headlines, summaries, introductions, body paragraphs, quotes, citations, examples, images, videos, graphs, charts, and more. You should also follow the ethical and legal standards of journalism and respect the privacy and security of your sources and subjects.

6 Update your investigation

The sixth and final step is to update your investigation and keep track of any new developments, feedback, or challenges that may arise after you report your findings. You may need to monitor the reactions and responses of your audience, sources, subjects, and other stakeholders, and address any questions, comments, or criticisms that they may have. You may also need to follow up on any new leads, evidence, or information that may emerge after you report your findings, and update your investigation accordingly. You should also evaluate your investigation and reflect on what you have learned, what you have achieved, and what you can improve.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?