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In today’s world, where access to conflict zones or remote areas is increasingly restricted, traditional reporting methods often fall short. This is where the latest investigative tools and techniques, such as OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), become invaluable. By leveraging publicly available digital resources—like videos, satellite images, and location data—journalists can uncover hidden details and piece together stories from a distance.

To help investigative journalists with the latest tools, the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas is offering a new advanced, low-cost online course, “Investigative Reporting Now: OSINT and Other Cutting-Edge Tools and Techniques,” from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20, 2024. 

For just $95, this advanced training offers a comprehensive overview of investigative tools and methods like OSINT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and satellite imagery. With a limited number of participants, this course offers personalized learning and direct interaction with the instructor. You’ll also gain exclusive access to insights and practical tips from some of the world’s leading investigative reporters.

Taught by Lise Olsen — a senior investigative editor with a remarkable portfolio that includes work for the Texas Observer, InsideClimate News, and documentaries on Netflix and CNN — this course provides a unique opportunity to learn from the best. Olsen will guide you through the investigative process, showing you how to use the latest tools to uncover and present compelling stories.

The course is organized into four weekly modules:

• Module 1: You’ll learn how to evaluate investigative ideas, gather essential information, and create a solid investigative plan. Discover how to build and support a diverse team for complex projects and understand the elements of high-profile collaborations.
• Module 2: You’ll explore how to use OSINT to analyze video, audio, and social media content. Understand the organization of collaborative investigations and get familiar with new tools and methods for data analysis and verification.
• Module 3: You’ll dive into how AI can enhance investigative reporting, including its benefits and challenges. Learn how satellite imagery and other advanced technologies are used in reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and human rights.
• Module 4:  You’ll explore different ways to present your investigative findings, from detailed narratives to multimedia formats. Learn how to effectively promote your stories and use innovative storytelling techniques to engage a wider audience.

The course will feature video interviews with some of the world’s leading investigative journalists. Our guest speakers include:

• Alejandra Xanic of Quinto Elemento Lab/the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and a Pulitzer Prize winner
• Marcela Turati, author, investigative journalist and cofounder of Quinto Elemento
• Melissa Del Bosque, author and investigations editor for Lighthouse Reports
• Rocio Gallegos, founder and editor of La Verdad
• Tristan Lee of Bellingcat
• Steven Monacelli of the Texas Observer
• Emilia Diaz-Struck, executive director of the Global Investigative Journalism Network
• Deborah Nelson, Pulitzer-Prize winning reporter and editor who currently works for Reuters and for the University of Maryland’s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism
• Josh Hinkle, director of innovations and investigations at KXAN Austin
• Keri Blakinger, author, investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times, and social media influencer

“Investigative Reporting Now” is an asynchronous course that offers the flexibility to complete activities at your own pace. It includes optional weekly live office hours hosted by our instructor, Lise Olsen, from 12-1 p.m. CT Thursdays. These sessions are recorded for anyone who cannot attend.  You can explore the modules and activities whenever it fits your schedule, engage in discussions, complete quizzes, and gain hands-on experience without the constraints of a fixed timetable.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand the latest investigative tools, get practical tips from top reporters, and discover new ways to apply these methods in your work.