Freelance/Student £125
Members £100
From finding yourself in the midst of a civil war to working undercover in an Indian brothel, join us for this one-day workshop that will introduce you to life as an investigative human rights reporter or researcher.
Whether you are looking to start out in human rights investigating, want to shift your journalism focus to a more investigative bent, or simply have a critical mind, this session will give you the tools to help set up and pitch investigations; from filing a Freedom of Information request to being aware of the ethical implications of using subterfuge.
Importantly, it will also teach you how to have one of the most interesting jobs in the world and how to survive doing it.
What we will cover:
- The Life of a Human Rights Investigator – the current state of journalism and NGOs.
- How to survive as an Investigative researcher / reporter – how to pitch ideas and make a mark.
- Tools of the Trade: Freedom of Information requests
- Tools of the Trade: Computer Assisted Reporting
- Cultivating sources : interviewing & handling whistleblowers
- Undercover: Practicalities, Ethics & Experiences
The workshop will be led by award-winning investigative journalist Iain Overton. Overton has conducted investigations into areas that include counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry, UK deaths in custody, corporate killings in Iraq, and Glasgow gang-land murders linked to security contracts. His work has been recognized with a Peabody Award, two Amnesty International Awards, a OneWorld Award, a Prix Circom, a BAFTA Scotland and 3 RTS nominations, amongst others. He is the author of Gun Baby Gun (shortlisted for a Dagger award) and is the Executive Director of Action on Armed Violence – a research charity that investigates the arms trade.
Here’s what participants had to say about Iain’s recent workshop at the club:
“Really well done – the workshop was rich with practical knowledge.”
“I enjoyed Iain’s wealth of direct experience of what he talked about and of course his passion.”
“This workshop has stretched me to think and pause in amongst the creative process. It was a good combination of practical advice and encouragement to do great human rights investigations.”
“The passion and richness of experience covered opened my mind to new techniques and opportunities and ideas.”
“It was very, very informative and inspiring.”
“Fascinating. I loved listening to his individual stories and case studies – how other journalists tackle and tell their stories.”
“It was inspiring and honest.”
Images: Churikov Eduard / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>Freelance/Student £125
Members £100
From finding yourself in the midst of a civil war to working undercover in an Indian brothel, join us for this one-day workshop that will introduce you to life as an investigative human rights reporter or researcher.
Whether you are looking to start out in human rights investigating, want to shift your journalism focus to a more investigative bent, or simply have a critical mind, this session will give you the tools to help set up and pitch investigations; from filing a Freedom of Information request to being aware of the ethical implications of using subterfuge.
Importantly, it will also teach you how to have one of the most interesting jobs in the world and how to survive doing it.
What we will cover:
- The Life of a Human Rights Investigator – the current state of journalism and NGOs.
- How to survive as an Investigative researcher / reporter – how to pitch ideas and make a mark.
- Tools of the Trade: Freedom of Information requests
- Tools of the Trade: Computer Assisted Reporting
- Cultivating sources : interviewing & handling whistleblowers
- Undercover: Practicalities, Ethics & Experiences
The workshop will be led by award-winning investigative journalist Iain Overton. Overton has conducted investigations into areas that include counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry, UK deaths in custody, corporate killings in Iraq, and Glasgow gang-land murders linked to security contracts. His work has been recognized with a Peabody Award, two Amnesty International Awards, a OneWorld Award, a Prix Circom, a BAFTA Scotland and 3 RTS nominations, amongst others. He is the author of Gun Baby Gun (shortlisted for a Dagger award) and is the Executive Director of Action on Armed Violence – a research charity that investigates the arms trade.
Here’s what participants had to say about Iain’s recent workshop at the club:
“Really well done – the workshop was rich with practical knowledge.”
“I enjoyed Iain’s wealth of direct experience of what he talked about and of course his passion.”
“This workshop has stretched me to think and pause in amongst the creative process. It was a good combination of practical advice and encouragement to do great human rights investigations.”
“The passion and richness of experience covered opened my mind to new techniques and opportunities and ideas.”
“It was very, very informative and inspiring.”
“Fascinating. I loved listening to his individual stories and case studies – how other journalists tackle and tell their stories.”
“It was inspiring and honest.”
Images: Churikov Eduard / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>After two successful Kleptoscope talks discussing the former Soviet Union and the Middle East, we come closer to home, with an exploration of Britain’s offshore tax havens. The Channel Islands, Cayman Islands and others pay host to enormous capital flows, as well as untold thousands of shell companies, but are they are they as dubious as they are painted?
Hosted by investigative journalist Oliver Bullough, Kleptoscope #3 will bust myths and uncover the facts about Britain’s big companies hiding away from view.
Oliver Bullough is an award-winning journalist and the author of two books about Russian history and politics, The Last Man in Russia and Let Our Fame be Great. He is also an expert guide for the Kleptocracy Tours initiative, which exposes money laundering via property in London.
Professor Ronan Palan is one of the world’s leading academic experts on tax havens . He will sketch out the dimensions of the offshore world.
Professor Anastasia Nesvetailova, also of City University, specialises in the way the finance industry uses offshore jurisdictions.
John Christensen worked as an economic adviser to the States of Jersey, before founding the Tax Justice Network. He is a top campaigner against tax havens, and has done more than almost anyone to put them in the international spotlight.
]]>Freelance/Student £125
Members £100
Whether researching human rights abuses in a civil war, or exposing human trafficking in the sex trade, this one-day workshop will introduce you to the life of investigative reporting.
Whether you already have experience in the field, are looking to start out, or simply have a critical mind, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need. Overall, this session will give you the tools to help set up an investigation; from filing a Freedom of Information request to being aware of ethical implications of undercover reporting. Importantly, it will also help you tell the stories that matter, and teach you how to have one of the most interesting jobs in the world and how to survive doing it.
The workshop will be led by award-winning investigative journalist Iain Overton. Overton has conducted investigations in areas that include counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry, UK deaths in custody, corporate killings in Iraq, and Glasgow gang-land murders linked to security contracts. His work has been recognised with a Peabody Award, two Amnesty International Awards, a OneWorld Award, a Prix Circom, a BAFTA Scotland and three RTS nominations, amongst others.
Here’s what participants had to say about Iain’s recent workshop at the club:
“Really well done – the workshop was rich with practical knowledge.”
“I enjoyed Iain’s wealth of direct experience of what he talked about and of course his passion.”
“This workshop has stretched me to think and pause in amongst the creative process. It was a good combination of practical advice and encouragement to do great human rights investigations.”
“The passion and richness of experience covered opened my mind to new techniques and opportunities and ideas.”
“It was very, very informative and inspiring.”
“Fascinating. I loved listening to his individual stories and case studies – how other journalists tackle and tell their stories.”
“It was inspiring and honest.”
Overton is currently the Executive Director at the international organisation Action on Armed Violence and has written a book for Canongate about the impact of guns worldwide.
What we will cover:
- How to survive as a human rights investigative reporter.
- Exposés and undercover reporting: ethics and practical considerations
- Tools of the human rights investigative trade: from FOI submissions to data journalism
- Making an impact: how to secure commissions, media collaborations and fund self-publishing
- Storytelling: how to tell your story so that it matters.
Images: Churikov Eduard / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>Freelance/Student £125
Members £100
Whether researching human rights abuses in a civil war, or exposing human trafficking in the sex trade, this one-day workshop will introduce you to the life of investigative reporting.
Whether you already have experience in the field, are looking to start out, or simply have a critical mind, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need. Overall, this session will give you the tools to help set up an investigation; from filing a Freedom of Information request to being aware of ethical implications of undercover reporting. Importantly, it will also help you tell the stories that matter, and teach you how to have one of the most interesting jobs in the world and how to survive doing it.
The workshop will be led by award-winning investigative journalist Iain Overton. Overton has conducted investigations in areas that include counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry, UK deaths in custody, corporate killings in Iraq, and Glasgow gang-land murders linked to security contracts. His work has been recognised with a Peabody Award, two Amnesty International Awards, a OneWorld Award, a Prix Circom, a BAFTA Scotland and three RTS nominations, amongst others.
Here’s what participants had to say about Iain’s recent workshop at the club:
“Really well done – the workshop was rich with practical knowledge.”
“I enjoyed Iain’s wealth of direct experience of what he talked about and of course his passion.”
“This workshop has stretched me to think and pause in amongst the creative process. It was a good combination of practical advice and encouragement to do great human rights investigations.”
“The passion and richness of experience covered opened my mind to new techniques and opportunities and ideas.”
“It was very, very informative and inspiring.”
“Fascinating. I loved listening to his individual stories and case studies – how other journalists tackle and tell their stories.”
“It was inspiring and honest.”
Overton is currently the Director of Investigations at the international organisation Action on Armed Violence and has recently writing a book for Canongate about the impact of guns worldwide.
What we will cover:
- How to survive as a human rights investigative reporter.
- Exposés and undercover reporting: ethics and practical considerations
- Tools of the human rights investigative trade: from FOI submissions to data journalism
- Making an impact: how to secure commissions, media collaborations and fund self-publishing
- Storytelling: how to tell your story so that it matters.
Images: Churikov Eduard / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>Freelance/Student £125
Members £100
Are you interested in learning how to tell a compelling story? How to pitch successful ideas to commissioners? How to translate exposing data into hard hitting reporting? Then join this one day seminar that focuses on the art of storytelling in journalism.
Iain Overton, an award-winning investigative reporter, is well placed to lead this day. His latest book, Gun Baby Gun, was bought by the UK’s leading independent publishing house, Canongate, within an hour of being submitted.
We will focus on the art of the cultivated pitch, the storytelling framing of long-form documentaries and print articles, how to capture the essence of a story, and the transformation of hard data into even harder narratives.
This is a new course from Overton at the Frontline Club. Here’s what people have previously said about his Human Right Investigative Reporting workshop:
“An excellent workshop. I hugely enjoyed Iain’s presentations and observations as well as his passion and and rich practical knowledge. Thank you.”
“Really well done – the workshop was rich with practical knowledge.”
“This workshop has stretched me to think and pause in amongst the creative process. It was a good combination of practical advice and encouragement to do great human rights investigations.”
“The passion and richness of experience covered opened my mind to new techniques and opportunities and ideas.”
“It was very, very informative and inspiring.”
“Fascinating. I loved listening to his individual stories and case studies – how other journalists tackle and tell their stories.”
In the last two decades working as a journalist with a focus on human rights, Overton has worked across TV, print and online. His documentaries have won him a Peabody, a Scottish Bafta and a One World Media Award, as well as three Royal Television Society nominations, while his online work has been awarded with two Amnesty International Media Awards.
Shifting on from TV and online storytelling, Overton then began writing long-form. His book was described by Jon Snow as ‘brilliant’, by GQ as ‘gripping reportage that’s as disturbing as it is enlightening’. The Financial Times called it ‘adventurous, ambitiously tracing the often devastating impact of guns around the world . . . [it] contains moments of great poignancy’, and The Independent said: ‘This book is more than just facts, it’s insight and revelation on a very human level.’
Images: JMicic / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>Freelance/Student £125
Members £100
Whether researching human rights abuses in a civil war, or exposing human trafficking in the sex trade, this one-day workshop will introduce you to the life of investigative reporting.
Whether you already have experience in the field, are looking to start out, or simply have a critical mind, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need. Overall, this session will give you the tools to help set up an investigation; from filing a Freedom of Information request to being aware of ethical implications of undercover reporting. Importantly, it will also help you tell the stories that matter, and teach you how to have one of the most interesting jobs in the world and how to survive doing it.
The workshop will be led by award-winning investigative journalist Iain Overton. Overton has conducted investigations in areas that include counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry, UK deaths in custody, corporate killings in Iraq, and Glasgow gang-land murders linked to security contracts. His work has been recognised with a Peabody Award, two Amnesty International Awards, a OneWorld Award, a Prix Circom, a BAFTA Scotland and three RTS nominations, amongst others.
Here’s what participants had to say about Iain’s recent workshop at the club:
“Really well done – the workshop was rich with practical knowledge.”
“I enjoyed Iain’s wealth of direct experience of what he talked about and of course his passion.”
“This workshop has stretched me to think and pause in amongst the creative process. It was a good combination of practical advice and encouragement to do great human rights investigations.”
“The passion and richness of experience covered opened my mind to new techniques and opportunities and ideas.”
“It was very, very informative and inspiring.”
“Fascinating. I loved listening to his individual stories and case studies – how other journalists tackle and tell their stories.”
“It was inspiring and honest.”
Overton is currently the Director of Investigations at the international organisation Action on Armed Violence and has recently writing a book for Canongate about the impact of guns worldwide.
What we will cover:
- How to survive as a human rights investigative reporter.
- Exposés and undercover reporting: ethics and practical considerations
- Tools of the human rights investigative trade: from FOI submissions to data journalism
- Making an impact: how to secure commissions, media collaborations and fund self-publishing
- Storytelling: how to tell your story so that it matters.
Images: Churikov Eduard / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>Freelance/Student £125.00
Members £100
Whether researching human rights abuses in a civil war, or exposing human trafficking in the sex trade, this one-day workshop will introduce you to the life of investigative reporting.
Whether you already have experience in the field, are looking to start out, or simply have a critical mind, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need. Overall, this session will give you the tools to help set up an investigation; from filing a Freedom of Information request to being aware of ethical implications of undercover reporting. Importantly, it will also help you tell the stories that matter, and teach you how to have one of the most interesting jobs in the world and how to survive doing it.
The workshop will be led by award-winning investigative journalist Iain Overton. Overton has conducted investigations in areas that include counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry, UK deaths in custody, corporate killings in Iraq, and Glasgow gang-land murders linked to security contracts. His work has been recognised with a Peabody Award, two Amnesty International Awards, a OneWorld Award, a Prix Circom, a BAFTA Scotland and 3 RTS nominations, amongst others.
Overton is currently the Director of Investigations at the international organisation Action on Armed Violence and is writing a book for Canongate about the impact of guns worldwide.
What we will cover:
- How to survive as a human rights investigative reporter.
- Exposés and undercover reporting: ethics and practical considerations
- Tools of the human rights investigative trade: from FOI submissions to data journalism
- Making an impact: how to secure commissions, media collaborations and fund self-publishing
- Storytelling: how to tell your story so that it matters.
On Wednesday 22 April, Iain Overton will be at the Frontline Club to discuss his new book Gun Baby Gun, which looks at the far-reaching impact and the terrible realities of war and gun crime. To find out more and to book online, click here.
Images: Churikov Eduard / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>Freelance/Student £125.00
Members £100
Whether researching human rights abuses in a civil war, or exposing human trafficking in the sex trade, this one-day workshop will introduce you to the life of investigative reporting.
Whether you already have experience in the field, are looking to start out, or simply have a critical mind, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need. Overall, this session will give you the tools to help set up an investigation; from filing a Freedom of Information request to being aware of ethical implications of undercover reporting. Importantly, it will also help you tell the stories that matter, and teach you how to have one of the most interesting jobs in the world and how to survive doing it.
The workshop will be led by award-winning investigative journalist Iain Overton. Overton has conducted investigations in areas that include counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry, UK deaths in custody, corporate killings in Iraq, and Glasgow gang-land murders linked to security contracts. His work has been recognised with a Peabody Award, two Amnesty International Awards, a OneWorld Award, a Prix Circom, a BAFTA Scotland and 3 RTS nominations, amongst others.
Overton is currently the Director of Investigations at the international organisation Action on Armed Violence and is writing a book for Canongate about the impact of guns worldwide.
What we will cover:
- How to survive as a human rights investigative reporter.
- Exposés and undercover reporting: ethics and practical considerations
- Tools of the human rights investigative trade: from FOI submissions to data journalism
- Making an impact: how to secure commissions, media collaborations and fund self-publishing
- Storytelling: how to tell your story so that it matters.
Images: Churikov Eduard / Shutterstock.com; Iain Overton
]]>“They are like my family.”
“They’re just fucking monkeys.”
On Thursday 15 May 2014, the Frontline Club screened Virunga, a masterful documentary that portrays both the highest of human empathy, and lowest of murderous greed in eastern DR Congo.
Present for the Q&A were director Orlando von Einsiedel, producer Joanna Natasegara and investigative journalist Melanie Gouby, who is featured in the film.
From left: Melanie Gouby, Joanna Natasegara, Orlando von Einsiedel. Photo credit: George Symonds
The audience voiced rave reviews:
“It is a beautiful film, and the stars are the gorillas”
“Brilliant film, really engaging”
“Amazing and powerful”
“Incredible film”
Director von Einsiedel began with how the two year project started:
“I’ve been interested in trying to tell a positive, different story from eastern Congo. One that wasn’t all about the many negative things that we mostly hear about the place.
“Between 2008 and 2012, there’d been a period of relative stability, and I learned about the really inspiring work of the rangers of Virunga National Park. In their story I saw a metaphor for the wider rebirth of the region.
“That the park was implementing various different development projects, tourism was starting to grow again . . . I’d only been on the ground maybe three weeks and this new civil war started.
“Around the same sort of time I learned about the park’s concerns about the illegal oil exploration by SOCO International. I ended up staying because I was enthralled about the rangers and their work.”
Orlando von Einsiedel, Director
Two representatives of SOCO International were allegedly present at the screening. The company had issued a PR statement in response to what it “believes to be groundless allegations” recorded in the film.
An audience member from BBC Panorama asked how the filmmakers responded to SOCO’s comments.
“It’s quite simple,” replied von Einsiedel:
“We wouldn’t be sitting up here if we didn’t stand by the journalism and the work that we’ve done.
“In terms of SOCO International, what they’re doing in Virunga National Park is illegal. . . . It’s illegal under Congolese national law, it’s illegal under international law, and on top of that, over the years we were there, we have serious concerns about a lack of oversight that this company has. To do with corruption and links to armed groups.”
Excellent night at the @frontlineclub– a sneak preview of the brave @virungamovie and Q&A w/ @jojonata & team pic.twitter.com/foIhGyRATh
— Kate Hardie-Buckley (@katehbuckley) May 15, 2014
Natasegara elaborated on SOCO’s legal position:
“There’s no suggestion that there’s any oil under Virunga National Park. That’s the first misnomer that SOCO International put out. There is no proof that there’s any oil under this world heritage site. . . . What they are doing is illegal, as Orlando said.
“What they failed to recognise is that it’s illegal at the highest level of law. It’s enshrined in the constitution that a world heritage site cannot be exploited in this way for oil exploration, ever. So all the permits they would like to suggest they have are all null and void. . . .
“So in terms of whether we have oil or not, what we have is a bird in the hand, and a bird that we don’t know exists. The bird in the hand is Virunga National Park, a world heritage site which is there for all of us; and is in fact building a £150 million development programme which is genuinely helping the local communities . . . .”
Jonna Natasegara, Producer
“What power do we have to act against these groups, these immoral positions?” asked a member of the audience.
“There’s a moral position and there’s a legal position,” posited Natasegara:
“SOCO International is a British company, so talk to your decision makers. . . . Talk to your own authorities, let them know how they feel about this issue. In terms of stages we have spent quite a long time building a campaign that goes alongside the film. You can follow that campaign on our official media and on our website.”
Gouby responded to a suggestion that if not SOCO, someone else would do the same thing:
“Total, the French oil company, has a similar concession north of the park, and they’ve promised they would not go into the park. So there is no evidence that any other company would do the same thing.”
Melanie Gouby, Journalist
“I thought the real heroes were the rangers,” said a member of the audience:
“I thought the contrast between the virulent racism of SOCO’s representatives against the brave and eloquent way the rangers spoke was extraordinary. I noticed that in SOCO’s rebuttal, they said nothing about the racism that was shown, that they should re-colonise the Congo.”
Another audience member offered SOCO the floor:
“If someone from SOCO is here who thinks we’ve been given the wrong impression, is there someone who’d like to correct that impression for us now?”
There was no one to respond.
Feel lucky to have seen such a powerful film & piece of journalism @virungamovie about @gorillacd at @frontlineclub #DRC #film #conservation
— Charlotte Minvielle (@Cha_Minvielle) May 15, 2014
The audience was full of praise for those involved in the protection of Virunga National Park and the local communities:
“How extraordinary the courage of everybody involved with film, particularly the Congolese, comes across in the film. And the amount of personal danger people put themselves into to bring across this message, and to congratulate and thank you for doing that.”
Asked about organisations that support the rangers, Natasegara said:
“You can donate directly to the park. The website is www.virunga.org/donate.
“They have a specific fund for the widows of those rangers. You can contribute directly to their livelihood. That would be a great thing to do.”
Went to the @frontlineclub this evening to see a preview of @virungamovie about @gorillacd such an incredible and inspiring documentary
— Elisabeth Phillips (@elisabeth_CiC) May 15, 2014
Von Einsiedel concluded with the optimism he had witnessed:
“There’s amazing optimism on the ground . . . that this place can be better, and the potential it has – that’s the reason the rangers of the park are out there every day, risking their lives. Because of that hope. Of what they believe the Virunga can do to the region.”
“It’s not going to Margate,” warned von Einsiedel as he encouraged everyone to visit the gorillas:
“The security situation has improved dramatically. So much so that gorilla tourism is open again. So you can all go and visit the gorillas, and you’d all be doing a massively good thing because that’s putting money into the local economy. I’d say go. It’s not going to Margate [laughs] but it’s safe enough to do it.”
For more information on future screenings, and how you can get involved:
Visit. virungamovie.com
Follow. @virungamovie
Like. facebook.com/virungamovie
Donate. virunga.org/donate