Program BISS - Workshops

Story-Based inquiry:

 

Luuk Sengers is one of the original developers of  Story-Based Inquiry which is the leading method for investigative journalism and is used by editorial teams and training programmes all over the world. 

 

Content: How do you organise journalistic research from start to finish? Story-Based Inquiry offers a method in the madness. For every important research decision, it offers a technique that can be applied quickly without compromising thoroughness. You will also learn to ask yourself the right questions. And you will be introduced to applications that increase efficiency and fun. The method is ideal for good communication between members of a research team or between journalists and editors-in-chief.

 

 

Investigative interviewing:

 

 

Lecturer Tab. 

 

OSINT - Open Source Intelligence:

 

Investigation online:

Henk van Ess is one of the leading minds on how to search the web. He will share his best tricks, teach participants how to think like a search engine and lead them to a better understanding of the web and its algorithms.

 

AI in investigations:

Everyone is talking about AI. But it needs Henk van Ess to make good, if not the best, use of it for investigations purposes. He will show you his ideas and the best tools available. He will probably (again) announce his resignation after this workshop, because he could be replaced by AI. But we are sure that Henk will continue and develop faster than any AI can imagine.  

   

 

Researching Crypto:

 

Rebecca Zinke is a IT and Forensics expert. She is head of the IT-Forensics and Investigations Lab of Phalanx-IT.

 

Content: Crypto is not as anonymous as most people think. Rebecca Zinke will show you the best insights to investigate crypto with free tools. She will also show what paid tools can add to your investigation and where it is best to co-operate with experts.

 

 

Mastering Investigative Research:

Combining Data, OSINT, and Storytelling for impactful Journalism.

Christina Brause is an award winning investigative data journalist. She is Investigator in Residence at the business data research company North Data, where she combines data analysis and investigative techniques to uncover hidden connections and patterns across industries.

 

Content: In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, investigative journalism demands a seamless integration of data analysis, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), and on-the-ground reporting to uncover hidden truths and deliver compelling narratives. This workshop is designed to equip journalists with the skills to effectively combine these elements, organize their investigations, and leverage cutting-edge tools to enhance their reporting.

 

Participants will explore theoretical frameworks by analyzing articles that successfully merge data, OSINT, and investigative techniques. They will learn how these components interact to drive impactful investigations. Practical sessions will focus on strategies to stay organized, manage newsroom collaboration, and access resources even in teams lacking technical expertise. Attendees will also gain insights into essential tools.

 

Whether you’re working in a small newsroom or tackling large-scale investigations, this workshop will provide actionable methods and resources to elevate your journalistic practice.

 

 

Verification:

 

Jan Ludwig is an expert on verification and head of the OSINT-team of Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ).

 

Content: One moment in time (and place):

How to geolocate and chronolocate stuff you find on social media 

 

When posting pictures and videos online, many people are not aware of the amount of information they give away. While it is certainly a bad thing when it comes to privacy, investigative journalists can exploit this in order to find out more about persons of interest.

In this session, we will delve into several tools and techniques on how to geolocate and chronolocate images and videos. We will use simple OCR, analyze shadows, measure the moon, and pinpoint the location of a photographer by triangulating it. While this might sound complicated for those who are new to this, all it actually takes is patience, inquisitiveness, and the memory of some laws of physics we all learned in middle school. After completing the session, you will not look at images the way you looked at them before – and certainly refrain from posting too much information in the future.

  

 

Investigating the darknet:

 

Daniel Moßbrucker lives and works in Berlin as a journalist specialising in surveillance, data protection and internet regulation. In 2022, he was awarded the Otto Brenner Prize for innovative media projects with a team from NDR and "Spiegel" for his darknet research into paedophile crime.

 

Content: The "darknet" is often the subject of journalistic reports - but hardly any journalists have ever been there themselves. This workshop provides insights into the "dark side of the internet". 

 

Its aim is to enable journalists to report from the darknet in future by researching it themselves. The training is practically orientated and shows participants how to access the darknet themselves, where it is worth researching and which communication strategies are promising. In addition to practical tips, the technical basics of encryption and anonymisation are also discussed, so that participants can also learn something "en passant" to strengthen their own digital security.

 

The focus is on research in criminal milieus - cybercrime, drug and arms trafficking, product piracy - but the seminar also sheds light on why darknet technologies can be vital for media professionals in repressive environments in some areas. (Note: The colloquial term "darknet" is understood in the seminar as onion services in the Tor network; other darknets are only discussed in passing).

 

Participation may be particularly worthwhile for people whose work involves researching the topics of cybercrime, political extremism, drug and arms trafficking or product piracy. (The topic of paedocrime will be discussed, but for ethical and legal reasons will not be explored in depth in practical exercises).

 

Key questions:

• How does the darknet work and why does it guarantee technical anonymity?
• How do you access the Darknet? Which research strategies are promising?
• How do you communicate in encrypted form on the darknet?
• What legal and professional ethical questions do journalists face when conducting research?
• What role do digital cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Monero play on the darknet and how can they be used for research in blockchains?
• How do you work with the live operating system Tails?
• What potential do darknet technologies offer for journalism in politically repressive countries and in Germany?

 

On the second day of the workshop, the topics of the first day will be deepened with further exercises. Participants will also receive an introduction to the anonymous Tails operating system, which is indispensable for professional darknet research. Previous knowledge of Tails is not necessary.

 

Technical requirements:

Participants must bring at least one laptop on which the Tor browser can be installed and used. A second laptop on which "Tails" can be used in parallel is recommended for the second workshop day. Furthermore, all participants of the second workshop day are asked to bring an empty USB stick (at least 4 GB).