Todays' Media Law lecture was done by Brian because Chris was at Winchester Cathedral being made a professor - clever boy.
Investigative Journalism is all about getting a news story out of pretty much nothing, a story that without the journalist's investigative skills probably wouldn't be published. This is because Investigative Journalism uncovers stuff about that 'someone somewhere doesn't want you to know' e.g. the company that made the drug 'Thalidomide'.
An Investigative journalist can set his/her own news agenda, this is similar to Gonzo Journalism e.g. Michael Moore documentaries.
An example that Brian used today was a fireworks display. A regional TV news programme may have a story about the firework display and say how wonderful it was etc etc, but an Investigative Journalist may ask the organisers (usually the council) how much money they spent on the fireworks and all sorts of other difficult questions about cutting costs and the like.
In Investigative Journalism, malice is an issue e.g. if I'm annoyed about the high prices of the food in the University's canteen (which I am!) and then I investigative something about the University, this could be considered malicious against the University and a revengeful act (not good).
Conflict of interest is also an issue, the journalist George Alagiah did important work for a children's charity and he was told to stop this work because of his job. On the news, he might have given more time to the charity he supports over other charities.
Classic Investigations
Harry Evans: The ex-editor of the Sunday Times and his 'Insight Team' investigated the company that made the drug Thalidomide and found that the company knew about the harmful effects the drug could have on babies, but they didn't tell anyone and more an more babies were born deformed. The investigation got compensation for people affected by Thalidomide and without the investigation, Thalidomide may have been sold to mothers for a longer period of time.
Ray Fitzwalter: 'World in Action' was a TV programme (similar to Panorama and Dispatches) which investigated issues that either no one was prepared to investigate or issues that no one knew about. Their biggest case was the un-framing of political dissidents who were accused for bombing pubs in Birmingham. There was also a documentary made about it called 'Who Bombed Birmingham'.
Brian then went on to talk about Miscarriages of Justice and The Innocence Project which we do in Year 3 (if we make it that far of course!). He told us about Gerry Conden, who was accused of being one of 'Guildford 4' bombers. The Police tortured him in such a way that no visible marks were left on his body and until he confessed. A documentary was made about this called 'In the name of the fourther'.
However, the 'Criminal Cases Review Commission' was set up to help people who claim to be innocent. Prisoners can apply for the CCRC to look over the case, however the CCRC doesn't usually work because after going through the evidence, they come to the same conclusion as the 12 men and women, the Police and the judge - guilty.
This is where the Innocence Project comes in, I won't go into too much detail but Brian told us about a character called Warren Slaney, He is an ex-boxer sent to prison for murdering two men by shooting them, however the evidence against his conviction is overwhelming: Doctors said that he was physically unable to hold a gun and the Police lost the gun and the DNA evidence. Slaney also says that he was at a house party and nine witnesses can vouch for him being there. So the question is: what really happened?, hopefully the Innocence Project can find out and get Warren Slaney off, but if they do, I wouldn't want to be Terry Burke!
TB 2011
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