Bureau of Investigative Journalism to launch new blog later this year

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is to launch a blog later this year offering analysis of the industry and the latest stories being uncovered through in-depth investigations across the world.

Speaking to Journalism.co.uk, managing editor Iain Overton said the blog would build on the current 'Bureau recommends' feature, which highlights the stories that "tick the boxes of quality journalism".

These include the recent BBC Panorama expose of the abuse of patients in a residential hospital, which led to calls for an urgent examination of the care regulator by the government.

The new blog will be produced by a member of the Bureau's team, offering in depth analysis of "what is happening within the confines of investigative journalism around the world", Overton said.

"It will address things like who's giving funding, what new enterprises are being set up, where job openings are happening and what quality investigations are being done."

Reflecting on the Bureau's work at the end of its first year, Overton said the key to getting the stories noticed is collaboration.

"I don't think we necessarily live in an age where they isn't quality investigative journalism. I think if you're obsessed with investigative journalism you can find some very good stories out of that.

"I think the challenge is there is so much news around the investigative journalism often gets lost. I think the answer to that needs to be multi-collaborations. And this is what the Bureau's really been specialising in."

Such as, for example, their investigation into the European Union's Structural Funds last year, which was performed in collaboration with the Financial Times.

This attitude to covering such stories ensures "it lives across a whole variety of platforms", Overton said.

As well as the launch of the new blog, the Bureau may look to be more innovative in gaining public support for its work, through digital platforms such as social media and on a more physical level.

"If there is a failure in the market for doing certain quality investigations then social media might be one of the ways to address that failure," he said.

"We haven't gone down the route of innovation as of yet, I think it is innovative in a sense of doing these multi-platform and multi-partner collaborations, that probably is unprecedented.

"In terms of being more innovative I think there's an appetite for that and we may do that with future investigations and there is possibly something towards taking quality investigations and turning them from the ephemeral of print or even digital and trying to do more physical elements of that, whether that's trying to lobby for questions in the House, or orchestrated events where you can highlight the point you're trying to make".

He added: "We have to be trying to address the fact there are an awful lot of people who don't read conventional media so in order to gain traction and public support you have to go to the public with you story, but not patronise the public."

Journalism.co.uk was at the Bureau today filming for a video profile of Overton and his year-old team. We spoke to Overton about financing investigative journalism for the future, libel reform and the Bureau's ongoing relationship with WikiLeaks. Watch out for the video soon.

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