Other than writing journalism stories, I occasionally blog about journalism-related issues and you can find a few of my writings on Medium, or IJNET. I have been a contributor to handbooks and publications involving data and investigative journalism, and other professional publications covering journalism, media ownership, as well as publications focused on corruption and organized crime.
Contributor, Data Journalism Handbook
The Data Journalism Handbook is a free, open source reference book for anyone interested in the emerging field of data journalism. It is an international, collaborative effort involving dozens of data journalism experts. I worked on Chapter 4, Getting data, which focused on the first steps in data journalism and where to get data, how to find data, and how to request it using freedom of information laws. The chapter closed with a few anecdotes about what some of us have gone through to get hold of the data and includes a story about a comprehensive database from the Investigating Local Governments project, the project I ran while I was head of the Center for Investigative Reporting in Serbia.
Since its publication in 2012, the Data Journalism Handbook has been widely used and widely cited by students, practitioners and researchers alike, serving as both textbook and sourcebook for an emerging field. It has been translated into over 12 languages — including Arabic, Chinese, Czech, French, Georgian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian — and is used for teaching at many leading universities, as well as teaching and training centres around the world, as well as being a well-cited source for researchers studying the field.
Contributor, Digging Deeper, A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans, by Sheila Coronel
Digging Deeper showcases interesting investigative stories and individual journalistic successes, as well as providing an overview of investigative techniques. The various databases available in the Balkan region and tips for practitioners are the most useful elements for all journalists. This guide offers insight into investigative practices and the most important aspects of investigative journalism, along with numerous examples and case studies, data and exercises. Sheila Coronel, a journalism professor, director of Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism and Dean of Academic Affairs at Columbia Journalism School, authored the handbook and worked with a few contributors. I worked on the resources chapter for the book including the open records, FOI laws, and methods for data investigations. Coronel also committed a chapter to one of my investigative series.
Contributor, “The Corruption Notebooks”, Global Integrity
The Corruption Notebooks is an annual collection of stories told by social scientists and journalists of how countries around the world are struggling daily to rein in graft and protect the public interest. The authors are among the world’s best journalists, examining the politics of their home countries as no one else can, and these reports were published by Global Integrity, an independent, nonprofit organization tracking governance and corruption trends around the world.
The Corruption Notebooks are written as part of the greater Global Integrity Report, an annual study of the existence and effectiveness of national-level anti-corruption mechanisms. In the Report, each country’s notebook is accompanied by an Integrity Scorecard, an indicator-by-indicator assessment of a nation’s governance framework. I authored reports for three editions of the Corruption Notebooks in 2008, 2009, and 2011.
The Corruption Notebooks 2011
The Corruption Notebooks 2009
The Corruption Notebooks 2008
Contributor, IRE Journal
The IRE Journal, the award-winning magazine of Investigative Reporters & Editors, is published four times a year and contains journalist profiles, how-to stories, reviews, investigative ideas, and backgrounding tips.
“Are we ready for investigative journalism reality?”, August 2012
Investigative journalism has been the backbone of democracy for more than 150 years. Yet these jobs are disappearing as the Internet disrupts traditional news delivery, and investigative pieces are competing for readers with an ever-growing number of Twitter feeds, Facebook posts, YouTube uploads, and other online content.
At the same time, this does not mean the public does not want investigative journalism. In fact, user surveys found that the public – especially those in the 20-29 age group – reveres investigative journalism as a way to keep government accountable, educate themselves and feel connected to their greater community. So the questions are: What do we do to make investigative journalism more visible? And how do we connect it with a younger audience?
Co-author, Digitizing Military Archives, Knight Foundation Special Report
The Jefferson Institute designed a system to convert the former Yugoslavia military’s 40 million paper documents into searchable, digital format, so journalists, prosecutors, and historians can access thousands of records a day. This special report commissioned by Knight Foundation explores opportunities to use digital technology to tell stories about the conflicts that may result in new findings and even new prosecution. Fourteen paramilitary leaders responsible for the slaughter of civilians were indicted on war crimes charges thanks to evidence from the archive digitization. The digitization also led to the discovery of unmarked mass graves belonging to prisoners executed by Marshal Tito’s secret police.
Contributor, The Security Review, Centre for Security Studies, Belgrade
The Security Revies is a monthly academic journal covering security studies that has been published by The Center for Security Studies, Belgrade. I authored several articles about the importance of investigative journalism for national security, fight against corruption and organized crime. Here are examples:
The Impact of Investigative Journalism on Exposing Corruption and Organized Crime, February 2008
Waiting on the State Audit Institution, November 2009
Contributor, The Dosier about Media, The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
The Dosier on Media is a quarterly journal for journalism educators and professional journalists that has been published by The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia. The content includes news and media industry analysis, academic research, professional ethics, and stories behind the news. I authored numerous articles and analysis on media ownership, privatization of state-owned media, political and economic influence and media control. Here are examples:
Who are the real owners of the media and who controls public speech?, June 2007
Media privatization: They struggle to get acquired, May 2009