The EBU Brussels Office and the European Federation of Journalists hosted a special lunch debate on how investigative journalism works in practice and how it is evolving in today’s global environment.

“Leaks are only the beginning of the investigation. You might know the secret, but you don’t know the story”. Le Monde Reporter Serge Michel gave participants a fascinating insight into how investigative journalism is rapidly changing in the digital environment whilst remaining the embodiment of what journalism is about: revealing the truth in the public interest.

Serge Michel exposed the key role played by digital technologies and international networks in recent flagship stories like the Swissleaks revelations. Working closely with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) was, in his view, a decisive factor as an excellent of way of sharing and cross-checking valuable information with contacts working together around the world.

For a press sector stricken by the economic crisis, he also believes newsrooms need more people with the right digital skills to continue producing the big stories people want to know about.

Investigative journalism methods were meanwhile carefully analysed by Nils Hanson, Editor in Chief of SVT’s ‘Mission Investigate’, arguably the most prominent factual programme aired by Sweden public service TV broadcaster. “Accuracy, balance and fairness are a question of credibility”, he said, while showing how “lousy” reporting damages the media’s reputation and more importantly, innocent people’s lives.  

He said: “We want to change the world for the better. We need to tell the viewers something they need to know, that they want to know and that they wouldn’t know if we hadn’t told them.”

He explained how his newsroom uses a three-step-test to extensively verify all information in their hands and ensure that the news output ultimately delivers value for society. Hidden cameras and ambush interviews should only be used as last resort. And he reminded participants that with social networks, “having one million viewers is like having one million fact checkers.”

Slovenian MEP Tanja Fajon, who gave a political insight to the debate, meanwhile raised the many challenges still faced today by journalists in terms political and economic pressures. She drew up a less positive picture of the state of journalism in the Balkans today and regretted the lack of tools to improve the situation.

The EBU Media LunchTime Talks are a series of discussions aimed at raising awareness and exchanging views about major developments, challenges and opportunities for the media in Europe, with leading experts in their field sharing their insights.