Written by Lars Moller

Danish journalist Lars Moller has developed a 12-point guide for investigative journalists. The Investigative Synopsis is being used in training courses in many parts of the world. It sets out a checklist of the questions and actions needed to complete a meaningful and authoritative piece of investigative journalism. Lars has given permission for the synopsis to be added to this site's training resources.

1) What is your basic hypothesis?

• What do you want to say?
• In what way do you want to say it?
• What is the minimum story and what is the maximum story? (headline or brief explanation)
• Why do you want to say it?
• What is your motive (professionally and personally)?
• For whom is the story important?

2) What are the most important questions in the case?

• What do you know and what do you presume?
• What must you find out:
  • about laws and regulations
  • about norms and common practice
  • about history
  • about statistics
  • about ethical considerations?

3) Make a list of the most important questions

4) Make a list of information that needs verification and confirmation - (who can verify it?)

5) Who are the stakeholders?

• Make a list of everyone who may be interested in the success of your story.
• Who is interested in the story not being published (inside your news organization and externally)?
• Who might turn on you as an enemy (what are the dangers, and how can you protect yourself)?
• Who could be your allies (do you need an inside informer and how do you find him/her)?
• How can the audience use the story (who is the target audience, what will they do – if anything)?

6) Organizing and analyzing information

• Define information by type and importance.
• Define information as verified and unverified.
• Discuss what you have with your editor, mentor or experienced colleague.

7) How can the story be presented?

• What does the audience need to know and in what way should they find it out?
• How do you clearly present to the audience the process of investigation, documents, human interest, editorial policy?
• What should you present in fact boxes, with photographs, charts or polls?
• Will you publish the case in one or more stories?
• Will you start publishing before all stories are ready (and written)?
• Is the story suitable for campaign journalism?
• Can the case be presented with additional elements (special logo, sidebars, editorial)?

8) How much time and money does it take?

• How much time do you need (estimate period of time and working hours)?
• How much individual research do you need?
• How much team work do you need (develop the number and roles of the team members)?
• How much (and when) do you need the assistance of photographers, camera crew and others who are not writers?
• How much assistance do you need from colleagues from other media?
• How much assistance do you need from experts outside the media organization?

9) What is your research strategy?

• Write up (by type and in chronological order) a list of all needed activities.
• Make an estimated time schedule for all activities.
• Allot time for all planned activities.

10) Organize your sources

• List “oral” sources.
• Define sources as primary and secondary.
• Define sources according to their:
  • human interest/personal experience
  • partisanship
  • independent expert knowledge
• Estimate sources as possible allies, neutral or hostile to your work.
• Decide when, how and where you will get access to sources.
• Examine possible legal and ethical problems involved in using these sources.
• Think about how you can protect sources that need protection.
• List “written” sources:
  • define sources as background documents and key documents
  • define documents by difficulty of accessibility (direct accessible – difficult accessible)
  • which information/documents are available via the internet?
  • how will you try to get access to the difficult accessible?
  • are there any legal or ethical obstacles involved?
  • list locations for observation and reportage.
  • are the locations accessible (easy-difficult)?
  • how will you get access?
  • can you make photos, clean sound or live pictures?
  • are there any legal or ethical obstacles involved?
  • plan the needs and adequate time for cooperation with colleagues, consultation with editor, mentor or older colleagues, meetings with legal advisers and independent experts.

11) In the process of research you also need to...

• Assess and analyze:
  • information that turns an assumption into a fact
  • information as pieces that fit the puzzle
  • information as gap-closing
  • information that raises new questions
  • information that still needs conformation.
• Prepare the key interviews:
  • make a list of the most important questions
  • list key questions that call for confirmation
  • make a plan for the interview
  • establish the purpose of the interview
  • organize how you will control the interview
  • when, where and how will you do the interview.

12) What happens after publishing the story?

• What are the reactions you can expect?
• What will you do next?