University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts 2013 The t‘ witterisation’ of investigative journalism Julie N. Posetti University of Canberra,
[email protected] Publication Details Posetti, J. N. (2013). The t‘ witterisation’ of investigative journalism. In S. J.. Tanner & N. Richardson (Eds.), Journalism Research and Investigation in a Digital World (pp. 88-100). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library:
[email protected] The t‘ witterisation’ of investigative journalism Abstract Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, the 'social tools' most widely used by journalists in their work, are transforming professional norms and values. The aw ys journalists engage with these platforms are: challenging notions of objectivity through the convergence of personal and professional lives; propelling the mainstreaming of 'open journalism' models, which promote collaborative research and reportage; and even upending established verification processes. So, what are the implications for investigative journalism? What are the potential benefits of s' ocial journalism' for research, investigation and verification? How can journalists and news publishers most effectively deploy social media platforms in pursuit of investigative stories? And what are the pitfalls of this brave new world? This chapter will seek to answer these questions and work towards developing a best-practice approach to social journalism principles in the context of investigative reporting, with an emphasis on the role and impact of Twitter as the tool of choice for most journalists.