THE future of investigative journalism in Ireland and beyond is the focus of an upcoming conference in Dublin.
The 16th Cleraun Media Conference, which takes place this weekend, will discuss how investigative reporting can survive in an age of new media, when audiences are “bombarded” with stories.
The bi-annual event is hosted by the Catholic Church-linked Opus Dei, and this year’s conference explores how investigative journalism sits at the “digital frontier”.
Speakers will include Pulitzer prize-winning Washington Post journalist Carol Leonnig, whose uncovering of lapses in the US Secret Service’s presidential security led to Barack Obama replacing over half of the organisation’s senior leadership.
Also appearing at the event in Dublin’s Chartered Accountants House from November 11 to 13 is BBC Panorama’s Declan Lawn, and Matt Cooke of Google News Lab.
Milestones in investigation that will be highlighted include the Panama Papers, which were uncovered through advances in digital technology, and the bombshell that 40 percent of the Republic’s councillors failed to declare property interests despite a legal requirement to do so – exposed by RTÉ journalists.
Conference director Paul Harman said: “Investigative journalism has an important role to play in holding power to account, but it costs a lot, and most media organisations have less and financial resources, as advertisers move online and fewer people read or watch traditional news outlets."
Further details of the event are available at www.cleraunmedia.com.
