Investigative Journalism and Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act came into place in 2005 and allows the public to access information they previously wouldn't have been able to from public authorities. This helps investigative journalists in particular.

Investigative journalism is when journalist's themselves uncover stories, rather than just covering the current news. Journalist's can now simply send a request for certain information to a public body and receive an answer now that the Act has been passed, making their job a lot easier than before.

There are two types of investigative journalism; light and heavy. Light investigative journalism is often about celebrities or current stars, about there bullying rampages at schools, botched plastic surgery or pictures of them on a drunken night out. They can usually get this kind of information from family, 'friends' or associates. Heavy investigative journalism includes the more serious news, such as miscarriages of justice, public authorities misusing money or political scandals. This information is often gained through the allowance of the Freedom of Information Act.

Tony Blair, the man who passed the Act, said himself that he regretted passing the Freedom of Information Act; too many people have too much access to the skeleton's in everyone's closet.

The Act covers 130,000 public bodies, receives over 100,000 requests a year; 12% of these requests are made by journalists. The estimated cost spent on FOI requests a year is approximately £34 million.

A public body can refuse to give information under the following circumstances;

• The request costs more than £450 for small institutions, or more than £600 for larger institutions.
• The information requested comes under the Official Secrets Act
• The information requested is exempt; either absolute or qualified.

Absolution exemption means the public body does not have the duty to confirm or deny that information even exists, for instance, court records or security services.

Qualified exemption means the public body does not necessarily have to release certain information, however, if public interest overrules then it should be released, for instance, commercial confidentiality and ministerial communication.

You can submit of Freedom of Information request at www.whatdotheyknow.com

However, sometimes investigative journalists won't always obtain their information this way. Some may receive leaked information from a certain source; being a person. One of the most important unwritten rules is to never, ever give up a source. If you give up a source, you're dead in the industry, no one will look at you the same and you may as well start looking for a new career. If you're not willing to go to prison to protect your source, then you shouldn't take the information.