Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Investigative Journalism: Ideas for Covering the Quebec Student Demos

Check out Bilbo Poynter's new biweekly online column, Stories Undone, all about investigative journalism in Canada on This Magazine's website.

His first column explores ideas for better in-depth investigative reporting on the Quebec student demonstrations against Premier Jean Charest's proposed massive tuition fee hike.

Bilbo is executive director and co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Investigative Reporting (of which I have the privilege of being president of the board).

Investigative Journalism: How Obama Plays a Personal Role in Okaying Assassinations

U.S. President Barack Obama's unprecedented and gruesome role in approving the killing of every suspected Al Qaeda militant is investigated in detail in this interesting example of investigative reporting in The New York Times.

One of the revelations: Obama has the final say in each assassination at "nominations" meetings - held each week or so with over 100 national security staff to decide who will die next.

Also, when death counts from the huge number of military strikes are released to the public, any male of military age is automatically deemed to be a militant. And presto: Virtually no civilians are thus being killed in the drone attacks.

The assassination campaign has had another bonus for Obama, who was critical of the Guantanamo detention facility in Cuba during his election campaign. No detainees!