Investigative journalism is not dead

21 comments on “Investigative journalism is not dead ”

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1. ianmac 1

   6 April 2013 at 9:23 am

   Although I understand little of the expose , there must be some very rich/powerful people who will understand the significance and move to discredit/destroy those who would uncover the maggots wriggling in the underbelly of global finance.
   Nicky Hagar and Barbara Mare might suddenly find themselves victims of a dawn raid, unbeknownst to the PM of course.
   • geoff 1.1

     6 April 2013 at 2:48 pm

     The system is corrupt but the participants are largely self-serving. If a shark gets is bleeding in the water the other sharks don’t help, they eat it.
     When I’m feeling particularly naive I like to think we have finally reached the point where capitalism has sold itself the rope by which to hang it.
     • Ugly Truth 1.1.1

       7 April 2013 at 2:33 am

       The predatory nature of the civil system goes back to Rome, and from Rome back to Nimrod the hunter and Babylon. Capitalism isn’t responsible for the hubris and dictatorial attitude of the empire.
       • karol 1.1.1.1

         7 April 2013 at 7:00 am

         There’s a hint of Marxism in the notion that capitalism will eventually hang itself. And, Marx had a (dialectical materialist) historical perspective on the way capitalism evolved from previous systems. For Marx, each system eventually collapses through its internal contradictions and gives way to a new and different system.

         For Marxists and other left wingers I think there is much to be gained by putting pressure on the internal contradictions within capitalism.
   • karol 1.2

     6 April 2013 at 5:56 pm

     Nicky Hagar and Barbara Mare might suddenly find themselves victims of a dawn raid, unbeknownst to the PM of course.

     I think that is not extremely likely, ianmac, though not beyond the realms of possibility.

     Duncan Campbell and Nicky Hager are seasoned investigative journalists who have spoken truth to some major global powers int he past, and are still able to operate. Campbell was a respected left wing critical journalist back in the 80s and 90s when I lived in London. Like Hager, he gets dismissed by the neoliberals and elite front people – Key et al call Hager a muckraking conspiracy theorist.

     Such people have probably built up an extensive range of useful networks and contacts in diverse places.
2. freedom 2

   6 April 2013 at 10:02 am

   for some highlights of the associated issues here is RT doing what the other networks shy from
   http://rt.com/shows/the-truthseeker/us-aconomy-exposed-offshore-380/
3. Colonial Viper 3

   6 April 2013 at 10:51 am

   They also show how the capabilities of digital technologies can put to uses that benefit the many in holding the powerful few to account.

   It’s a great first step. However, in the US what has happened when this kind of malfeasance has come to light is usually one of the following:
   – An out of court settlement (fine) with no admission of wrong doing, and no publication of details.
   – An out of court settlement (fine) with admission of wrong doing, but no criminal charges and no prison time.
   – One of the above, but also being hauled up in front of a Congressional committee and being told off. No rule or law changes to prevent future occurrences.
   – Above but with rule or law changes which get severely watered down so by the time they pass they are of the wet bus ticket variety.
   – Above, but not watered down, but also never enforced and ignored by authorities.
   • One Tāne Huna 3.1

     6 April 2013 at 11:27 am

     After all, what good is corruption if it fails to corrupt things?
     • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1

       6 April 2013 at 11:51 am

       +1

       Our society has been corrupted by the rich and powerful and it’s time we took it back off them.
   • karol 3.2

     6 April 2013 at 6:02 pm

     I think the strength of the ICIJ is their extensive international networks, on and offline – distributed operations are far harder to dismantle. In contrast with say, wikileaks, it doesn’t seem so reliant on one, media-fronting, head honcho. Tasks have been delegated to various teams around the world.

     And they include journalists who have worked with major news organisations and/or publishers for several decades.

     And apparently they have far more international data than wikileaks ever held.
4. Draco T Bastard 4

   6 April 2013 at 11:48 am

   …the dirty (though usually legal) deals.

   Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean that it’s right.

   This is something that we’re going to have to confront and put in place a lot of rules and regulations that will stop it from further impoverishing the least wealthy and powerful people in diverse countries.

   It’s time we brought the scam of capitalism to an end – permanently.
   • Arfamo 4.1

     6 April 2013 at 12:01 pm

     Easiser said than done. Time was when I used to dismiss as the lunatic fringe the many global conspiracy theorists who claimed Western mainstream media was being deliberately dumbed down with fluff and distractions by the “global elite” to keep the masses ignorant and docile. Lately I’ve started to wonder if they’re actually right.
     • freedom 4.1.1

       6 April 2013 at 12:33 pm

       not being patronizing Arfamo, straight up serious
       that is a genuinely difficult road for a lot of people and be confident that your doubts on the veracity of the MSM are well founded.

       All the best on your travels down the rabbit hole
       make regular rest stops, there are some great views to be had 🙂
     • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.1.2

       6 April 2013 at 1:05 pm

       There’s a proliferation of junk media, that much is certain. There is still plenty of good journalism around though.
       • Arfamo 4.1.2.1

         6 April 2013 at 1:22 pm

         Really? Even Key’s “brain fades” are starting to get treated as infotainment by mainstream media. The tv media is starting to be more widely seen as unreliable gossipers IMO.
5. ghostrider888 5

   6 April 2013 at 7:46 pm

   “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”
6. geoff 6

   6 April 2013 at 10:13 pm

   Sorry if you’ve already linked to this, karol:

   http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/offshore-tax-havens/
7. xtasy 7

   7 April 2013 at 1:37 am

   Yes, investigative journalism is not dead, but admittedly much too rare and limited to few great researchers like Hager doing such work.

   It is great to hear what he, Duncan Campbell and a few others have unearthed.

   There is plenty to be exposed, and that would include NZ politics, but I sadly see too little of it. New current affairs shows focus on “soft” and “emotive” stories, which do not rock the boat or shake the system.

   MSM are part of the problem, having basically given up doing the hard work journalism, and are rather shying away from upsetting ministers, business and other leaders of the establishment.

   John Key’s recent comments should actually motivate them to get back into the game of thorough investigative journalism.

Links to post

1. Kiwis at centre of money maze: Hager - The Standard: posted on 7 April 2013 at 8:03 am
2. 10 April, 2013 21:35 | GPJA's Blog: posted on 10 April 2013 at 9:37 pm
3. The Key-Fletcher trail - The Standard: posted on 11 April 2013 at 11:37 am

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