J219 Open Source Investigative Reporting 1/29 – 3/19

This 8-week course will teach the methods of open source investigations with a focus on developing a story on improprieties in the microfinance world. Students will learn and employ the tools and techniques of open source investigations—including social media search and monitoring, verification, geolocation, visualization, resiliency, and ethics. The class will contribute to a publishable long-form open source investigative piece on the exploitation and criminalization of poor women worldwide who receive micro loans from major NGOs. Students will receive reporting credit for work on this piece and have an opportunity to contribute to a forthcoming book by Mara Kardas-Nelson on the topic.