gijc2015

Research: “Bringing data into journalism: the IndiaSpend project”

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IndiaSpend is India’s first data journalism initiative. And is now rapidly growing to become an `agency of record’ when it comes to data and facts on the Indian economy, particularly in areas like education and healthcare as well as data on Indian states. We utilize open data available on the internet to analyse a range of issues, to generate awareness among masses (netizens) as a means of computer assisted reporting.

The National e-governance plan of the government of India launched in 2006 with the objective to provide easy & reliable access of government records and data to public, has enabled computer assisted reporting in the country promoting of data journalism.

The idea of IndiaSpend (data journalism) emerged from the Jan Lokpal (Citizen’s Ombudsman) movement in 2011 against corruption and bringing in transparency and accountability among government officials and agencies. The Right to Information Act (RTI) 2002, passed by Indian Parliament, too helped strengthen this notion.

GIJC2013

Research: “The Relationship (im)possible: Access to Public Information As a Tool of Investigative Journalism in Mexico” (Spanish)

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The access to public information has become an important tool for investigative journalism. In Mexico, the law that guarantees access to public documents is ten years old and has been recognized as a pioneer law in the world. However, neither the progress on transparency and accountability in the country, nor the journalism projects using institutional resources appear to have met the expectations but, in fact, may actually reflect a setback.

Given this view, this paper analyzes the two forces that have been combined in the Mexican context. On the one hand, the current conditions affecting investigative journalism in Mexico, both in their development and publication, in its social significance. And on the other hand, the structural features that have impacted positively and negatively on transparency and accountability. This combination allows a broad view of the current situation: from the power of corruption and impunity in a country, to the training deficiencies of the journalists and the information portrayed in the media.