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Access to Tools Launches

The Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ), in association with the Google News Initiative, are delighted to announce the launch of Access to Tools, a new project that will bring skills and techniques available through the Google News Initiative’s suite of applications and other digital tools to local newsrooms, independent media, academics and ordinary citizens around the UK.

The CIJ will lead up to 20 Access to Tools workshops between September 2018 and January 2019, training journalists and citizens in key areas, and showing how digital tools can improve their journalism. The workshops will be held in cities around the UK: in the Midlands, in the South West, the South East, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

We will be working with local partners and have hired new trainers.

The workshops will be free to attend.

The project will kick-off with the CIJ’s first regional, one-day conference in advanced investigative tradecraft – bringing the best resources and trainers to teach people how to find things out.

Building on the success of the CIJ’s annual Summer Conference in London, this one-day Access to Tools conference will be held in Newcastle University, and will feature training in digital tools as a constituent part of our broader investigative offer; a keynote lecture and presentation on how to investigative.

The conference will establish a bridgehead and prepare the ground for the more focused Access to Tools workshops.

Said CIJ Director, James Harkin:

“At the CIJ our leading concern is to put the best tools in the hands of investigative journalists, and then grow their expertise in using them.

“Building on our 15 years’ expertise in data journalism, advanced internet research, financial investigations, internet-powered fact-checking and our relationships of trust with the corporate and independent local media, Access to Tools is the perfect way to extend the already impressive reach of our regional network and to get out there into more regional newsrooms, communities, and universities.”

Said Matt Cooke, Head of Partnerships and Training, Google News Lab:

“Working together with the CIJ, the Google News Initiative wants to demonstrate how a range of free digital tools can be used to help journalists with their newsgathering and research.

“The CIJ trainers will offer their expertise and present the tools they’ve used themselves to write high quality, original, investigative stories.

“The practical workshops will feature technology from a range of providers and real-life examples. It’s important for us to help provide training across the country, and to widen access to digital training and education.”

  • 1 April 2018