VVOJ Conference in Zwolle
"I'm not very technically
savvy," confesses ICIJ Director Gerard Ryle after a small spot of bother
with his slideshow.But you do
not, says the coordinator of the technical and ingenious Offshore Leaks
revelations-Friday during the opening keynote at the Conference Investigative
Journalism in Zwolle."That
knowledge can hire." "At the trial were not only ICIJinvolved members.We have a computer expert hired from
outside because the technical expertise we needed here was missing. "(confertentie Follow on Twitter)
Eighty journalists around the
world worked together on a large-scale investigation into tax evasion, which
all began with a hard drive that came with Ryle in the post.
One of the things that Ryle
considered wise, was to contact a lawyer."It
was obviously stolen information.So
the question was whether we could use.What showed: under U.S. law does.The lawyers asked: "Didyousteal it? "No."You ledturnedit would be? stolen 'Also not.Ok, we were safe. "
The data consisted of 2.5
million records, it was a complex operation to translate journalistic
usefulness and relevance data.Eventually,
lists sent to the participating journalists in all the different countries with
names and addresses."We
wanted to treat the information in accordance with journalistic criteria."
The public has lost confidence in journalists, Ryle stressed several times."We must see to regain."
After publication, there were
three men from the IRS, the U.S. tax authorities, on the sidewalk."They said: 'We'll ask nicely,
but the people who come after us do not: give us the data."I was beaten dumb.Do not you know that you yourself have
that information long?The data
was a year in the closet at the Australian, British and American tax authorities.
"
The journalistic logistics
around the joint, coordinated publication of the research stories in all
countries also caused some headaches.Eventually
it was decided to date April 4."We
decided that it would happen at midnight Paris time.That was for the journalists from
Canada acceptable, which could still take, and The Guardian was also satisfied
because in the UK it was eleven o'clock.Anyhow,
there are differences in what is the best day for a publication: in one country
is Saturday, the other Sunday and somewhere else that Monday. "
On a question from the audience
or Ryle will wait until the next drive in the bus is, he says, "I think we
whistle-blowers a hand to help, because that's the beginning all wrong: they
use old phones, old computers , do silly things to get in touch. journalistsYou
must be very careful with the internet, do not trust it unless you absolutely
sure it is safe. "
Source: VVOJ
