Verifying information is one of the core activities of journalism. However, recent research shows that many stories derive from unchecked information from news agencies and PR material. That being said, reporters who do not use this pre-packaged material, but who instead produce original stories based on independent research, might be journalists who stay devoted to the verification of information. Therefore, this study focuses on in-depth stories that originated inside the newsroom. We expected that these kinds of stories would be checked and double-checked, because time constraints are less important and these stories are characteristic of independent, quality journalism. Contrary to this expectation, the results show that even these kinds of stories are not always vetted. The lack of time was seldom mentioned as an excuse. Our research points to avoidance mechanisms which inhibit journalists from verifying their information.
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Het project Cracking the Criminal Mind is een samenwerking tussen politie-experts en studenten. In een learning community wordt getracht om te anticiperen op nieuwe, frauduleuze verdienmethodes. Welke strategieën zouden criminelen – al dan niet gebruikmakend van nieuwe digitale afschermingsmethodes – kunnen bedenken om geld te verdienen en om uit zicht te blijven van politie en justitie? Het identificeren van innovatieve criminele verdienmethoden vindt plaats in een learning community waar politie-experts en studenten met verschillende soorten kennis en expertise samenkomen. Deelnemers aan de learning community denken ook na over strategieën om de geïdentificeerde verdienmethoden tijdig te herkennen en te verstoren.
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