As online news evolves to offer deeper investigations for broader audiences, digital journalists seek sources to help them hold power to account. Whether working in Big Tech, environment, health, government, journalists often rely on insider scoop to tell the story. The human face behind of that scoop is often a whistleblower taking personal risk to help reveal wrongdoing. The journey of the whistleblower working with media is fraught with all kinds of challenges, from legal to safety to job loss and psychosocial trauma. Understanding the issues your sources face – and how to help make sure they are minimized – will improve your overall relationships with whistleblowers and help you get the stories you are looking to publish.
This panel, hosted by the internationally-operating whistleblower support nonprofit The Signals Network and the Knight Foundation, will provide insights into working effectively with whistleblowers. It will feature journalist and whistleblower speakers who will discuss the reporting process and the whistleblower journey. They will offer tips for what to do and not do when working on a story with a whistleblower source in the digital age. Since 2017, The Signals Network has collaborated with journalists whose sources need customized legal, safety and psychosocial support before, during and after an investigative story is published.
This session is designed for:
Speakers
Ali Diercks
Wendell Potter
Rebecca Petras
Moderator

Duc Luu
Director of Sustainability Initiatives/Journalism, Knight Foundation
@ducluu5718