We have the means but what's the model? A better way for universities and industry to produce investigative journalism

This paper offers a solution to two problems facing Australian journalism: the declining numbers working in newsrooms on investigative journalism and the shortage of specific and up to date curriculum materials about investigative journalism. These problems create an opportunity for universities not only to improve teaching of journalism but for them to play a greater role in providing the public with the fruits of investigative journalism projects. This paper examines the various models for producing investigative journalism within university settings. It explores collaborations with industry partners and the various forms of selfpublishing undertaken by journalism courses. It asks which forms of association with industry work well and which forms of investigative journalism best suit such collaborations. It assesses recent examples in which industry partners work alongside journalism students on investigative projects. Several universities have created their own print outlets for investigative journalism and the proliferation of digital platforms has made self-publishing more accessible. This paper asks how worthwhile these stories are if they are limited to university rather than mainstream or independent publications. The paper proposes a new approach to industry-academy collaborative investigative journalism and the creation of a new model that draws on the successes and failures of existing and previous ones so that universities can better realise their potential in this field and so that student learning can be enhanced while audiences are better served.