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Amman, Jordan — November 10, 2025
As part of the lead-up to the ARIJ 18th Annual Forum, ARIJ organized the fifth pre-forum webinar titled “Behind the Investigations – Methodology and Lessons Learned.” The session brought together 38 live viewers, 63% of whom were female, from across the region to unpack the methods, challenges, and lessons behind several in-depth investigations produced with ARIJ. Overall satisfaction rate was 87%.
The webinar was led by Farah Jallad, Editor and Coach at ARIJ, and Ahmad Ashour, Investigative Journalist and Coach at ARIJ, and moderated by Ibrahim Hamadah, ARIJ’s Executive Editor. For two hours, speakers and guest journalists shared concrete experiences from the field—how investigations started, how hypotheses were built and tested, and how sensitive testimonies and evidence were documented and verified.
The discussion focused on how investigations begin, and how a personal observation, a passing news item, or a recurring pattern can be shaped into a testable hypothesis. Speakers highlighted the value of temporal and spatial pattern analysis in developing hypotheses—refining them over time, or revising them when the evidence requires it. They also explored the role of investigation supervisors in documenting evidence, verifying alleged violations, and linking individual cases to broader patterns, alongside the challenges that can arise from data collection through to documenting and verifying testimonies.Speakers further reflected on reporting with victims and vulnerable sources—emphasizing trust-building, active listening, and respecting painful experiences while maintaining strict verification standards. The webinar also examined how open-source information (OSINT) can help identify new human sources and add depth to sensitive investigations, particularly when witnesses or victims fear speaking publicly for their safety.
“The scale of pain can leave some victims unable to describe what they went through. That’s why building trust, practicing active listening, and respecting victims’ experiences are essential—alongside verifying and carefully cross-checking information during interviews.”
Ehab Zidan, Investigative Journalist.
““Open-source information can lead to new human sources that deepen an investigation—especially when witnesses or victims fear speaking publicly for safety reasons. The key is persistence: follow the facts even if it requires refining or changing your hypothesis.”
Hamed Fathi, Journalist and Editor.
“An investigation may start with a personal observation or a passing news item… which became the starting point for building the hypothesis behind ‘Deferred Goals’, later supported by documenting the names of more than a thousand prisoners to trace patterns and test the hypothesis.”
Asmaa Al-Masalmeh, Independent Journalist.
“The ARIJ session on investigative methodologies was truly inspiring — I learned how scientific methods, pattern analysis, and building trust with sources can turn simple observations into deep, impactful investigations.”
Nada Hassan, Egypt
“The ‘Behind the Investigations’ webinar offered a deeper understanding of how journalists document evidence and deal with sensitive testimonies. It showed how rigorous methodology can turn painful stories into solid, professional investigations.”
Fatima Gharib, Lebanon
“It was an inspiring experience — I came away with practical ideas on how to structure my investigations, deal with challenges in the field, and keep going even when evidence is hard to obtain.”
Nashwa Ahmed, United Arab Emirates
The session provided participants with a clearer, more systematic view of how investigations are designed, managed, and brought to publication—from hypothesis-building and data collection to verification, supervision, and impact. Journalists left with concrete tools and reflections to strengthen their future investigative work.
