For an investigative journalist, reliable human sources are vital in building a credible and

balanced story. But extracting the information you need from a source not easy.
Finding Useful Sources.
As with the document’s journalists rely on to build their stories, human sources may be
classified into, primary or secondary, insiders or outsiders.
Primary or secondary
Primary sources: people directly involved in an event or issue, including eye witnesses,
victims and the people who caused things to happen, or have benefited as a result.
Secondary sources: those are not directly involved, e. g other journalists reporting on the
issue.
Insiders or outsiders:
Insiders: Referred to as “tipsters” or “whistleblowers,” these are people inside a government
department or some may be motivated to talk to a reporter for several reasons, could be trying
politically damage a bureaucratic rival, revenging, may be acting out of conscience or outrage
Besides drawing attention to a potential story, insiders are good for several things:
I) Historians – valuable sources of history, and personalities involved in issues
and practices targeted in the story.
II) Roadmaps- the hierarchy of an organization, the flow of documents
III) Guides- can point the reporter problem administrators and name the documents
a reporter should request.
IV) Retrievers- can provide internal documents.
Outsiders: former employees, officials in similar organizations, academics, gadflies,
outside expertise to explain the corruption and put it in context.
Building a list of sources:
Start with the basic – check telephone directories (e .g . yellow pages), possible contacts
in government ministries, relevant, local and international NGOs and foreign embassies,
search through NGO and UN agency directories, internet- check websites for contacts and
other useful information, press releases, reports and studies. Ask friends, colleagues if they
can recommend contacts.
Snowball – when you meet a contact, s\he may recommend other sources
Other news stories that have explored the same subject may point you to suitable sources.
Cultivating sources

Qualities of a good investigative reporter (knowledge, attitudes and skills)