I’ve been doing a lot of academic-related research in recent months. Three new books have chapters authored by me reflecting different areas of my research interests:

The first is a timely look at investigative journalism in the UK in the last 12 months, including a chapter by me researching the state and development of teaching investigative journalism in the UK higher education institutes. ‘Investigative Journalism: Dead or Alive?’ is available here.

The second is an examination of the life and work of photographer Tim Hetherington who was killed working in Libya last year. He co-directed the brilliant ‘Restrepo’ documentary about US soldiers in Afghanistan with well-known author/director Sebastian Junger who gave me an exclusive interview about his colleague. I believe that this chapter is the first serious academic assessment of Hetherington’s astonishing, visionary output: ‘Mirage in the Desert: Reporting the Arab Spring’ is available here.

The third book, which is not out yet, is called ‘The Phone Hacking Scandal: Journalism on Trial?’ and will be available in February. I have a chapter in it which uses my own professional output as raw data for testing my thesis which argues that robust and engaging investigative journalism can be carried out and have powerful impacts, within current legal and ethical frameworks and examines the notion that ultimately investigative journalists should regard themselves as being, what has been termed, ‘custodians of conscience.’ This chapter was based on research I did for a paper I delivered in London in October 2011 at the annual International Communication Ethics conference.