Teaching Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Journalism: Strategies and Priorities

The Internet and social media have given rise to open-source intelligence (OSINT) as a specialized field in journalism. OSINT involves gathering, analyzing, and sharing information from publicly available sources to uncover hidden insights (Best, 2007; Williams & Blum, 2018). Journalists practicing OSINT require specific skills such as advanced search techniques, digital forensics, data analysis, and verification. Job roles in this field include open-source analysts, intelligence analysts, and information researchers. However, the everevolving technology and the Internet present challenges for journalism professionals and educators in keeping pace with the demands of this emerging domain. Continuous learning and training are necessary to stay up to date with the latest developments and techniques. Educators face the additional challenge of striking a balance between teaching traditional journalism skills and addressing emerging areas like OSINT. Furthermore, the absence of standardized OSINT training and education poses difficulties for professionals seeking to acquire the required skills and for educators aiming to develop effective training programs. This article aims to propose strategies for integrating OSINT into media pedagogy, recognizing journalism as a process of verification.

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