The Use of Smartphones for Investigative Journalism: A Case Study of ACILA-Tiger Eye Project of Using Smartphones to Fight Corruption

Abstract

This study explores the use of smartphones for investigative journalism by participants in an Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) -Tiger Eye Project of using smartphones to fight corruption. The study seeks to find out how investigative journalists, who participated in the special training project on investigative journalism, are using smartphones in their line of work. Existing literature has established that professionals in various fields have been using smartphones including investigative journalists in other jurisdictions like Europe and United States of America. The objective of the study was to find out what the situation pertains in Ghana. The theoretical framework for the study was the Technological Acceptance Model. The qualitative approach was used to gather data from 10 respondents that were sampled for the study. The study found out that respondents used smartphones in several ways including for their undercover work, which involves visual content production and writing their stories. The study also showed that the use of smartphones comes with its attendant risks and dangers to journalists. But, respondents indicated that the benefits of using smartphones for investigative journalism outweigh the challenges.