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Blog The importance of investigative journalism

The importance of investigative journalism

26/04/2024


Last night, my friend, mentor and client Sandi Logan won the 2024 UK True Crime Award for his book BETRAYED in the category Outstanding Investigative Reporting.

“Longform journalism is still an important part of the craft of reporting and breaking news,” said Logan who dashed to London for the awards from his Australian base in Mystery Bay. “The extensive research required of a story such as that of the Drug Grannies from an era when records were stored on microfiche, court transcripts were hard copy, and photographs were largely black and white prints was all that much harder when I first reported on this story as a young journalist in the late 1970s.

“Thank goodness for the internet and the technology available today – it made my job writing BETRAYED much quicker and more enjoyable.

“But one thing hasn’t changed for me: it’s not always about being the first to print or publish; it’s important to be accurate and truthful when sharing one’s non-fiction work with an audience and I’m pleased to see the judges of this award have appreciated that too,” Logan added.

Already a smash hit in Australia, ‘Betrayed’ is a riveting narrative of deception, exploitation, and the long journey toward justice, in a case that shocked the world in the late 1970s. It chronicles the path of Toddie and Beezie, two unsuspecting American women who believed they were embarking on an exciting trip from Germany to India in a camper van gifted by Toddie’s nephew. The duo was oblivious to the fact that two tonnes of hashish had been clandestinely packed into the vehicle, making them participants in a major global drug smuggling operation.

Though the story might have happened decades ago, the plight of the women will resonate with thousands of victims in the UK and around the world, as females become the predominant targets of on-and-offline scams. Indeed, author Sandi Logan believes the ‘Drug Grannies’ might be the first victims of their kind.

Drawing from firsthand interviews and diaries, Logan brings to life the women's journey across continents, their shocking arrest by the Australian Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and their subsequent struggle for justice in the aftermath of their unexpected notoriety.

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The above is a example for how journalists would draw key information from a press release for a short, informative article. 
If you'd like to learn how to write a press release, grab yourself a free template or sign up for a short DIY course on how to do a press release properly. If you want to learn more about PR Strategies and how I can help you, then drop me an email.

By the way BETRAYED is an excellent read. You can order it online in Australia, the UK and the US. Here the link to Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link, and I might receive a small payment). Other booksellers are, of course, available!
You can read more about Sandi here.


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Hi, my name is Elke Koessling Winzer, and I am delighted that you have found your way to my site.

I help small business owners to get clear on their story and increase their reach & income with the help of PR.
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