Here’s a problem-solving exercise for all budding investigative journalists out there!

You’re investigating allegations about a company involved in misselling PPI. How do you go about it?

This wouldn’t be a straightforward investigation.

Companies aren’t covered by the FOIA, so your options are:

  1. Put direct questions to their press offices.
  2. Track down ex-employees through LinkedIn, Twitter etc, and ask them for information.
  3. Find forums where PPI victims exchange their stories / information, and post questions.
  4. Search to see if an MP has been active on the PPI issue, and ask him / her for information.

Options 3 and 4 are the most viable.

Alongside this, you could use the Freedom of Information Act to put questions to the Claims Management Regulator, and the Claims Ombudsman.

Ask them for details of cases involving the sphere you’re investigating … and general questions about the numbers of complaints etc.

See our investigative journalism course