Who This Is For

Journalists, investigative reporters, fact-checkers, documentary filmmakers, and news researchers covering government accountability, civil rights, immigration, democracy, and related topics. This path focuses on investigative methodology, source protection, and the current political and media environment.

Learning Sequence

Step 1: Investigative Tools Overview

Read: knowledgebase/investigative-journalism-tools-directory.md

A comprehensive directory of investigative journalism tools organized by function: corporate research, court records, financial disclosures, FOIA, data journalism, and more.

Step 2: Investigation Methodologies

Read all 8 files in: knowledgebase/investigative-tools/methodologies/

The eight core investigation methodologies used in civic accountability research:

• Corporate investigation methodology
• Evidence preservation methodology
• Identity investigation methodology
• Media verification methodology
• Network mapping methodology
• Public records research methodology
• Source protection methodology
• Timeline construction methodology

Step 3: Step-by-Step Tutorials

Read tutorials relevant to your beat in: knowledgebase/investigative-tools/tutorials/

20 tutorials organized by investigation type:

• Corporate intelligence: beneficial ownership, ICIJ offshore leaks, OpenCorporates, OpenSanctions
• Domain infrastructure: DNS and WHOIS basics
• Media verification: geolocation from photos, reverse image search, video verification, web archiving
• OSINT identity: breach data, email OSINT, phone investigation, username enumeration
• Public records: DocumentCloud, FOIA requests, OpenSecrets, PACER court records
• Secure communication: metadata stripping

Step 4: FOIA and Public Records

Read: knowledgebase/foia-filing-guide.md

How to file effective FOIA requests: which agencies to target, how to draft requests for maximum results, fee waivers, appeals, and litigation when agencies refuse.

Step 5: The Full Tool Catalog

Read: knowledgebase/investigative-tools/tool-catalog/tools-volume-a.md Read: knowledgebase/investigative-tools/tool-catalog/tools-volume-b.md Read: knowledgebase/investigative-tools/tool-catalog/tools-volume-c.md

The complete Patriot University tool catalog: 176 tools organized alphabetically with descriptions, URLs, access models, and use cases. The definitive reference for investigative journalism tools.

Step 6: Media Capture and the Current Environment

Read: knowledgebase/captured-media-falsehood-legislation-pipeline.md

How media capture works, the falsehood-to-legislation pipeline, and what it means for independent journalism covering the current administration. Context essential for understanding the operating environment.

Step 7: Source Protection and Digital Security

Read: knowledgebase/investigative-tools/methodologies/source-protection-methodology.md Read: knowledgebase/learning-paths/new-content/digital-security-for-citizens.md Read: knowledgebase/investigative-tools/tutorials/secure-communication/metadata-stripping-before-share.md

How to protect sources: secure intake systems (SecureDrop), encrypted communication, metadata hygiene, and the legal landscape for journalist-source privilege.

Step 8: Accountability Profiles

Read relevant files in: knowledgebase/accountability/

318 individual profiles of Trump administration officials, legislators, media figures, and political operatives. Useful for background research, identifying patterns of conduct, and sourcing for accountability reporting.

Key cross-reference documents:

• accountability/conflicts-of-interest-matrix.md
• accountability/trump-family-financial-network.md
• accountability/right-wing-media-figures.md
• accountability/trump-aligned-pacs.md

Key Reference Documents

Related Use-Case Playbooks

• Researching People — OSINT for subject research
• Researching Companies — corporate accountability reporting
• Researching Conflicts of Interest — financial reporting
• Keeping Communication Secure — source protection
• Witnessing Constitutional Rights Violations — if you witness police conduct