Many high-profile journalism names joined the list of ‘Coventry Conversations’ speakers on March 9th.
Among others, such figures as ‘Macintyre Undercover’ series star Donal MacIntyre, ‘The Secret Policeman’ Mark Daly and ex-Sunday Times editor Sir Harold Evans visited Coventry University to discuss the past, present and future conditions of investigative journalism.
Kevin Marsh
Presenting the event, titled ‘Investigative Journalism – Dead or Alive’, was Kevin Marsh- executive editor of the BBC College of Journalism.
Paul Lashmar introduced a scene-setting fact as one of the first speakers to contribute to the discussion: the 1980s saw around 150 working investigative journalists, 2008 saw “fewer than 90″. Compared to 30 years ago, the numbers have dwindled somewhat. So, it may not be dead, but is it dying? Apparently not, says Lashmar who nods to the recent WikiLeaks as a contemporary example of investigative journalism making big headlines. Although it can’t be considered a “Watergate moment”, “it’s drawn more people to investigative journalism than I’ve seen in donkeys years”, he adds. Writes Ryan Manders….
I have been pondering this question especially since a Coventry Conversations/BBC College of Journalism 
