A few remarks about "independent investigative journalism"

Investigative journalism has recently become a real trend. However, no one can deny that the methods of extracting data used in such materials raise certain questions. Apparently, any journalist can and might use classified databases and photo forensics, carry out a deep analysis of metadata and be aware of the most hidden secrets. But all these stories about investigation methods and ways of using information can lead to the idea that such manipulations can be performed by any confident PC user. Let’s be honest, pretty all of us once tried to dig the web in order to find some kind of confidential or sensitive information. But it turned out to be not that easy as it had seemed. All the expectations burst like a soap bubble. Not for a journalist indeed, especially if he is provided with relevant data. Analysing the largest investigative materials, I concluded that their authors have either support or close ties with government agencies which simply exploit the journalists to transmit information to the public.

Just take a look at the articles published by journalists from the Bellingcat project, created by the genre master Elliott Higgins. His team is just doing a great job working with various Media outlets, whistle-blowers and special services. Thus, the report published on July, 28 contained the data, which could not be obtained even from the Darknet. I am talking about mobile phone billing, transcripts of calls and accurate geodata.
I am 100 per cent sure this information comes from the intelligence services. And it would be nothing if we were talking about such a concept as «special services whistle-blower», but what if all this was initiated by the security services from the very beginning?
So why did Bellingcat hide this fact? If the team wants their readers to trust them and make appropriate conclusions about the meaning of publications, it is time to stop denying ties with government institutions. The Bellingcat group website still hangs a banner stating «This is an independent project that exists on donations». However, their close ties to the intelligence community of the United States and the United Kingdom clearly contradict this. Bellingcat journalists underwent training at the Royal College of London, which is known as a part of the training structure for the British military intelligence. Moreover, the project is directly associated with the Atlantic Council a non-profit structure, created in 1961 with the goals of creating conditions for «maintaining leadership» of the United States in the world.
It turns out that such projects as Bellingcat are not so independent. And this undermines their credibility. Just if you are trying to seem honest, be honest. And if you want to convey what is hidden, open yourself.