2013 June

No data doesn’t mean no story

3 examples this week show how you can still tell important stories based on Freedom of Information requests even when you don’t get any results. In the first, a national story, 54 FOI requests were sent to mental health trusts. 6 could not say how often any form of restraint was used, and: “Half of […]

International Students Myth 4: Scrapping the Post Study Work visa means there will be fewer illegal immigrants in the foreign graduates’ pool.

TweetIn the fourth of a five-part series on common misconceptions about international students and visa laws, Nicole Froio looks at the Post Study Work Visa. Myth 4: Scrapping the Post Study Work visa means there will be fewer illegal immigrants in the foreign … Continue reading

International Students Myth 3: Laws should be tighter because some students stay illegally in this country after graduating.

TweetIn the third of a five-part series on common misconceptions about international students and visa laws, Nicole Froio looks at the law and international students. Myth 3: Laws should be tighter because some students stay illegally in this country after graduating. There are no … Continue reading

International Student Myth 2: It costs too much to have students in the UK

TweetIn the second of a five-part series on common misconceptions about international students and visa laws, Nicole Froio looks at the cost of international students. Myth 2: It costs too much to have students here Foreign students usually come from wealthy families, … Continue reading

International Students Myth 1: International students are immigrants

TweetAs politicians discuss how visa laws are affecting international students, Assistant Editor Nicole Froio investigates 5 common misconceptions about international students and visa laws in a 5 post series. Changes to visa laws in 2011 have raised increasing concerns that the UK is becoming … Continue reading

Council silence over “destroyed” correspondence with Olympic body

One council appeared to save hundreds of thousands of pounds on the Olympic Torch Relay by getting Olympic organisers LOCOG to pay their costs – but for six months they have denied having any records of how that happened. Carol … Continue reading

Hartlepool Council drilled about festival funds raid for Olympic torch relay

Hartlepool Council have defended their decision to fund part of the Olympic Torch Relay with money intended for a maritime festival. The Hartlepool Mail spoke to the council after finding out about the spending through Help Me Investigate. They report: “The … Continue reading

HMI elsewhere: Getting started with investigative journalism

Nicole Froio has interviewed me for Wannabe Hacks on ‘Getting started with investigative journalism’ – you can read the post over there.

Useful Olympic links for May 21st through June 7th

Olympic news roundup for 11:21: Olympic torch cost £639 a minute through Northampton – Business News – Northampton Chronicle and Echo – ThisIs – Olympic Torch relay costs Waltham Forest second most in UK (From This Is Local London) – … Continue reading

MPs debate issues surrounding student visas in House of Commons

Members of Parliament are today debating controversial issues surrounding student visas and the inclusion of students in migration targets set by the government. See below for a Twitter commentary of the debate. Continue reading