Investigative journalism can be described like doing a jigsaw puzzle. It starts with a pile of pieces that are jumbled and then, slowly they are put together to create a picture.
Watchdog journalism is vital for any democratic system. Watchdog journalism can be used to hold individuals accountable and expose the abuses of authority and corruption. This type of journalism, from Upton Sinclair’s investigation into the meatpacking industry to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovering Watergate it has had a significant impact.
False Academic Credentials for Students
Millions of people around world buy fake academic certificates. From a lone operator with printing equipment in New York City’s Chinatown to a ready-to-order online operation, the world of fake diplomas is diverse and expanding.
The mills for degrees that were only a handful of operators who made certificates at their kitchen tables to sell on matchbook covers have become high-tech, using chat rooms, websites and edu suffixes on their domain names. They also have fake accreditation agencies that cite strict, but not defined standards. This billion-dollar enterprise lets you achieve a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate without ever attending classes, taking exams or performing any other work.
Making up a fake transcript for a college is another method to get fake diplomas. If you are caught, this is an offense that could result in jail time.
To find out how easy it is to get fake degrees from universities, Marketplace teamed up with former FBI agent Allen Ezell to purchase one from Almeda University, an online school that offered the PhD in Biblical Counseling. By using an alias Lack was able to provide Almeda University with backstory over the phone. He then was able to qualify for the degree by giving some of his professional credentials.
Diploma Mills Investigation
The fake diploma industry is a billion-dollar business according to experts. Through analyzing business records, analysing customer data, and the comparison of social media profiles Marketplace investigated Axact in Pakistan one of the largest players. We discovered many Canadians who could have bought degrees from this fake institution.
Although there are laws that restrict the sale and false representation of fraudulent credentials, it is still difficult to pursue diploma mills. The thorny problem has drawn the attention of UNESCO, the FBI and federal prosecutor and the Department of Education, the Federal Trade Commission and education ministries around the world. It’s a daunting task for investigators despite the increasing number of watchdog groups.
Additionally, many of these fake schools have names that are quite similar to those of legitimate schools and check this site https://lambang-toanquoc.com/. It can be hard to identify them with an investigation of background. Professional background screeners are like detectives who use their training to identify the red flags that an applicant has in his education background.
Other indications that the diploma mill is fraudulent are a name that sounds suspiciously alike and an address or website that doesn’t mention the school’s location. Going to these universities in real life, as our reporters did in the case of New World Mission Dunamis International University in Cape Town and Northern Ireland Institute of Business Technology in Belfast is a crucial step to uncover diploma mills.
Integrity of Educational Qualifications
Investigative journalism requires an enormous amount of perseverance and a keen awareness of patterns and anomalies. Investigative journalism requires many skills, including document analysis, anonymity and on-record interviews and subscription-based tools for research, etc. It is usually laborious and slow, but it can uncover the truth, and make powerful individuals, politicians and criminals accountable.
For example, when Marketplace investigated the biggest diploma mill Axact, they obtained company records and cross-referenced personal information to confirm that customers were genuinely looking to buy fake degrees. The group also visited fake universities like New World Mission Dunamis International University, South Africa, and Northern Ireland Institute of Business Technology, London to verify their legitimacy and understand how they operate.
The negative impact of diploma mills is twofold, Gollin says: They devalue legitimate degrees which students have spent hours and tens of thousands of dollars earning. And they can put the public at risk when professionals like doctors and engineers do not have the right training.
Investigative journalism is important for this reason. Investigative journalism holds the sway regardless of the Watergate scandal that caused a stir in America or recent Nobel Peace Prize recipients Maria Ressa & Dmitry Muratov who fought for freedom of speech in Russia and Philippines. It is able to uncover corruption and help improve the world as a place.
Counterfeit Degrees Exposed
The industry of fake degrees is flourishing, with the world-wide industry doing an estimated $7 billion a year. In part, the explosive expansion of this business is due to the ease with which it is to obtain fake diplomas. The business is also growing due to the fact that people are lying on their resumes to get a job and earn money.
The profit motive of degree mills is a major reason for them to continue to operate even in the face of growing scrutiny from authorities. False universities can offer thousands of degrees every year for relatively little overhead, as the scammers can make degrees cheaply using computer software and outsourcing their actual staffing to international suppliers. These fake schools even have advertisements in legitimate newspapers and magazines including the Economist USA Today, Forbes, Psychology Today, Discover, Investors Business Daily, and regional editions of Time and Newsweek.
Declan Walsh, the investigative journalist who uncovered Axact’s fake degree empire, recently spoke to reporters from all over the world documents that he discovered in the course of his investigation. They included scans of registration documents for mailboxes belonging to Belford High School and Belford University in Texas and California as well as an official letter from the fake International Accreditation Organization, and images of Axact’s internal publication. Several documents from these have been used by the BBC to create the documentary, File on 4: Degrees of Deception, broadcast this week on the Radio 4 show, ‘File on Four’.