This involved experimenting with graphic formats, redesigning its website to host videos, and planning new strategies to disseminate legal information using understandable language and compelling visuals.
Why did Flagrant Déni decide to focus on this project?
Flagrant Déni aimed to diversify its formats beyond written investigations to make legal and judicial information more accessible to non-experts. Recognising the media habits of predominantly young audiences in working-class neighbourhoods, the team saw video as a key format for reaching and expanding their audience. Team members believe that using clear language and compelling graphics in short videos will help demystify legal processes for those with limited access to such knowledge.
How did applying design-thinking principles help?
Thanks to personalised support and iterative feedback, the Flagrant Déni team was able to work on the graphic recognition of different video formats. This enabled improvements to the user interface between video content and published articles, making it better suited to a diverse audience that includes legal experts and inner-city residents.
Did Flagrant Déni’s approach change engagement with its audience in any way?
While it's still early to fully measure the impact of the new formats and interface, the new video page has already made communication easier with key audiences, including victims and followers. It provides a space to discuss future video projects and allows for broader distribution of the content. The team continues to refine its formats with feedback and expects to better assess engagement following the release of its next report in the autumn.
What challenges did Flagrant Déni encounter and how did it address them?
Meeting deadlines proved to be a challenge for the team due to internal staffing constraints. This was addressed by extending the project by one month. The team also encountered some technical challenges with the layout of the video page, which highlighted the importance of setting more achievable deadlines in future planning.
How was the project received by Flagrant Déni’s audience?
The project has been positively received so far, both internally and externally. Feedback has helped team members refine their video work. Audiences have welcomed the shift toward video formats, finding the investigations easier to access and share. This change has also proven useful in conversations with victims, who see the videos as helpful tools for discussion, collaboration, and testimony collection.
What insights or lessons did Flagrant Déni gain from this project?
The team learned the importance of not being overambitious with deadlines and recognised the value of external feedback and professional support. These insights contributed to enhancing the quality and organisation of the final deliverables.
What does Flagrant Déni plan on doing next?
The team is currently finalising the graphics and sound design for the new video format, in collaboration with a graphic designer and music/image creator. By September, the team plans to release new content on the updated video page and across social networks, timed with the release of its upcoming report. The team is also expanding to include a journalist skilled in video production. Several test formats are being prepared for presentation and discussion with audiences, allowing for collaborative development of future content.
What advice would Flagrant Déni give to other journalists or organisations considering a similar path?
The team recommends testing content without being overly focused on perfect form — especially for social media — as this encourages experimentation and learning. It’s also crucial to anticipate the time and coordination needed: setting up and running a project like this often takes longer and involves more people than initially expected. Maintaining active collaboration throughout the process can significantly improve the outcome.
Credit: Transitions, Journalismfund Europe's partner for implementing the Microgrants for Small Newsrooms programme, produced this case study.
