The team behind Help Me Investigate are:

Paul Bradshaw

Paul is a senior lecturer in online journalism at Birmingham City University, and publisher of the Online Journalism Blog. He has contributed to a number of books about journalism and the internet, including the second edition of Investigative Journalism. Paul came up with the idea behind Help Me Investigate and is the one who has to make sure it all fits together.

Nick Booth

Nick is a former BBC journalist who left to work in community media. His work under the Podnosh name combines activities ranging from helping neighbourhood groups, schools and charities create social media for social benefit, to working to the same ends with rather larger organisations like the Audit Commission and the Environment Agency. Nick was among a small group who established the Birmingham Bloggers group and organises the regular free Social Media Surgeries for community and voluntary groups in the city.

Jon Bounds

Jon Bounds is a social media consultant and blogger, who has been creating and managing websites and communities for the last ten years. He spent nearly four years working for the BBC, and has since worked on internet and social media campaigns for high-profile arts projects and founded Birmingham: it’s Not Shit, a website that markets Brum without ever mentioning ‘canalside living’. He works actively on social engagement through social media, working on consultation projects, local blogging and digital inclusion.

Colin Meek

Colin has worked on investigative and in-depth research projects for over 15 years as a journalist and policy analyst. Since starting as a freelancer 10 years ago he has worked for many clients including Which?, Health Which?, BMJ (British Medical Journal) Knowledge, The Times, the Canadian Medical Association Journal, journalism.co.uk, the Pharmaceutical Journal, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and many others. Over the last few years he has carried out detailed projects on many issues such as surveillance, trans-fats and NHS targets. In 2005 he had his six-month investigation into laser eye surgery published by The Times. From 2002 to 2006 he was commissioned by BMJ Knowledge as an editor and writer on the Best Health initiative where he worked on dozens of health topics.

Heather Brooke

Heather is an investigative journalist and author of the Freedom of Information guide Your Right To Know. She is best known for her 5-year fight to get MPs expenses published – a fight that led to the recent resignations of the Speaker of the House of Commons and a number of MPs. Heather is the site’s Support Journalist – suggesting actions that users can take to push an investigation forward.

Stef Lewandowski

Stef is a Webby award-winning web developer, a Clore fellow and founder of the social network website for dads, Odadeo. Stef built – and continues to build – Help Me Investigate. If you have any ideas for features please use the Feedback feature to let him know.