Even among investigative journalists, web archives tend to be underrated – and undertaught. This hands-on session introduces journalists to powerful techniques for using web archives. Participants will learn how to recover deleted or hidden content and archive key material from platforms like Instagram and X. Using real-world examples, we’ll demonstrate how these skills can strengthen reporting across a wide range of stories, from everyday reporting to investigative longreads. After this session, you will be able to retrieve archived content, recover deleted posts (not necessarily the same things!), and preserve online material using advanced web archiving tools and techniques. We will teach participants how to tweak the URL and use the asterisk, and we will demonstrate why the "Golden Hour" of archiving is so important in breaking news situations. No prior experience is required—just an interest in digital sleuthing and a willingness to explore new tools. Please bring a laptop with you, preferably with the Chrome browser installed.
