CLASS - Wednesday,November 5, 12, 19 from 2-4pm PT / 5-7pm ET

Reporting Crime in Real Time: Tools, Ethics, and Strategy

Learn how to produce a compelling and ethical true-crime podcast. This course covers how to track down hard-to-find people, vet sources with hidden agendas, report unfolding stories in real time, and avoid re-victimizing survivors. 
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Students walk away with...


  • A podcast treatment for a true crime story, including narrative structure, reporting plan, and ethical considerations.
  • Hands-on OSINT skills—how to find people, track digital footprints, and verify information using online tools.
  • A source vetting checklist to help identify red flags and avoid being manipulated by biased or deceptive sources.
  • A reporting strategy for covering an unfolding story in real time without compromising accuracy or ethics.

About this class

  • Wednesday, November 5
    Wednesday, November 12
    Wednesday, November 19
  • 2 - 4pm PT / 5-7pm ET 
  • Virtual
  • 4 x 2 hour classes
  • $335 AIR members 
    $385 non-members
  • Payment plans available at checkout. 
Telling true crime stories isn’t just about drama—it’s about getting it right.
This course is designed for independent journalists who want to produce compelling, credible, and ethical true crime podcasts. Led by investigative journalist and podcast creator Javier Leiva (PRETEND, The Ponzi Playbook), you’ll learn how to use open-source intelligence (OSINT) to track down hard-to-find people, vet sources who may have their own agendas, and walk the tightrope of storytelling without exploiting victims.
We’ll cover:
  • How to responsibly report on ongoing cases in real time
  • Techniques to avoid getting manipulated by bad actors or biased insiders
  • Strategies for staying sympathetic but objective
  • Ethical storytelling that doesn’t re-traumatize survivors

Whether you're working solo or with a team, this course will give you the tools to produce work that’s as impactful as it is responsible.

Who is this class for? 

This class is designed for independent journalists, podcasters, and nonfiction storytellers who have some experience with reporting or audio production—but want to sharpen their investigative chops and avoid common pitfalls in true crime storytelling.
Meet the instructor

Javier Leiva

Javier Leiva is no stranger to the dark corners of the human psyche. With his true crime podcasts “PRETEND,” “CRIMINAL CONDUCT,” and “THE PONZI PLAYBOOK.” Leiva has carved out a reputation as one of the genre’s most immersive storytellers. Drawing from two decades of TV and marketing experience, he’s mastered the art of pulling listeners into twisted tales of crime and deception that feel all too real.

Leiva has peeled back the layers on infamous fraudster Frank Abagnale and shared his own wild encounter with a cult. But his biggest expose might just be his investigative series, “The Stalker,” which led to the arrest of two individuals who faked their own stalking.
It's not just the podcast world paying attention— his reporting has been adapted into Netflix’s “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” and Discovery+’s “Citizen P.I.” with major outlets like The New York Times and the BBC.

"PRETEND" has become a staple in the true crime world, holding steady at the top of the charts across multiple countries. And with four Midsouth Emmys under his belt for his work in commercial broadcasting, Leiva’s impact stretches far beyond the podcast studio.
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