Journalism and Politics: The Career of Jukes
The intersection of political activism and investigative reporting requires a unique blend of persistence and adaptability. Jukes has navigated this landscape for decades, evolving from a traditional feature writer and book reviewer into a pioneer of digital-age investigative journalism and open-source intelligence.
Early Career and Political Engagement
Jukes established his writing credentials as a feature writer and book reviewer for The Independent and the New Statesman. His early work spanned a diverse array of intellectual themes, including the complexities of nationalism, the evolution of art in the computer age, and the nature of apocalyptic religion.
His professional writing was mirrored by active political involvement. During the 1980s and 1990s, Jukes was a member of the Labour Party, where he participated in investigations regarding the "cash for questions" scandal, a political controversy involving payments to Members of Parliament in exchange for asking questions in the House of Commons.
The Transition to Digital Political Discourse
As the internet transformed political communication, Jukes became a prominent voice in the digital sphere. During the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries in the United States, he emerged as an active supporter of Barack Obama. He contributed writing to Daily Kos and later MyDD, the latter of which he left after it transitioned into a pro-Hillary Clinton platform.
Jukes later documented the volatility of these online political disputes—often referred to as "Flame Wars"—for Prospect. This period of digital engagement culminated in his role as one of 25 regular bloggers for the political site The Motley Moose.
Investigative Journalism and High-Profile Cases
Jukes has consistently utilized modern tools to bring transparency to legal and political proceedings. During the News International phone hacking scandal trial involving figures such as Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, he used the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to fund the comprehensive live-tweeting of the entire trial.
His commitment to deep-dive investigations is further evidenced by his work on the Daniel Morgan murder case. In May 2016, he co-produced and presented a 20-part podcast titled Untold: The Daniel Morgan Murder with Deeivya Meier, which reached the top of the UK iTunes podcast chart. This project evolved into a book co-written with Alastair Morgan in 2017, titled Untold: the Daniel Morgan Murder Exposed, which brought new revelations to light.
Founding New Media and Open Source Intelligence
Jukes played a pivotal role in the birth of Bellingcat, an organization specializing in open-source intelligence (OSINT)—the practice of using publicly available data for investigative purposes. According to founder Eliott Higgins, Jukes conceived the name "Bellingcat" in 2014, drawing inspiration from the medieval folk tale "Belling the Cat."
In collaboration with Observer journalist Carole Cadwalladr, Jukes uncovered that Arron Banks, a major donor to Leave.EU, had multiple meetings with officials from the Russian Embassy both before and after the EU referendum.
Continuing his trend of establishing independent media, Jukes co-founded Byline Times in 2018 alongside Stephen Colegrave.
Key Facts
- Media Contributions: Wrote for The Independent, New Statesman, and Prospect.
- Digital Innovation: Co-founded Byline Times (2018) and named Bellingcat (2014).
- Major Investigations: Focused on the Daniel Morgan murder and Russian Embassy links to Leave.EU donor Arron Banks.
- Political History: Former Labour Party member involved in the "cash for questions" investigations.
- Multimedia Success: Co-produced a chart-topping iTunes podcast on the Daniel Morgan case.
| Period/Year | Project/Organization | Role/Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s-1990s | Labour Party | Member and investigator (cash for questions) |
| 2008 | Daily Kos / MyDD | Political blogger for Barack Obama |
| 2014 | Bellingcat | Conceived the organization's name |
| 2016-2017 | Untold: The Daniel Morgan Murder | Podcast producer and book co-author |
| 2018 | Byline Times | Co-founder |
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jukes contribute to the founding of Bellingcat?
While Eliott Higgins founded the organization, Jukes is credited with coming up with the name "Bellingcat" in 2014, inspired by a medieval folk tale.
What was Jukes' role in the Daniel Morgan murder investigation?
He co-produced a 20-part chart-topping podcast and co-wrote a book titled Untold: the Daniel Morgan Murder Exposed, which revealed new information about the case.
Which political figures has Jukes reported on regarding the EU referendum?
Working with Carole Cadwalladr, Jukes revealed that Leave.EU donor Arron Banks met with Russian Embassy officials multiple times around the time of the referendum.
What is Byline Times?
Byline Times is a media organization co-founded by Jukes and Stephen Colegrave in 2018.
How did Jukes fund his coverage of the News International trial?
He used the crowdfunding tool Indiegogo to raise the necessary donations to live-tweet the trial of Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, and others from start to finish.