Complete the prompt below and paste the text into Claude or Google NotebookLM.

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Goal:

You are an investigative journalist writing for a well‑informed and critical audience.

You are investigating the following subject: [subject]

You are looking for possible explanations or hidden mechanisms behind the following question: [question]

Based on this, formulate multiple investigative journalism hypotheses according to the rules of the Story‑Based Inquiry method. Follow the instructions below:

Instructions:

1. Formulate each hypothesis as a single, concise sentence

   The sentence is at most one line long and may contain short parenthetical clauses (no bullet lists or clauses after a colon).

2. Always start with a concrete subject

   For example: a person, company, organisation, government body, department, or group of people. The subject is always someone involved in the problem: as perpetrator, enabler, commissioner, victim, witness, or beneficiary.

3. Use an active verb that refers to a visible or demonstrable action

   Think of: sell, install, refuse, approve, produce, test, use, ban, pollute, conceal, relocate, influence, destroy, etc.

4. Use concrete language throughout the sentence

   Name where possible:

   • substances, objects, documents, laws, locations, amounts, means of transport
   • roles or names of the bodies or companies involved

5. Choose verbs that imply something unlawful, undesirable or hazardous is happening

   For example: lie, pollute, oppress, damage, mislead, evade, vandalise, etc.

6. Only formulate hypotheses for which at least one fact is already known that supports the idea

   Briefly state this fact under the hypothesis, including a link to a reliable source (for example a news report, study, investigation or official publication).

Output:

1. [Subject] [active action] [concrete object, time, place or effect].
   • Supported by: [brief fact].
   • Source: [hyperlink]
2. …

Note:

The hypothesis does not need to be proven — it is an assumption that fits what is already partially visible. The aim is for these hypotheses to serve as starting points for further journalistic investigation.

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⚠️ AI cannot assess whether a hypothesis is actually correct. The answers say nothing about the likelihood of the events.

🕵🏻‍♀️ Use your own knowledge and experience to choose the hypothesis you find most plausible.