Investigative journalism aims to uncover hidden wrongdoing and help fulfill the watchdog role of the press in democracies. It can range from scrutinizing powerful people for alleged misdeeds, to exposing local builders or landlords who use shortcuts that put lives at risk. Often, it involves meticulous searching and cross-referencing of data in the public domain; use of freedom of information laws to place more data in the hands of journalists; obtaining leaks of secret documents and tips; and persuading people to talk on or off the record. Sometimes it can involve subterfuge such as secret filming or recording. It can also be collaborative, with teams of journalists from different media organizations working together on a single investigation.
Journalists conducting an investigation must first decide whether it is feasible, taking into account the available time, resources and expertise. They then create a plan and timeline for their work. This may involve carrying out a feasibility assessment, including a risk analysis that recognises possible physical and legal threats to themselves or their sources. They must have what one renowned investigative journalist once described as a “document state of mind”: they are always on the lookout for information in public documents, databases and archives that could lead to more valuable sources or reveal new lines of inquiry.
Thorough fact-checking and verification are key to maintaining accuracy in investigative journalism, and it is important that the journalists involved in an investigation are transparent about their methods and potential conflicts of interest. Developing relationships with whistleblowers is also common, and these cooperations can have significant social impacts, helping drive change by bringing about a sense of public accountability.