Investigative journalism

Some reporters look for deep secrets. They want to find the truth. They look for big problems or crimes.

These reporters work for a long time. They may work for months or years. They read many papers and files. They also talk to many people.

This work helps keep people safe. It can show when leaders do wrong.

One reporter once studied a hospital. Her work helped make the hospital better. Another reporter studied food plants. His work helped make food safer.

These reporters help us know what is real. It is a big job.

Some reporters look for deep secrets. They do not just report the news. They look for hidden truths. They study big problems like crime or unfair rules. This kind of work is called investigative journalism.

These reporters work very hard. They may work for months or even years. They look at many things to find facts. They read legal papers and tax records. They study public records and databases. They also talk to many people. Some people, called whistleblowers, give them secret information.

This work can change the world. Long ago, Upton Sinclair wrote about meat plants. His book showed they were not clean. This helped start a group to keep food safe. Another reporter named Nellie Bly went undercover. She studied a hospital to show how it worked.

Today, many news groups work together. They study big crimes across the whole world. This work can be hard to pay for. Many news groups now rely on help from the public. They help us know the truth about our world.

Investigative journalism is a special way of reporting. Reporters do not just share daily news. They deeply study one or a few topics. They look for hidden truths or serious crimes. They might study corruption or how power is used. This work is sometimes called watchdog reporting. It helps keep people and leaders accountable.

This work follows a very careful way it works. A reporter might spend months or years on one story. They start by looking at many different documents. They read lawsuits, tax records, and government reports. They also look at databases of public records. Reporters interview many people to learn the truth. Sometimes they talk to anonymous sources called whistleblowers. These people share secret information about wrongdoing.

This type of reporting has a long history. In early British colonial America, some newspapers were stopped by leaders. This happened because they reported on the British authorities. Later, in 1902, McClure's Magazine used muckraking standards. These standards became part of modern investigative work. In the 1960s, new laws helped American journalists. The Freedom of Information Act made it easier to get data. The invention of the photocopier also helped whistleblowers share facts.

Many famous stories have changed our world. In 1905, Upton Sinclair wrote about meatpacking plants. His book showed they were not clean. This led to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration. In 1887, Nellie Bly went undercover at an asylum. Her work led to more money for public charities. Between 1972 and 1974, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein found secrets about President Nixon. This became known as the Watergate scandal. It even caused the President to resign in 1974.

Today, investigative journalism looks different than before. Many traditional newspapers struggle to pay for this work. It is very expensive and takes a lot of time. Because of this, news groups often work together. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists was launched in 1997. They have 165 reporters in over 65 countries. They work on global stories like the Panama Papers. Some groups now rely on help from the public to keep going.

Investigative journalism is a specialized genre of reporting focused on deep inquiry. Reporters do not merely summarize daily events or recent news. Instead, they investigate single or small groups of topics in great detail. These topics often involve hidden truths, serious crimes, or social injustices. Common subjects include corruption, the abuse of power, and corporate wrongdoing. Some practitioners refer to this work as watchdog reporting or accountability reporting. This style of journalism aims to hold powerful entities responsible for their actions.

To uncover these truths, reporters follow a rigorous and methodical process. The work is often extremely time-consuming and expensive for news organizations. A single report might require months or even years of dedicated research. Journalists begin by analyzing various documents, such as lawsuits, tax records, and government reports. They also examine corporate financial filings and regulatory reports to find patterns. Many reporters use databases of public records to track information. They may also use subscription research sources like LexisNexis to find deep data.

Interviews serve as a vital component of the investigative toolkit. Reporters conduct numerous interviews with people who are "on-the-record." They also seek out anonymous sources, such as whistleblowers, who provide secret information about wrongdoing. To access government data, journalists often use Freedom of Information Acts. They may also use Open-Source Intelligence, or OSINT, which involves using free and open resources. Some modern reporters even use computer-assisted reporting to analyze massive databases. This combination of human testimony and hard data allows them to build strong cases.

The history of this field is marked by both struggle and progress. In British colonial America, authorities often suppressed early newspapers for their investigative work. Publications like the Boston Gazette contributed to revolutionary sentiment against British rule. Around 1902, McClure's Magazine promoted "muckraking" standards that shaped modern investigative styles. In the United States, the outlook improved significantly during the 1960s. The Freedom of Information Act and the Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan provided better legal protections. Additionally, the invention of the photocopier became a helpful tool for whistleblowers to share documents.

Many historic investigations have led to massive societal changes. In 1904, Ida Tarbell's book exposed the practices of the Standard Oil Company monopoly. This investigation eventually led to the company being dismantled. In 1905, Upton Sinclair's book The Jungle revealed unsanitary conditions in meatpacking plants. His work helped lead to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration. In the late 19th century, Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman, writing as Nellie Bly, went undercover in an asylum. Her 1887 exposé led to a grand jury investigation and increased funding for public charities. These examples show how reporting can change laws and safety standards.

Investigative journalism has also impacted high-level politics and global health. Between 1972 and 1974, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered information regarding President Richard Nixon's campaign. This investigation, known as the Watergate scandal, prompted Nixon to resign in 1974. In the realm of medicine, Brian Deer investigated the MMR vaccine controversy for The Sunday Times. He revealed that research linking the vaccine to autism was fraudulent. More recently, John M. Crewdson proposed installing defibrillators on airliners. His research suggested they would be economically justified if they saved just three lives per year. Ten years later, American Airlines reported that these devices had saved 80 lives.

Today, the landscape of investigative journalism is shifting due to economic changes. Many traditional newspapers struggle to fund these deep reports because advertising income has declined. As a result, news organizations are increasingly working together on international investigations. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) is a major example of this collaboration. Launched in 1997, it includes 165 reporters across more than 65 countries. They have worked on massive global projects like the Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers. Other groups, such as ProPublica, rely on the support of the public and benefactors to continue their work.