An investigative journalist is a journalist who investigates stories of public interest and aims to expose corruption, wrongdoing or unethical practices. This involves in-depth research, pursuing leads and interviewing people who have been affected by the story they are reporting. It also involves thorough fact-checking and adhering to ethical reporting guidelines. Investigative journalists work across all mediums, including print, broadcast and online. They may create interactive digital elements for the internet, post on social media, conduct interviews via phone or video chat and appear in front of the camera to report on a story.
Some investigative journalists specialise in a particular field, such as health, business or politics. Others specialise in a specific topic, such as war crimes or alleged miscarriages of justice. The types of investigations vary, but the common themes include corruption, abuses of power and crime.
The skills of an investigative journalist require in-depth and time-consuming research. It’s important to keep records of the sources and evidence gathered. This helps with the later process of editing and fact-checking the information. It also allows journalists to identify any gaps in the evidence and what further investigation is needed.
It’s also helpful to have what renowned investigative journalist James Steele called “a documents state of mind.” This means that you think there is always a document, or a group of them, that can support or refute a claim made by someone in a position of authority. Preliminary research into published articles on a subject can also help, as they often cite other documents that may be of interest.