INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND CONSEQUENCES

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

Investigative journalism is when reporters deeply investigate a topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption or some other scandal.

According to De Burgh (2000): "An investigative journalist is a man or woman whose profession it is to discover the truth and to identify lapses from it in whatever media may be available. The act of doing this generally is called investigative journalism and is distinct from apparently similar work done by police, lawyers, auditors and regulatory bodies in that it is not limited as to target, not legally founded and closely connected to publicity."

An investigative journalist may spend a considerable period researching and preparing a report, sometimes months or years, whereas a typical daily or weekly news reporter writes items concerning immediately available news. Most investigative journalism is done by newspapers, wire services and freelance journalists. An investigative journalist's final report may take the form of an exposé.

There is no more important contribution that we can make to society than strong, publicly-spirited investigative journalism.

Investigation

The investigation will often require an extensive number of interviews and travel; other instances might call for the reporter to make use of activities such as surveillance techniques, analysis of documents, investigations of the performance of any kind of equipment involved in an accident, patent medicine, scientific analysis, social and legal issues and the like.

Investigative journalism requires the scrutiny of details, fact-finding and physical effort. An investigative journalist must have an analytical (using a logical method of thinking about something in order to understand it, especially by looking at all parts separately) and incisive (showing clear thought and good understanding of what is important, and the ability to express this) mind with strong self-motivation to carry on when all doors are closed, when facts are being covered up or falsified and so on.

Some of the means reporters can use for their fact-finding

* Studying neglected sources, such as archives, phone records, address books, tax records and license records

* Talking to neighbours

* Using subscription research sources such as LexisNexis

* Anonymous sources (for example whistleblowers)

* Going undercover

Investigative journalism versus analytical reporting

Investigative journalism can be contrasted with analytical reporting. According to De Burgh (2000) analytical journalism takes the data available and reconfigures it, helping us to ask questions about the situation or statement or see it in a different way, whereas investigative journalists go further and also want to know whether the situation presented to us is the reality.

Consequences of investigative journalism

Some of the potential consequences for the subjects of successful investigative journalism include:

* Indictment and conviction

* Loss of job

* Loss of professional accreditation

* Payment of fines

* Loss of personal and professional reputation

* Domino consequences for family members-associates involved in unrelated criminal acts discovered through the process of investigation

Consequences for society as a whole include

* Revision of institutional policies

* Changes in the law

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