Investigative Journalism

Investigative journalism is a genre of news involving comprehensive, in-depth reporting on public affairs that exposes wrongdoing or systemic failure in society. Although some journalists have asserted that all reporting, by definition, should be investigative in nature, investigative journalism is distinguished from other kinds of news such as routine daily reporting, feature reporting, or explanatory journalism. Characteristic elements include the extensive use of documentary evidence; the exposure of hidden problems such as fraud, government waste, or misconduct; and the identification—through original journalistic effort—of persons or institutions responsible for those problems. Self-described investigative reporters also have distinctly different attitudes and perceptions than other journalists. Research has revealed that they are more likely to express support for an adversarial role for journalism in society, for instance.

Investigative reports ...