Investigative journalism is a specialised form of news reporting that uses rigorous research, fact-checking and analysis to uncover hidden truths about important issues in society. It can take a significant amount of time to complete, and it can require substantial financial investment from publishers to support the cost of research, data and travel.

The most successful investigative journalists are adept at assembling and evaluating information, both through documents and human sources, and presenting it in an accessible way for their audiences. Often, the key to uncovering an investigative story lies in finding new ways to look at familiar topics. This can be as simple as comparing satellite imagery to show changes in a city, or as creative as recreating text messages from an imprisoned journalist to explore her relationship with her daughter.

From the muckraker articles of McClure’s Magazine around the turn of the 20th century to the Watergate scandal that forced President Nixon to step down, investigative journalism has had a powerful ability to scrutinise power and expose secret corruption. Today, it is increasingly a tool to hold corporations and governments to account.

The first step to becoming an investigative journalist is gaining experience as a general reporter, helping out with specialist teams or assisting more-experienced staff in specialised areas of journalism. It may be several years before a young journalist is able to work on their own in-depth investigation, but if they persevere it can be a rewarding career path.