What I believe Ross Coulthart is trying to say here is that is it's good journalism, it's investigative. Not all journalism is investigative however, often articles and reports are simply rehashed and put together without further or deeper investigation. However journalism which requires the investigation of a single topic of interest by a reporter and deeper analysis is considered to be investigative journalism and is therefore considered to be a primary source.
The 'IN's of INvestigative Journalism...
-INTELLIGENT
-INFORMED
-INTUITIVE
-INSIDE
-INVEST
Deeper definitions and purpose of investigative journalism...
1. Critical and thorough journalism
CRITICAL = The journalist is an active participant.
CRITICAL = The journalist is an active participant.
“ ACTIVE INTERVENTION” – the key idea THOROUGH = Journalist makes a substantial effort
i.e. Time Spent and Sources Consulted
2. Custodians of conscience
Investigation takes society’s morals and norms and holds breaches up to public scrutiny; in other words, what they call ‘civic vice’ is exposed for society to respond.
“EXPOSURE” – the key idea.
3. To provide a voice for those without one and to hold the powerful to account
Social Justice – power to the powerless, voice to the voiceless.
“PUBLIC INTEREST” – the key idea.
4. Fourth Estate / Fourth Branch of Govt / Watchdog
Fourth Estate: Journalists represent the interests of those without power to balance the power of government.
Fourth branch of government: Journalists ensure free flows of information necessary for the
functioning of democracy by interrogating the judiciary, executive and legislature
"Watchdog”: Journalists make accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life
Key concepts
PRIMARY
- ACTIVE INTERVENTION
- EXPOSURE
- ‘PUBLIC INTEREST’
- FOURTH ESTATE / WATCHDOG
SECONDARY
- ‘Shoe leather’ (USA)
- Standing back (Big Pic.)
- Taking nothing for granted
- SCEPTICAL NOT CYNICAL!
The idea of investigative journalism is that of cutting through the agenda and agenda setting. Indeed as International Investigative Journalist John Pilger once augured "It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message and myths that surround it." It is clear that newspapers have a function that goes beyond mere reporting and recording of facts, this function is that of probing behind the straight news and interpreting and explaining and sometimes even exposing facts, this function is investigative.
TYPES OF INVESTIGATION INTERACTION
TYPES OF INVESTIGATION INTERACTION
- Interviews
- Observations
- Documents
- Briefings
- Leaks
- Trespass
- Theft
INVESTIGATION METHODS
- Interviewing: Numerous interviews with on-the-record sources as well as, in some instances, interviews with anonymous sources eg. whistleblowers
- Observing: Investigation of technical issues, scrutiny of government and business practices and their effects. Research into social and legal issues
- Analysing documents (law suits, legal docs, tax records, corporate financials, FOI (Freedom of Information) material)
However although Investigative Journalism is considered to be the most important style of journalism there exists several threats to it. Online News is perhaps the most dominant threat to investigative journalism. Less money results in less journalists which means less time and therefore less investigative journalism. Furthermore the shrinkage in journalism can be, in part, attributed to the growing public relations sector. Public Relations is essentially propaganda by truth – the selective use of ‘facts’ to present a persuasive case to the public.Journalism: verifying the ‘facts’ in ‘the public interest’.
PUBLIC RELATIONS JOURNALISM
- Resistance to EXPOSURE - No INTERVENTION
- Dodging QUESTIONS - No SHOE LEATHER
- Massaging ‘talent’ - Lack of DEPTH
- Cleaning up stories - Formulaic reporting
It is without a doubt that investigation and good journalism walk hand in hand. A good piece of investigative journalism should reveal the truth and provide a voice to those who cannot speak. Investigative journalism should expose the vices within society and give the opportunity to the public to make their own informed decisions and form opinions on subjects. However although Investigative Journalism is clearly an important form of journalism, the changes in technology and the increasing reliance on social networks means that the public are becoming more and more involved in creating their own journalism which then results in less money and time put towards employing professional journalists for investigating and digging deeper into a story. No where is this more clear than through the YouTube Investigate where the public are increasingly becoming involved and reporting on matters, though not necessarily investigating those matters. This alongside social network news and information means that the everyday citizen are now taking matters into their own hands and in the process destroying a lot of investigative journalism. But what does this mean for the future?? I believe that investigative journalism will always exist. No matter the increase in citizen journalism and the decrease in time and funds, in my opinion there will always remain the instinct to dig deeper, uncover the whole story, investigate, analyse and report that story.
So there we have it, the importance of investigative journalism to the world of news and journalism and the threats that it now faces.
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