Investigative reporters research, interpret, and report news on corruption, public interest issues, and local or world events. Accuracy, detail, and ethics are important, and the job can involve long hours and risk-taking. Good investigative reporters bring important news to light, but can face threats. A college course or writing job at a local newspaper can be a good starting point for a career in journalism.
Whenever you read a story in a newspaper or magazine that takes an in-depth look at an issue, it’s usually the job of an investigative reporter. An investigative reporter typically writes about events involving corruption, public interest issues, and local or world events.
The investigative reporter researches, interprets and reports the news. The story he or she is researching could take weeks to months to research and write. With the investigative reporter, it’s a case of digging deeper, getting to the root of the story, and presenting it to the audience. The investigative reporter typically covers all angles and presents the most comprehensive and unbiased view.
Accuracy and detail are very important aspects for the investigative reporter. This is because many of the stories he tackles concern people’s lives and may have consequences in the future. The details that the investigative reporter researches and then writes must be 100% truthful and the sources must be carefully checked and double-checked.
Likewise, ethics is another important factor in this type of journalism. There are many stories printed every day by unethical writers. A story in print has the power to ruin people’s lives and overthrow governments. If the truth has been distorted to represent a specific point of view, it can leave people’s lives irreparably damaged. If the true story emerges, unethical reports can also leave the writer with impaired credibility.
For some, the life of an investigative reporter seems like a very exciting career – full of traveling to different countries, exposing corrupt governments and being harassed by an editor who will give you 24 hours to cover a story. However, this scenario is yet another media myth, perpetuated by movies. The actual work can involve very long hours, thorough research, and participation in numerous meetings and interviews.
There is no doubt that good investigative reporters are responsible for bringing to light news that many people prefer to leave uncovered. Reporting on corrupt politicians and unethical business is in the public interest, but investigative reporters reporting this type of news are often threatened. Many who delved too deeply into a story involving large amounts of money and corruption ended up dead.
A good investigative reporter is prepared to take risks to break a story in the public interest. Think of Woodward and Bernstein overthrowing Nixon. War reporters risk their lives to reveal the truth behind the interpretation the public receives from governments.
A good investigative reporter has a built-in sensor for a news leader. He or she must also be people-sensitive, impartial and open-minded. Competition in the field of journalism is fierce, but there are many different media formats, such as television, radio and print media, in which a career can be found. A good starting point for a career in journalism is to take a college course or apply for a writing job at a local newspaper. The intern will start small to gain experience, and the salary won’t be great, but it can lead to one of the most rewarding and exciting careers around.
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