The absence of a comprehensive definition for investigative journalism raises widespread debate about what distinguishes it from traditional journalism. While researchers see it as merely an extension of regular journalism, others see it as closer to scientific research, by virtue of its commitment to precise controls and its adoption of tools to verify information and reveal the impact and dimensions of the topic.
From this standpoint, Al Jazeera Center for Studies published a media study entitled “Scientific research in investigative work.. Inspiration for the methodological kit to strengthen investigative writingBy the writer Wafaa Abu Chakra, professor of radio and television writing, and head of the Research Center at the Faculty of Media at the Lebanese University, through which she answered a question: To what extent is an investigative journalist inspired by scientific research to prepare his journalistic topic? What role does this method play in strengthening the foundations of investigative journalism and creating what distinguishes it?
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A distinction must be made between traditional journalistic work and investigative journalism; Investigative journalism, like regular journalism, is not subject to the standard of speed in broadcasting and publishing, nor to the “attractiveness” of scoops and the exclusivity of presenting news and information. Rather, it is considered a journalistic work based on intense human effort, which aspires and strives to provide documented information, the veracity of which becomes more important than the information itself.
Therefore, the importance of investigative journalism emerges, not only because it reveals absent, hidden, or obscured facts, but rather journalism that rises to the level of the craft and relies on the standards of careful journalism in which journalists measure their coverage in months and years, not days.
The criteria adopted for choosing any investigative topic must be preceded by the journalist’s verification of his ability to access the sources concerned with his topic, and that he must have the ability to obtain evidence documenting the harm resulting from the problem he is about to address in order to confront it.
The author also used interviews with academic and practicing journalists to discover their perceptions and experiences about the relationship between investigation and scientific research, and their opinion regarding the reality of teaching investigative journalism in Arab universities and institutes and the materials and courses they allocate for this purpose.
This is in addition to their opinion on the similarities between investigative journalism and scientific research, and whether there are investigative topics that need, more than others, the method and methodology of scientific research.
Differences between traditional and investigative journalism
Of course, the standards of investigative journalism are similar to the general standards of journalism, but they differ from them in terms of the requirements of the nature of its work, which is based on more complex rules regarding the selection of the topic and the extent of its importance to the public, as well as in terms of the journalist’s ability to be familiar with all the details of this topic.
While the field journalist is content with conveying news, facts, data, statements, and positions and publishing them within specific journalistic formats, the investigative journalist takes his time, dives into the surroundings of the issues, analyzes their roots, and creates an angle and vision for his topics with the aim of uncovering invisible information, through which he moves the resident and reveals new things that create a positive impact that would change people’s lives, and may sometimes lead to bringing the perpetrators to account.
Other journalists consider investigative reports to be extensions of the traditional journalistic experience, as the latter focuses on answering the five questions (What? Who? When? Where? Why?), while investigative journalism seeks to answer the question (How?) with the aim of revealing the reasons behind reality’s appearance in this state, changing it, and finding solutions.
The study compared the two newspapers on more than one level:
- The first is the research and coverage method:
Whereas traditional journalism keeps pace with daily events and is satisfied with the minimum information that is published quickly, while relying on the statements of sources without in-depth documentation, while investigative journalism engages in complex and long-term topics, dealing with an integrated file and not just a passing event, and is based on collecting and analyzing a wide amount of data, and verifying it accurately, while continuing the research until the story is completed and supported by evidence, which makes it broader, longer, and more comprehensive.
- The second difference explains the differences in the relationship with sources:
Traditionally, the journalist relies mainly on official and direct sources, and information is often limited and targeted, with some details withheld from the public.
As for investigative reporting, it seeks to uncover hidden information and verify it accurately, and relies on various sources, including unofficial ones, with a focus on collecting and analyzing evidence to ensure the credibility and integrity of the report.
- The third and final difference is in the nature of the journalistic product:
The traditional provides a direct reflection of reality and is content with presenting the facts as they are within ready-made templates such as an inverted pyramid, without personal involvement from the journalist, nor issuing judgments or adopting positions. It also relies on a dramatic structure that adds strength and influence to the story.
As for investigative reporting, it refuses to be satisfied with the apparent reality, and seeks to penetrate it and reveal its hidden dimensions by tracking the victims and those responsible, linking the facts and holding the parties responsible, leading to presenting a ruling or proposal to correct the defect. It also takes more diverse editorial forms and sequential narratives with the aim of persuasion.
Similarities and differences between investigation and scientific research
The study indicated that investigative journalism intersects with scientific research in many methodological aspects, despite their different ultimate goals. Just as scientific research is a personal project for the researcher, launched out of passion or a desire for a new discovery, investigative journalism often also starts out of personal motivation and a desire to uncover facts and correct defects, which has made it sometimes known as “self-project journalism.”
They both approach problems as valid objects of investigation or research, and their work is subject to a rigorous process that includes gathering and analyzing evidence and information, questioning and verifying sources, and with great attention to detail.
The two fields also share the clarity of the issue at hand and its ability to be evaluated, and in starting from hypotheses that are tested with evidence before defending or refuting them, in addition to the need to precisely define terms and concepts during the stages of work.
But despite this similarity, there are fundamental differences. Investigative journalism requires going into the field and pursuing direct sources, while research may be limited to libraries or documents. Also, the journalist may sometimes cover up his tools and sources to protect his work, while the researcher gives full priority to clarifying his tools and methods to measure credibility.
The purpose also differs: investigation seeks to uncover facts that affect public opinion and the authorities, while scientific research seeks to deepen understanding and develop academic knowledge.
At the level of style, investigative journalism presents its material in condensed language and a coherent story directed to a wide audience within the constraints of publication and time, while research uses lengthy, methodological language directed to a limited academic community. The research also remains governed by a theoretical framework and clear problems, while the journalist may change his hypotheses depending on what the investigation reveals.
The researcher usually has sufficient time for planning and experimentation, while the journalist faces continuous pressures related to the time factor, confusion, or the absence of evidence and witnesses.
In the end, the journalist relies largely on his personal contacts and skills in dialogue, listening and documentation, while taking into account the legal and ethical dimensions.
Despite the clarity of the fundamental differences between journalistic investigation and academic research, the boundaries between them may sometimes overlap, especially with the entry of researchers into the media community.
Although the investigation stems from the traditions of writing news reports, it differs in several points related to the depth of the research, the relationship with the sources, where the journalist does not accept unverified information, and the results that seek to prove that an event occurred that should not have occurred, or vice versa.
Investigative ideas are often based on observation, intuition, sources, leaks or institutional reports, while the journalist determines their priority and importance.
Journalists and academics have confirmed that complex issues, especially after the Arab Spring, have prompted investigations to adopt more precise methodological tools similar to scientific research, especially in high-risk investigations or those based on medical, environmental, and financial data.
Thus, investigative journalism remains a solid professional work that employs rigorous research and investigation methods, and focuses on the quality and fairness of information and the accountability of officials, which makes it close to specialized journalism that requires knowledge formation and scientific background for the journalist.
Investigative tools and resources
In the study, writer Wafa Abu Chakra touched on research tools in investigative writing, where she explained that when an investigative journalist presents a hypothesis, he needs to think systematically by generating a number of research questions, and then identifying and mobilizing sources and tools that allow him to reach answers to these questions.
These tools are summarized in:
- Documentation: It means seeking to obtain documents, especially withheld or secret documents.
- Note: Which includes monitoring the behavior of the investigation sample remotely and recording the results to extract information.
- Interview: It is a dialogue with the sample to obtain open, restricted, or mixed answers that help in reaching the desired results.
- Questionnaire: A quick and effective way to obtain quantitative information from a wide sample about their behavior and opinions.
- Focus groups: Gathering a small group to discuss specific questions is monitored to obtain more accurate feedback than individual interviews.
- Tests: They are used in scientific investigations to ask interviewees specific questions to obtain the desired information.
The sources include:
- Primary sources, such as actual participants in events and official documents, and secondary sources that vary between oral, written, visual, and audio, such as witnesses, documents, photos, and videos.
- There are also sources with direct experience or interest that provide accurate information and a human side to the subject, and anonymous sources that protect their identity but provide important confidential information, in addition to open sources available to the public through the media, social networking sites, and published studies.
conclusion
The study concluded by mentioning the importance of teaching investigative journalism in the Arab world, as it is taught in 79 Arab universities, in addition to training courses, with the aim of providing journalists with the tools and methodologies necessary to practice investigative journalism with skill and responsibility, despite the challenges associated with sensitive issues or field restrictions.
She emphasized that investigative journalism goes beyond simply reporting news to reveal what is intended to be hidden, relying on scientific research tools and a precise methodology in collecting and verifying information. It requires the journalist to develop a clear plan, identify confirmed and potential sources, and choose the appropriate analysis approach, taking into account the timeline and budget.
Investigative reporting, despite its similarity to scientific research, remains a journalistic product that adheres to the requirements of the profession, and is characterized by the ability to innovate new work methods, which enhances the credibility and quality of media work, and supports the role of journalism in serving society and revealing facts.