The Future of Investigative Journalism in an Era of Downsizing and Economic Uncertainty

In an era of downsizing and economic uncertainty, investigative journalism is failing in most newsrooms. In history, investigative writing has often been few and far between, and those numbers have further dwindled with shrinking news staffs and cuts in budgets. However, the future may still be bright for investigative stories because of the Internet and the need for the media to continue to be the public’s watchdog.

Even in the most successful years of journalism, reporters rarely had investigative beats. Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele are the longest running investigative team in America and are twice winners of the Pulitzer Prize. In their article in the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, they wrote that before the 1970s, the number of newspapers that had reporters with full-time investigative beats could be counted on one hand. Most journalists were told to work on investigative stories in the little spare time they had between their regular beats, Barlett and Steele said. After the 1970s, investigative beats were seen more often, but editors already weary about investigative pieces are using the excuse of not being able to afford manpower to lengthy projects now.

The reporters who haven’t been forced into early retirements because of this era of economic uncertainty are stretched thin as it is. Journalists have more work to do and a wider area to cover, said the Nieman Watchdog Project’s editor Barry Sussman.
He said when reporters have only one beat, then they can cover it more regularly, get to know the sources better and be more in tune with details about what’s going on. Knowing and being able to cover a subject more in-depth has greater potential to become an investigative story, Sussman said.

Journalists have more to deal with than just extra beats because of economic downsizing of newsrooms. Former president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and executive editor for nine years at The Sacramento Bee, Rick Rodriguez, said reporters have to work on expanding their skills to be not only writers, but now photographers and video recorders. Plus, with everything going to the Internet, long-time print journalists also have to learn how to publish and write for the Web, maintain their newspaper’s Web site and adjust to 24/7 Web site news operations, Rodriguez said. All this learning of new skills takes time away from being able to work on investigative stories.

More concentration on the Web also means the medium that has traditionally been in charge of delivering investigative pieces is being neglected. In a panel of Nieman Fellows, two of which won Pulitzer Prizes, agreement was made that newspaper has always been the medium that has had the responsibility of conducting in-depth reports. With more people turning away from getting their news from papers, investigative reporters will have to adjust and find a new outlet.

Fortunately, as the Web becomes a more popular medium to get news and information, it has provided a way for traditional print journalists to participate. Recently, a number of online investigative sites have popped up and expanded. Some examples are the Center for Investigative Reporting and The Center for Public Integrity, Sussman said. A popular site is The Investigative Fund. The site’s writers are dedicated to improving the quality of investigative writing and to increasing the scope of these types of stories, especially ones neglected by other media, according to the Web site. The Investigative Fund was a pilot project in 2004 but has since expanded to include partnerships with the Columbia Journalism Review, The Washington Monthly, The Puffin Foundation Ltd., along with many others.

The reason for online investigative Web site success is people still realize the importance of journalists being watchdogs for the public. Without a check on government by the people, then democracy will suffer, Barlett and Steele said. There needs to always be reporters making sure to expose corrupt political officials, find rule violations by businesses and to keep people knowledgeable about the important issues.

The Internet provides numerous ways to make it easier for journalists to cover investigative stories even in this economic era of downsizing. Reporters have access to many government documents and business records that they might have had a harder time getting before. Web sites such as Guidestar and the Federal Election Commission provide tons of information in printable formats.

So, even though investigative journalism already has a poor turnout of stories in history and editors have continued that trend with the excuse of budget cuts today, it will always be in existence. People need investigative journalists for America to keep having a successful democratic government. The Web has taken away from the emphasis put on the newspaper medium, which has traditionally been the main source to deliver investigative stories, but it also provides a better way for reporters to obtain information and bring investigative stories to the public.