Investigative Impact: A Report on Best Practices in Measuring the Impact of Investigative Reporting

Year: 2017 | Publication: Global Investigative Journalism Network

The report has a detailed look at the best methods for measuring impact of investigative reporting. From complex software to relatively simple charting, the authors discuss the various ways devised in recent years to better gauge how journalists are making a difference, and makes recommendations about what appears most practical and effective for investigative newsrooms.

What is clear is that investigative reporting will remain fraught with difficulty. Investigative journalists face a litany of challenges — legal harassment, imprisonment, physical threats, uninterested publishers, corrupt owners, a lack of resources, and scarce funding. Yet the journalists keep pushing, and the practice continues to spread worldwide. Why? Because in-depth, watchdog reporting is indispensable for any healthy and open society. By holding the powerful accountable and monitoring the performance of public institutions, investigative journalism contributes to building and maintaining vibrant democracies.