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Insights on Investigative Journalism book cover

1st Edition

Insights on Investigative Journalism

By Neil Macfarlane, Barbara Longo-Flint, John Price Copyright 2026
    254 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    254 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Offering a critical overview of the state of contemporary investigative journalism, this book considers ways in which investigative journalism can bring about meaningful change and what conditions need to be in place for it to do so.

    Combining theory and practice, each chapter introduces current issues and trends, including the impacts of Artificial Intelligence, evolving funding models, Freedom of Information, and SLAPPs. Applying these issues to some of the most pressing concerns of our time – misinformation, the climate crisis, inequality – this book demonstrates how journalists can draw on investigative skills to enact positive real-world change. Relevant chapters feature a practical guide to using the technique under discussion and each is followed by a critical analysis of skills in practice, with case studies from around the world. All end with an exercise or discussion topic to help students make sense of what they’ve learned.

    Shining new light on disruptions facing the industry, this book is recommended reading for anyone studying investigative journalism at an advanced level.

    List of Contributors

     

    Introduction: Exploring dark corners that some wish to keep in shadow

     

    Part I: Historical background

    1: Wandering crusaders: a short history of the investigative crime journalist

    Bethany Usher

     

    Part II: Tools and Specific Techniques of Investigative Journalism

     

    2: Freedom of Information

    Neil Macfarlane

     

    3: Frontline strategies for land rights and environmental journalism: Methodologies for melding ground truth interviews and primary records in investigative reporting

    Chris Arsenault

     

    4: Investigating black box technologies, digital power and its invisibilities

    Philip Di Salvo

     

    Part III: Constraints on Investigative Journalism – and Ways to Challenge Them

     

    5: The Impact of Legal Intimidation on Investigative Journalists

    Barbara Longo-Flint

     

    6: How Did Journalism Professions and the Public Respond to Challenges in Investigative Journalism? Introducing Nonprofit Newsrooms.

    Michelle Park

     

    7: In Conversation with David Conn: Award-winning Investigative Sports Journalist

    Neil Farrington and John Price

     

    Part IV: The Impact of AI on Investigative Journalism

     

    8: Environment, Technology & Journalism: Tackling environmental issues using data and AI in Latin America

    Mathias-Felipe de-Lima Santos

     

    9: Investigative Journalism and AI

    Paul Bradshaw

     

    Part V: Two Crucial Strands: Teaching and Collaborative Investigative Journalism

     

    10: Cross-border Investigative Journalist Education – The Process towards Normalisation

    Maria Konow-Lund, Lucia Mesquita and Carolyne Lunga

     

    11: Exploring the impact of non-journalists on the values and norms of journalism in an award-winning collaborative investigation

    Carolyne Lunga

     

    12: Teaching Investigative Journalism - The Centre for Investigative Journalism 

    Tom Sanderson

     

    Index

    Biography

    Neil Macfarlane is a senior lecturer in online journalism at The University of Sunderland, UK. He is a freelance investigative journalist and has written for titles including Private Eye, The Mirror and HuffPost UK.

    Barbara Longo-Flint is a PhD researcher at The University of Sunderland, UK. Previously she worked as a journalist in Italy for 20 years.

    Dr John Price is a senior lecturer in journalism at The University of Sunderland, UK. He publishes research on topics including investigative journalism, sport and discrimination and the media.

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