What is an investigative reporter?

Investigative reporters do deep investigative work based on current news stories or other leads. They create news and analysis pieces about the subject. Investigative reporters often work as freelancers. They may also work in an agency or as part of a news team under an editor at a newspaper, magazine, radio program or TV news show. As an investigative reporter, you conduct interviews, research source material, and analyze trends and ideas and then synthesize them into a narrative structure to tell a story. Although there are no strict job requirements for producing investigative journalism besides strong writing skills, many reporters begin their careers on copy desks or have experience in journalism, English literature, communication or a related field. Some major media outlets prefer qualifications like a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree in journalism.